William Lloyd Garrison,Benjamin Lundy and Criminal Libel: The Abolitionists' Plea for Press Freedom

Abolitionists Benjamin Lundy and William Lloyd Garrison in 1829-31 were sued and prosecuted in Maryland for criminal libel for condemning a ship owner and captain for transporting slaves. Lundy and Garrison's legal experiences, including Garrison's seven weeks in jail, resulted in a series of their writings that advocated broad protection for freedom of the press. Although their views on abolition were unpopular, their views on press freedom won support from other editors and helped shape subsequent debate over constitutional theory of freedom of expression, especially in the South.