The Virginia Gazette

A Writer, treating on the Liberty of the Press, has the following Observations.

"I have lately observed in the Papers several Letters relative to the Votes which lately passed in the Court of Common Council on inflammatory and abusive Paragraphs, and the Liberty of the Press; but as I do not perfectly agree with the Writers on either Side of the Question, I shall take the Liberty of making a few Remarks on the Subject: It appears to me that the Common Council acted very right in censuring the false and scurrilous Paragraphs which were published against the late Lord Mayor, which were, I believe, generally condemned by equitable and candid Men of all Parties; but, at the same Time, I think it was rather injudicious to introduce any Passage in their Votes which might be construed into a Reflection against the Liberty of the Press, as the abusive Paragraphs against Mr. Townshend might have been censured in the strongest Terms without any Thing of this Kind. And there was the greater Impropriety in this, because it was even then talked of that a Design was forming to lay some new Restraints upon the Press; and the real Friends to national Freedom should be cautious of appearing to countenance, in the most distant Manner, so pernicious and detestable a Project. Notwithstanding what I have said relative to the Votes referred to, and though I think one Passage in them was exceptionable, yet I have no Doubt but the Majority of that Court of Common Council by which they were passed were Men well affected to the Cause of their Country; and should any iniquitous Design really be formed against the Press, I hope they will heartily join with the rest of their Countrymen in its Defence, and give the most incontestable Evidence, that though they disapprove of its Abuse, yet they will not tamely suffer it on that Account to be wrested from us. It should be remembered, that it is impossible that any considerable Degree of Liberty can be enjoyed without some Danger of Licentiousness; and we may be assured, that whenever a Design is formed to enslave us, it will be under the Pretence of suppressing Licentiousness. But let us not be deceived by any such Suggestions; there is hardly any Benefit, Advantage, or Blessing, we enjoy, which is not liable to Abuse. But would we therefore wish to be deprived of them? It is admitted that the Liberty of the Press may be abused, so may the best Gifts of Nature and of Fortune; but they do not, therefore, cease to be valuable. No temporal Felicity is unattended with some Inconveniencies; but if there be any Englishman who thinks Liberty not to be worth defending, because it is sometimes accompanied with Licentiousness, he ought to be sent into Turkey or Siberia, till he learns to set a just Value upon the Blessings of Freedom. Lord Mansfield, as well as every other Lawyer in the Kingdom, is abundantly convinced that there is already a sufficient Number of legal Restraints upon the Press. If it be licentious, let these be made Use of. But he who shall attempt to procure new Laws against the Press must be an Enemy to this Country, and will be justly entitled to the Execrations of Posterity. The Freedom of the Press is considered, even by Foreigners, as one of the noblest Privileges we enjoy; and an ingenious French Writer has lately observed, that any Attempt upon the English Government to restrain this will be one of the strongest Indications of approaching Despotism. If we meanly and basely suffer any unprincipled Minister to deprive us of this, we shall soon rank with those wretched Slaves and Vassals who are now groaning under their Bondage in almost every Part of Europe; and no Slaves would be more unpitted, or deserve to be so, than those of England."