[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF MATTHEW LYON POST OFFICE NAMING BILL

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                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 27, 2006

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing a bill that would name the 
United States Post Office in Fair Haven, Vermont, in honor of Matthew 
Lyon, one of our nation's early defenders of the First Amendment, a 
former member of the Vermont House of Representatives, and Vermont's 
fourth Representative to the United States Congress. Matthew Lyon is 
also recognized as the founder of Fair Haven, Vermont.
  Matthew Lyon plays an important role in the history of our country. 
He was the first person to be tried and convicted under the repressive 
1798 Sedition Act. The Sedition Act was sweeping legislation passed 
during a period when America was engaged in hostilities with France. 
The purpose of the legislation was to punish Americans who opposed 
President John Adams' foreign policy toward France. This legislation 
was unquestionably a direct attack on rights explicitly protected by 
the First Amendment of the U.S Constitution.
  Matthew Lyon's only crime was writing a letter to the editor critical 
of President Adams' foreign policy towards France and submitting 
another person's similar writings to a local newspaper that published 
them. Solely for expressing his views and exercising his First 
Amendment rights, Matthew Lyon was sentenced to four months in jail, 
required to pay the cost of his prosecution, and fined $1,000. He was, 
however, subsequently pardoned by President Thomas Jefferson.
  At a time when we find ourselves struggling to balance the security 
of our nation with the liberties we cherish, I can think of no better 
time to honor one of our nation's champions of the First Amendment's 
right of free speech. Naming the Fair Haven Post Office in honor of 
Matthew Lyon would be a fitting tribute to him and his fight for 
liberty, and would serve as a reminder of Fair Haven's connection to 
this great American patriot. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues on the House Government Reform Committee to move this bill 
through committee and onto the House Floor.

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