Political Press and Freedom of Expression in Cordoba during the Second Half of the 19th Century: the Printing Press Law of 1879

This paper explores the public debate that preceded the enactment of the 1879 Press Law in Cordoba, aiming to contribute to the study of the limits of freedom of the press. It describes the characteristics of local publications, the rules regulating the exercise of such freedom, and examines the official action taken to quell what were considered as its abuses. Finally, it analyses the Legislature debates on new regulations governing this type of offence, and suggests that they revealed differences not only regarding the degree of control that should be established for the publications but also diverse opinions about the right of the people to control government action.