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Eleazer Oswald, Printer and Patriot
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"By our constitution, every person has a right to the freedom of speech, and of writing and
publishing his sentiments; and the freedom of the press is expressly secured to every man. Your
memorialist, therefore, held himself justifiable in publishing the Address alluded to, which speaks for
itself..."61
After a careful inquiry into the facts of the case and much debate, the
Assembly resolved that Oswald's charges against the justices of the
Supreme Court were not sufficient ground for impeachment. The minor-
ity of twenty-three out of fifty-seven failed to pass their resolution that
the action of the court "..... was an unconstitutional exercise of judicial
power, and sets an alarming precedent, of the most dangerous conse-
quences to the citizens of this commonwealth."52 This concluded the
celebrated case of Respublica v. Oswald in which the power of the Su-
preme Court to punish a contempt of court by fine and imprisonment
without a trial by jury was upheld.53
OSWALD'S OTHER ACTIVITIES IN PHILADELPHIA
Oswald had always been interested in the printing and sale of the
classics, but had actually produced little in this field. One of the most
interesting of the books which he printed was John Parke's The Lyric
Works of Horace Translated Into English Verse: ..... By a Native of Amer-
ica.u The author addressed the individual poems and sections of the
longer poems to his friends, or to various important personages in the
United States, among whom were Washington, Franklin, Lafayette
and other military and political leaders. Two of the Odes of Horace were
dedicated to Eleazer Oswald. The author also paid tribute to his friend
and publisher in the preface:
"This last mentioned ode, in the translation, I have made free to address to my very worthy
friend and fellow-soldier Lieutenant-Colonel Eleazer Oswald, late of the American Artillery; not only
on account of his ushering this work into the world, but for his many eminent virtues as a brave
soldier, and a good citizen. The hardships he has suffered, the toils he has endured, and the many
trying vicissitudes he has experienced in the defense of his country, entitle him to the esteem of
every patriotic and virtuous American."56
51 The memorial is printed in full in Thomas Lloyd, Debates of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania..... , Vol. IV.
52 Thomas Lloyd, Debates of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania..... , Philadelphia, MDCCLXXXV III. Vol. IV,
pp. 336-337.
53 The case may be found in A. J. Dallas, Reports of Cases Ruled And Adjusted In The Courts of Pennsylvania Before
and Since The Revolution. Philadelphia, 1806. 2nd edition. Vol. I, pp. 319-327.
54 Philadelphia, Printed by Eleazer Oswald, at the Coffee-House. M.DCC.LXXXVI. Not in Evans. A surprising
number of the subscribers, whose names are printed in the volume, are citizens of Maryland and there are indications that
the author resided in the state at intervals.
55 J. Parke's, The Lyric Works of Horace Translated Into English Verse, p. xx.
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