Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

The Freedom of the Press

WHERE dwells the man that dare suppress

The noble freedom of the press?

Sure he who would attempt the thing,

On Haman’s gallows ought to swing.

The freedom of the press—

O, how shall I express

This grand, important theme!

Which unto me doth seem

To be of great and mighty weight

Towards the freedom of the state.

Ye patriotic band of friends!

You scarce can guess how much depends;

How much depends, you scarce can guess,

Upon the freedom of the press.
The freedom of the press, &c.

How pleasing to a freeborn soul,

To speak, to write without control,

And his internal thoughts express,

Whilst Freedom smiles upon the press.
The freedom of the press, &c.

How galling to the freeborn mind,

To be by shackles so confined

That he dare not his mind express,

Because a tyrant rules the press.
The freedom of the press, &c.

O, Liberty! thou darling thing!

For thee I’d write from fall to spring;

For thee my warmest thoughts express:

May thou forever rule the press.
The freedom of the press, &c.