The right to free speech is Natural Law, not an ideal or a political rule. It can only be infringed upon, not instated.
The Constitution gave no rights to Americans, as all humans automatically have those rights, from their Creator. All it does is enumerate and describe them. Different rights take precedence, when two rights conflict.
It's one of the laws that St. Paul describes as being written on our hearts, along with freedom of association, freedom of life, freedom of property, etc.
Everyone out of political power, or aggrieved, desires free speech. Anyone in power, or who imagines themselves so, will be tempted to curb the speech of others, to maintain power. The more power slips from their hand, or precarious their power is, the harsher the curbs. The more powerful the underdogs become, the louder they will demand their rights.
You can see this effect even here, on Nostr. This is simply humans humaning, rather than some political aspect. That is why Strom said that you can tell who is in power, by whom you are not allowed to criticize.
Strom's own oft-misquoted quote (usually attributed to Voltaire because of its' pithy brilliance) is an inverse-example of his statement, as people tend to recant it, after finding out who said it. He is considered so repugnant a person, that you cannot even accidentally or intentionally quote him, without it turning into an international incident. Neither conservatives, nor liberals, are willing to protect his speech. His words on free speech are considered unspeakable and repeating them will get you punished.