The judges treated this argument very lightly; and they were surely justified in so treating it.

For it is an argument which would lead to the conclusion that it could not be an overt act of treason to behead a King with a guillotine or to shoot him with a Minie rifle.
It was also urged in Anderton's favour,--and this was undoubtedly an argument well entitled to consideration,--that a distinction ought to be made between the author of a treasonable paper and the man who merely printed it.

The former could not pretend that he had not understood the meaning of the words which he had himself selected.

But to the latter those words might convey no idea whatever.

The metaphors, the allusions, the sarcasms, might be far beyond his comprehension; and, while his hands were busy among the types, his thoughts might be wandering to things altogether unconnected with the manuscript which was before him.
It is undoubtedly true that it may be no crime to print what it would be a great crime to write.