Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

For the Gazette of the United States.

Mr. Fenno,

THE late opposition to the Law in the attack on Gen. Nevill is perhaps too severely reprobated under an idea that the individuals who have thus transgressed were aware of the extent of their crime: This Sir, I may venture to assure you is far from being the truth, since it is well known that a very great portion of these lawless men have but lately arrived in the country from Ireland, that they are so extremely ignorant of the free principles which govern our Republic, that they have readily believed the reports which a few discontented and wicked men have disseminated among them; viz. That the rich people in the lower Towns pay no taxes--That two or three men have got all the power and almost all the money of the country into their hands, and that they are striving to obtain the little that may be yet in the hands of the poor, through the medium of the Excise which they are told a slight opposition will remove.

This being a simple statement of facts, the next thing will be, to consider the remedy.

As it may be extremely difficult to detect and to punish the villains who thus sow the seeds of discontent--it may be proper to attend to the soil where those obnoxious weeds are sown.

Some method must be fallen into, by which, the ignorant Emigrants may be instructed in the nature and principles of our free government, before they are suffered to run wild in the woods; or if this cannot be effected all further importation of ignorant and vicious men without Industry or any other useful qualification whatever ought to be restrained by government, and none should be suffered to land but such as should bring vouchers for their social qualities : for us to continue to import annually to our country, a set of men, who, instead of improving the lands, become petty tyrants--who, either through ignorance or vice, may be led to overturn all Law and order, till one of their own leaders, under pretence of setting things to rights, may place himself at the head of affairs, and govern us as he pleases, may one day make us the ridicule of all the world, if we are not on our guard in future.

With respect to the present question, I do not believe that in the instance, the merits of the law are the only object--but I ask, Will you my countrymen, support the laws, as they are openly enacted by the free suffrages of your free representatives --freely chosen by yourselves--or will you be governed by a few ignorant and idle fresh imported foreigners set on by madmen, who, under feigned names, admit each other, not by free suffrage, but by dark and secret ballot into a dark and secret conclave from whence they avail themselves of the glorious freedom of the press to send forth as much of their venom as they dare to publish ; the rest they intrust to secret corresponding committees.

I demand of you, which do you prefer?

On your choice depends mine, for I am attached to no particular soil. I can say with the immortal Franklin--"Where liberty dwells, there is my country."

Yours, &c.

PEREGRINE PEACEABLE: