Seditious Libel; also Sedition

The act of criticizing a gov't. See also Sedition Act of 1918.

John Peter Zeneger

Yes, this happened with John Peter Zenger.

William Davies Shipley has written:

'The whole proceedings on the trial of the indictment, the King, on the prosecution of William Jones, gentleman, against the Rev. William Davies Shipley, Dean of St. Asaph, for a libel' -- subject(s): Trials (Seditious libel), Trials, litigation, etc, Trials, litigation

By inciting rebellion against the U.S., his actions were seditious.