Note 347 — Chapter IV · LEGISLATION AGAINST SEDITION AND ANARCHY (continued 2)

See the thoughtful statement by Judge Cooley in his Constitutional Limitations (7 ed.) 613, of the great danger of a rule against intemperate discussion, ending: “If they exceed all the proper bounds of moderation, the consolation must be, that the evil likely to spring from the violent discussion will probably be less, and its correction by public sentiment more speedy, than if the terrors of the law were brought to bear to prevent the discussion.” Mill adds very strong arguments against the same rule at the close of c. 2 of his Liberty.