Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

The Norfolk Herald, of May 2, states that Mr. Machir is re-elected for the district of Ohio.

J. Trigg is re-elected.

For the Gazette of the United States.

Mr. BRADFORD,

THE writer of the piece signed Civis, with whom you appear by your paper of this morning, to be very angry, never saw the introductory observations in Mr. Fenno's paper under the signature C. 'till he saw them in print; the only part he had in the business was, to convey the paper to Mr. Fenno, with a verbal message that it had been offered to Mr. Bradford, who refused to publish it unless the name of the author were left with him. The account given of the transaction by the candid young gentleman, whose examination you have taken and published, exactly agrees with this, to the most scrupulous minuteness, in all points but one, that is, that it was William Bradford and not Samuel Bradford, who thus refused the paper, "observing it was your practice to have the author's name before you inserted any piece." Now if this is your practice, and you direct your brother, your clerk, or any person in your office, to give the answer, it is your answer, it is your act; you cannot be ignorant of the maxim, qui facit per alium, facit per se; he who doeth a thing by another doth it by himself: The writer of Civis is not afraid that his friends will be made to blush for him nor at all moved by your threat of it, unless "he comes forward and makes reparation for his ungenerous, ungentlemanly attack:" having done nothing that comes under that description, he will not lose his temper because you have lost yours.

Civis conceives that a Printer has a right to refuse admission to any piece he disapproves, and that he will, if he is a wise man, so exercise this right so as to gain and retain the public approbation; this however, by no means takes away the right of an author to send to another printer a piece refused by the one he preferred by making him the last offer of it.

Before I dismiss the subject I would observe that the honestest and best men may and often do differ in opinions upon very important subjects; if controversies arise, in the newspapers between such persons, it would tend to the peace of society to conceal the names of the opponents, and thereby prevent personal friendships from that jealousy which is too apt to get in among the friends and supporters of each when they are publicly known. I would therefore recommend to you to reconsider the practice of your press and make the matter rather than the name of the author, the test of propriety in your publications; 'till I have heard you do so, you must not take it amiss that I send any thoughts, which partiality to my own opinions, may induce me to think worthy of the public eye, to another press, where temper is less irritable and curiosity less predominant.

CIVIS.

May 10.