“É antes um delito político do que natural ou individual”: a condição jurídica dos delitos de abuso de liberdade de imprensa no Direito Penal do Brasil Império

The following work focuses on the legal status of offenses against press freedom under Criminal Code Empire Brazil, whether common crimes, special or political crimes. In light absence in historiography historical-legal investigations into this unique issue, article has sought to analyze historical sources, such as doctrines criminal and constitutional law by Empire’s authors, well contemporary literature history, law, other fields knowledge distinct from law. result reveals a disparity sources freedom, classifying them regular crime, crime sui generis, private with latter type predominating.