The New York Journal, And Daily Patriotic Register

Poughkeepsie, March 24, 1788.

MR. GREENLEAF,

By inserting the following you will much oblige

A CUSTOMER.
From the INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER.

MR. OSWALD.

In yesterday's paper I observed a publication from Ebenezer Hazard, Esq. Post Master-General, in which he endeavors to exculpate himself from the heavy charges made against him from all parts of the continent of stopping every free paper in the post office, thereby preventing due intelligence getting to the people in the different states at this most important crisis. A heavy charge indeed, an established usage older than our governments, to be broken by a petty officer, and so much against the voice of the people.

It is the established creed of America, that the liberty of the press is the palladium of all the civil, political and religious rights of Americans. The newspapers are the best vehicles of intelligence and information, respecting public affairs to the people at large; and to stop their free circulation, is an act of injury and insult to these United States. At no time can it be more necessary to keep open the channels of communication, than the present moment. The great motive for erecting the present post-office in America, was to promote the public good, by facilitating a constant and speedy conveyance of public dispatches and private letters; and the incidental revenue arising from the latter, was but a secondary object. The mutual exchange of newspapers by the printers on this continent, in the mail, was always exercised under the British government, and continued since the revolution, until a few months ago, when the said Ebenezer Hazard, Esq. prohibited sending any papers in the mail. What must be the feelings of every freeman in America, on the conduct of this little despot in office? And what does he say in his defence? Nothing! A few paltry low evasions, and unsupported assertions make up his performance.

Take the alarm all ye lovers of freedom—it is a sample of what you may expect, if the new system of national government should be adopted.—The first symptom of a design on the liberties of America, is the shackling of the press; the second is the cutting off the communication of sentiments in the newspapers. If the people of America submit to this conduct, nothing can rouse them from their lethargy, and their next sleep will be the sleep of death—The loss of their liberties.

WATCHMAN

N. B. The printers at Baltimore announce, that within this some weeks past, they have not received a single paper through the post-office. The campaign coming on there soon, doubtless is the cause of this total stoppage.