American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-24
mr.. Hardy. Note. on New ms1leo.
To The Editors Of the Amsnean Telegraph.

MIR. H.rdy's Notes ON New Msxieo.
To the Editors Of the American Telegraph.
GENTLEMEs: In your paper Of the day before
yesterday you were so good as to notice, but
too favorably, my unpretending " Notes on New
AScico." Every word you wrote was penned in
the spirit of kindness, and intended to recon-
mend my contributions to public acceptation.
Imagine, therefore, the reluctance l feel in
being compelled, by a sense Of public duty as
well as individual self-respect, to say to you
that the concluding sentence of your notice goes
farther than can accompany it.
It is true that have not now, nor have
ever had, any desire " to give" just g offence"
to any man or class Of men, and my confidence
in the fact that have never 30 transgressed
stands confirmed by the obvious inability of any
one to point out single culpable sentence in
any thing have written, notwithstanding all
the discreditable turmoil that has been raised,
and the ignoble means that have been resorted
to to drive me from the columns Of the public
press, and prevent the people of this country
from hearing recital Of facts and circum-
stances which it is both their right and interest
to be correctly informed Of.
AT the same time it would be impossible for
me to promise-and pitiful in me if could
that nothing l shall hereafter write shall be
" susceptible" Of "offensive Interpretation" by
unreasonable and passion-led men, the mental
and moral perverseness of some Of whom, as
well as their Impotence of constitutional right
and freedom Of speech, have enjoyed pretty
fair opportunity Of accurately approaching.
My idea is that if writer or speaker con-
stantly observes the Apostolic formula Of
speaking the truth in love-" he does all that
he can be required to do; and that if he should
then offend, the burden of offence lies not upon
him, but on the other party.
Come what may, trust that the Genius of
Liberty shall never have just cause to reproach
me with having covered under any assaults
how fierce or malicious soever, made upon the
liberty Of speech and Of the press in my person.
And conceive it high time that it should be
known abroad, that here, in the metropolis Of
the model Republic of the world, sacred to the
largest liberty, and called by the name Of WASH
INGTON, things have come to such o pass that
truth dare not be spoken, nor more light shed
abroad than intolerance and bigotry choose to
permit; that already is there established viz
tual censorship of the press, an American IN
der Eapuryatorius"
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY HARDY.
WASHINGTON CRY, July "a, 1851.
1t is proper we should here append the notice
in our paper, to which Mr.. Hardy alludes:
Notes on Nep Merico.-No. Is of this series
is to-day presented to our readers. We have
read it with satisfaction, and in admiration Of
the writer's ready apprehension, and easy and
familiar style of narrative. He appears to be
equally at home in describing the physical
characteristics of the country, the social condi-
ton of the people, the political aspects of So
ciety, and the idiosyncracies of individual char
acter. In describing the ecclesiastics whom he
has seen, the religious rites he has witnessed,
and the influence Of the religious institutions of
the country, some of our readers are Of opinion
that he judges with prejudiced mind. We
can answer for him that he does not so believe
but lest he should unintentionally give offence
in this particular, and to people whom he has
no desire to offend, he readily assents to the
omission of every thing susceptible Of such an
1t appears we did not clearly understand the
assent of Mr. H. as to the omission of every
thing susceptible of an offensive interpreta-
ton; but in the confidence that he will not
give just cause of offence, and that others will
not do him injustice in the matter, we desire to
present no avoidable restrictions.
AN ANTEDILUvIAN SKELEToN.-A Rheims
(French) journal gives the following item Of
intelligence which we translate and pass along