Unlike you, I admit the possibility that I may be wrong
This from the guy who insists I couldn't possibly have graduated from the college I graduated from because "it doesn't teach women," and that I couldn't possibly have had Stephen Ambrose as professor for military history (no particular reason given except that I said he had long hair, which he did back then, at least long by today's standards.)
No, the problem that I have with looking into your question is that Virginia adopted its own Bill of Rights even before the US did, so my regular database isn't much help. At the time it was adopted it was called "Declaration of Rights" but they've been calling it a Bill of Rights since the 19th century. The parallel to the First Amendment in the Virginia Constitution, enacted 1799, guarantees freedom of religion, speech, etc.
Section 12. Freedom of speech and of the press; right peaceably to assemble, and to petition.
That the freedoms of speech and of the press are among the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained except by despotic governments; that any citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; that the General Assembly shall not pass any law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, nor the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for the redress of grievances.
I suggest you google Gitlow, you may find precedent in commentary on that case.
Can't believe you haven't kept your Con Law hornbook! |
