Article #70 - Fined for Advocating Free Speech

Oliver Johnson and several others were fined

$5 each, for advocating freedom of speech by

proffessing [sic] Quakers

Take your five dollars, take the fee

As Judas did of old

His thirty pieces – you for five

The love of justice sold

            Boast not yourselves the sons of sires

            The martyrs for the right

            While you betray the cause of truth

            For man[m]ons ends to fight

Say not that honest motives called

To act as you have done

While reason stands to judge your deeds

Beneath the noonday sun

            If love of freedom rouse some voice

            To urge the bondmans claim

            You rise as bigots ever do

            To load them o’er with shame

But know your efforts will be vain

To stifle human thought

And close the doors of reason ‘gainst

What mercy ever taught

            Think you can stop progressions wheels

            So through the world they roll

            And hold the broad sunlight of Truth

            Beneath your base control?

Roll back the oceans heaving tides

As ‘gainst the rocks they clash

And stay the thunders booming tones

The lightnings vivid flash

            Stop Earth and all her kindred orbs

            As through the heavens they roll

            Do these before you try your might

            To crush the human soul

Go fine, imprison, all you can

As tyrants ever have

And then you’ll find humanity

Pleads strongest for the slave

            Your fathers taught this truth of old

            It was their sacred theme

            But you have proven recreant sons

            Their lives you make a dream

You stand not forth as sons of men

Who braved the martyrs fires

But join to fan the very flames

That burned to death your sires

            Ye free within your inmost soul

            The light which God hath given

            To guide men as a beacon light

            And lead them up to heaven

                                    E