Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-03-29

:" It's Atto W.
TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
NO. III.
Fellow ftizeas-In my last number are
stated, the principal topics on which / pur-
pose TO address you. l have written, as I
win continue to write, with a freedom
which the times demand; but which the
preachers of passive obedience and non-re-
s~istance to the measures Of government,
however oppressive and r~uinous, will not
fail to condemn. What! they win cx
claim, can he be a friend TO his country
wao will npt stand by its government
Must he not be its enemy, the hireling of
a foreign nation, who dares to question
the rectitude Of his wi government in its
disputes with that foreign nation Who,
for instance, would offer an excuse for the
British government, which has caused so
many injuries, Eut a British tory, a British
pensioner, a traitor who had received Bril-
fish gold?
My fellow.citizens! Have you been
taught to believe, that your rulers are IN.
capable of erring? incapable of injustice
towards a foreign nation incapable of
seeking their own interests and gratifying
their ambition, at your expense! lncspa-
BILE of crimes! IF so, why, in your con-
stitntion, have you declared them amen
able to Justice ! liable TO Impeachment and
removal from Office? TO prosecution and
punishment in the courts of law? Why
was the press, already free, guarded by 2
| special amendment to the constitution
Was this guard provided OILY that envy,
malice and revenge might with impunity'
expose the errors Of private citizens, and
SANDER virtue itself when not cloathet
with power? No. History and expert
ence proved that men in Office, in place!
| OF power and trust were sometimes I'm
| faithful and corrupt-that it was no. Away
easy to bring them to justicc--that SOM
tin,ss their offences were Of a nature TO {
wade the ordinary judicial proeess--iha
public shame and disgrace could be thei
only punishment. The press is free, tina
any Of your fellow-citizens may address
you on any subject which can affect you
interest, honor, safety and general wei
fare. The improper, the unwise the I'm
lust acts Of the rulers ola nation, may b
directly injurious to the citizens; the!
may also be injurious TO foreiga nations
and produce dangerous disputes, retalia
ton aud war. When such are the effects
or tendencies OF their measures, he who
sees them has a right, and tits his duty, &c
bring them into public view, FOR the pur,
pose Of public correction. This right ]
viii use-this duty ] will attempt to per.
form. But another duty first demands my
care--to vindicate my W character, and
exhibit my title to your attention.
I am. fellow. citizens, 10 a singular stu.
alton continually censured and reviled
BY every unprincipled wretch who prints a
news.paper, or by his correspondents e.
oually base and yet rarely upon any src-
| c;6c charge on which l can come to an IS
sue. In one case, indeed, this was done
was accused Of receiving British gold.
| AZ the instance of some of my friends, !
| consented that the libeller should be prose-
cuted. He was accordingly indicted, con-
yicted, and punished by fine and imprison-
ment. His counsel (Mr. Jefferson's DIS
trict attorney 10 Massachusetts, with a
view 10 mitigate the libeller's punishment,
| offered to the court a reason, which must
surprizr all those who have formed their
opinions of me from the misrepresentation
and lies OF democratic prints" 1 hat the
fairness OF my character was SO well known,
and my reputation SO firmly established,
the libel could have done me no injury
But neither conviction in court-nor at the
bar OF reason 1.-THE tribunal to which in adj
dressing the people of the United States,
/ now appeal) can silence my accusers.
1.-THE lies so oft o~'erthrown" are renewed;
and they viii be repeated while the pollu-
ted prints which spread them abroad, re-
&c - deceiuAd and ahn-