Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-08-18
FROM THE BAL AEcf.
A POLITICAL CATECHlSM.
IConchded.l

4
to be guided, as it respects the character
and measures Of Mr.. Jefferson!
Answer. AS it respects that august
parsonage, the accommodated "seet
is, as yet, allowed a very licentious 'ndu'-
gence /; inasmuch as no p,esOi0as restraint
is laid on the press, by binding federal
printers, 4vbne uurouOit7ed Of f,'me, to
keep the peace and to their good BEHAVE
our. A great apostle of liberty, who
contemplates the beauties Of the goddess,
with ineHable RAPTURE and daily kneels at
her altar and kisses her shrine, IN VAN at
tempted such restraint. Notifying
defeat! All, the blindness OF certain
Judges! They had not far enough advanc-
ed in the 6 march Of sentiment to per-
ceive the necessity and salutary nature OF
such measure.
Q. On what ground was the previous
restraint attempted |?
A. 1t was attempted on the ground OF
the statute of Edward third, a great and
worshipful king of England who lived
nearly FIVE centuries ago-indeed long be-
fore any printing press had been known.
A most luminous period that was, when
all business in England was done in French
and Latin, and the English tongue was
scarcely spoken. Yet neither the reason
ableness Of the thing, nor the antiquity Of
The precedent availed- The motion was
rejected, tho pressed with all the pathetic
eloquence that ever inspired a tongue de-
voted to Iberty's sacred cause. Blast the
disappointment wash my hands OF It.
- Whatever man, with mere individual
might, could do. was actually done. Il a
single arm could have effected it, the free
dom of the press would have been estab
llshed ON firm and immoveablc basis
but some men, who are right in the main
need further disciplining.
Q. Is then the iuviolabihy of Mr.. JEFF
ferson's character and measures, In no
manner shielded from the unhalloWed
touch of federalsss?
A. II is, in manner, (tho' alas !! too
feebly,) shielded from those vile caitifs, BY
The Bru;sb Common Laqu. Printers have
the lcentious Indulgence of publishing
what they please concerning Mr.. Jefer-
son. They arelaid under no heavy bonds
Tor their good behaviour no commissl-
oners have been appointed to give pre-.
vious licence to political publications.
Indeed, 6 they order things better in
France" that dear land of liberty. Prn.
tiers here, ] say, are allowed to publish
whatever they please on politics; liable
merely to fines, bonds and imprisonment,
if they presume to publish aught, that
NAV tend to diminish the character Of
our august chief, or Of the other officers
of government, whom he delighteth to ho
nour.
Q. May not printers publish prorea-
Bile truths against the adminlstratloi,wlth
out mourning punishment?
A. No: such an indulgence would
lead TO the most fatal consequences, and
is not to be suffered in free country. IT
would open door for intolerable licen.
tiousness; it would tend to PROSTATE 60
vernment, by bringing it into contempt );
it would expose the faults of great ren to
vulgar eyes, and might wound their feel
ings. 7,rufb is sharper than serpent's
tooth; it stings and irrltates an elevated
mind, ten fold more than falshooa. There
fore our wise ancestors, some seven or nine
hundred years ago, established it as a max
i'm, that !" The greater The tratb. the great
err the H6el."
Q. Do you then approve the British
government!
A. None can approve it less, or detest
it more it is system of intolerabe op-
pressioa and slavery III mass of rot
ten institutions. To call ii free gov
eminent is an insult upon the human un-
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