The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-08-14
From the Baltimore Federal Republican,
g Free Press and Printers Rights"

The following letter upon publck subject,
received from publck officer, with whom We
have never had the pleasure OF private ac-
quaintance, must have been meant for publi-
cation and therefore we give it, that lie may
appear in his proper person.
WASHINGTON, JULY 90, 1922.
SrR-In your paper Of the 9th notice an
intimation of your intention TO take the con-
duct OF Mr.. Blake and myself in hand, with
the opinion that you shall be able to shew
that they laid law aud justice prostrate."
think it necessary, therefore, to inform you
that this opinion has been formed without a
full knowledge of the proceedings and testi-
mony had in the case of Mr.. Binney and if
you take upon yourself to publickly discuss the
mattel on er parte testimony, you will do it at
your own risk, and will, of course, be prepar-
ed to meet the consequences for place too
high avalue on publick opinion, to allow my
character to be tampered with, with impunity.
If thelpress has its liberties, individuals ag-
grievG by it have also the means of obtaining
redres secured to them.
Wien the official trial of Lieutenant Abbot
shall issue from the press, which will be IN
about a week; and when all the documents
had inthe examination of Mr.. Binney's convic-
duct shall be before the publick, which will,
as | am informed, soon be the case, | can
then have no objection to a just criticism OF
my agency in these matters-iorl feel convic-
ton that the publick will not only justify the
opinion of Mr.. Blake and myself, but bear me
out in the belief that both Mr. Binney and
Capt. Hull have been wickedly and mali
Ciously prosecuted, and will pronounce
that the sentence of the CouGt-MaItial on
Lieutenant Abbott was mild, considering the
magnitude and aggravation of the offences
proved against that officer.
| am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, ID. PORTER.
FREDERICK ScHAEFFER, Esq. Baltimore.
We stood in no need of any admoni-
ton Of the gallant captain, as to our
rights in the exercise of free and in-
dependent press, nor of its correlative
responsibility. We know to title all
the lawful risks to which it is subject
and it is not in his power, if he chose,
to add to them, such as they are. We
do not understand him as wishing to
scatter threats Of an extraneous kind !;
had such been the meaning of his words,
they would have been utterly disregard
ed. As one of the servants of the peo-
pie, we have a right to scrutiniZe his
acts, and will not betray our duty, SO far
as to finch from it. With his private
character we have nothing TO do; but
his publick character is publick proper
ty; and with respect TO either, he ought
to be aware of the maxim of life, that
if man, particularly in an elevated
station, takes proper care of his con-
duct, no T" ta,nperiag" can iT,rre his
It Is mol for him TO prescribe TO us,
when and how we shall be permitted 10
discuss pubiick affairs, even waen they
relate to himself. As to the grounds,
which are now before the pubhck, up
on which to judge of the merits of this
business, it does not lie in the mouth Of
Capt. Porter, above all men, 10 call
them er parte. la Abbo,'s business he
was at once the accuser, the officer max
ing the arrest, the witness, and the
Jealous overweening agent of the pros
ecution, who attended the trial, object
ed to testimony, and examined the, wit
nesses. Can he, after all this, be per-
mtted, with the shadow of propriety,
to call the proceedings erparte !? Then,
as to their authorization, they come
to US with the attestation of Mr.. Waldo,
one of the most respectable counsellors
Of Boston, who places bis name in the
title page. His correctness and impair
TALLY have not been disputed. But it
seems, that we are required to wait fer
the official publication, which is to ap-
pear hereafter. This we cannot sub
nit to. We are not bound to make up
our judgment upon any official rules,
suggestions or drafts, where other sufi-
cient evidence exists; much less from
those emanating from military sources.
1t is not yet come to this. God forbid
it ever should besides, our confidence
is not in state to yield itself explicitly
to official doings or outgoings. We ac-
knowledge, that recent events have
materially diminished the respect which
we could before have entertained for
them. With regard to the documents
which he informs US, are expected TO be
published By some body, we know not
whom, and, 1chen we are not told, respect
ing something about the excuIpation of
of the navy agent, Binney, it is very
odd, that we should be interdicted, till
all the uncertainties respecting them
shall be cleared up, or that when they
appear, it should be expected, that we
swallow them at all. The good cap