Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-02-01
Fran The (Bah.J FEDERAL GAZETTE.

Mr.. Hay the pRorEcE of Calender, and
the ref of the feet" thar what would
be tyrannicai &wicked in the national gov
eminent would be confident with liberty
and republicaoifin, If done BY the &a;e 60
vernments. Thus, to pats any law "
he former touching the prefs, even TO
tender its liberty more extenive and IN
objectionable, by enabling the dsten-
SAINT TO plead the truth in evidence,
would be the height of defpoiiim !; but for
he fate governments to be able to lay the
mott rigid reeraints upon the prefs; 20 de-
-lare truth to be a libel to imprifon all
printers as perl5ns Of bad fame, who dare
70 denounce the very plunderer upon the
high way, is to be eftimated the palladium
of cur rights Such is democratic conhten-
cy Such is the doctrine of George Hay,
and luch the THEORY Of Or GRACIOUS
lhilofophic chief
This concluhon is fully efablifhea by
The conduct which both of thefe illultrioas
perfonages have adopted with reipett to IL
oels and the fedition law. Bo have a
greed in denouncing the latter as tyranui-
cal, and beth concur in puniihing printers
10 the fate courts, where the maxim is,
+" The greater The truth, the greater the
libel"
This courfe OF proceedings clearly de-
velopes the motives of that Affected fenfi-
bility exhibited by thofe demagogaes for
the liberty of individual itates, and thofe
pretended alarms at the agsrandizement OF
The national government. Set man at
the head of ftatc government, and there
is jutt about the fame difference between
his powers and thofe of Prelident OF the
United States, c9nfitximally, as there is
between the negro, whipper of Virginia
and the plain citizen Of Connecticut, do
meaic ally. Let PRECEDENT OF the United
States become fate demagogue, an anti
federal advocate for fate supremacy, and
by his arttul fang and Aattery, get an al
cendancy over nine fates, and he is more
dangerous, and ten to one, more tyran-
nical mater, of ths lives and fortunes of
their individual IubjtRs, and thro' them,
of the whole union, than George the sd
upon his throne has it in his power to be.
He has not only lis fate partlzans, but
the mott vindittive laws ofthe fate, to be
his miniiters of vengeance. The fubt!ety
Of The .h;-e --.aheo rilr more dcto1abie.
For re may cauf: an honef man, for hay-
ing ipaken or publifhed the truth, to be
incarcerated and declared an OUTLAW, or,
what is equivalent, perlon of bad fame;
and fill appear faunch republican and
loud bawler againf general law which
fhall caufe truth to be reipeded, but will
full, maIiclous lies to be Punilhed in courts
of JuRicc. Awake, arife, fellow citizens,
and view your true Fl uation. You have
refritfed the whole body of the union;
the foyereignty of the people, from paG-
ing any law abridging the liberty of the
prels ard yer in every fate in the union,
ucder the eommou la7v, the truth may be a
libel. Thus admitting the abfurd and
ant federal doctrine, that part IS greate,
thar the 4ubslei
The(e reflections have been forcibly
impreaed upon our minds by a late high
handed meafure which has been lying in
emoryo fome time, and is at length aGum-
ing " the very form and prefure" of
monlter, at head quarters. Orders, it is
reported, have been TENT tofeversl diltrid
attorneys TO have the editors of SIX Fee
deral prints arreifed for ieditioD, among
whom we have the honor TO be included.
Now we like this /! Il is Cad Ike, becaulc
It is B0ua9a,fe-lfe, and mutt forever Gience
thof- jewellers who have fsllely acculed
tie Great Mammstb Of inbecility AS far