The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

Mr. Printer.

To my great surprise, I saw in your last week's paper, a long epistle inserted by the signature of Candidus, vindicating the abominable and prevailing sin of extortion and oppression, by absurdly insinuating, that the "remedy (of limiting prices to the necessaries of life by authority) would prove worse than the disease"—To prove which assertion, such trifling obstacles are thrown in the way, that none but a sordid mind would have dreamt of it—from which it plainly appears, that famous writer to be an hireling of some monopolizer—that for the sake of a small premium, would say black is white to day, and white is black to-morrow; and may be ranked among our two-faced gentry, which have of late appeared in their true light—But, bless be God, it is not the doctrine of such a canting hireling that can find root in the heart of any honest man—more especially at this day of public distress, when individuals, both in town and country, seem to drive the poor labourer beyond the borders of despair: Those are the people that are the greatest sufferers: it is not them pointed out in Mr. Candidus's epistle, that make a profit sufficient to support them on Rum, at the modest price of nine shillings per gallon. I humbly conceive such people might be better employ'd in the service of their country, than keeping a petty dram shop, which is only fit employ for an old woman; therefore, if those are the sufferers he so artfully describes, no pity is due. It's an imposition on any person's understanding to suppose that hundreds of well meaning subjects would be dissatisfied at so essential an Act as one to regulate such glaring abuses now practised by a few monopolizers, who care not one whit for the grand cause, so they can feather their own nests; on the contrary, thousands are and will be much more dissatisfied by their extortion: and if they have lost all sensation of humanity for their fellow-creatures, it is high time the authority of each State should take the matter under their consideration, and regulate, as in their wisdom might think fit.—I cannot omit taking notice of his grounding his performance on the Congress and Assemblies neglect, in not establishing the prices of every commodity sold at auction, and debaring the proprietors of privateers the privilege of bidding on their own goods, which in my opinion is very absurd, because, what would it signify to order the goods so taken, sold at public auction, if the prices were limited? It is a contradiction of terms—And as to the proprietors bidding, has ever been rejected heretofore, even by those that were ever so distant connected: and why can't it be held as sacred now? He also asserts, that where there is no law, there can be no transgression. I'll allow it to be so in a literal way of speaking; but to make use of this argument in such a case as this, proves this hireling to be incapable of acting the honest part—where no law is made to compel him: therefore he is very unfit to be called a Free-American, & ought to be bound "in all cases whatsoever" agreeable to the tenor of the British act of parliament.

We plume ourselves highly by being engaged in a just and righteous cause; and it therefore requires virtue to support it; without which, we cannot look for that blessing we so ardently wish—On the contrary, we must expect to be severely chastiz'd till we behold our iniquities, which are great & manifold, & turn therefrom by learning to fear God and love our neighbours as ourselves, &c. I shall defer enlarging, as vain repetitions and long prayers denote a pharisee—the former (especially) I think very applicable to my friend Candidus.

VERACITAS.