Gazette Of The United States

BALTIMORE, July 14.

A correspondent observes (on the paragraph copied from the National Gazette, in our paper of Thursday last) that it is generally, if not always, a proof of partiality or design, when a publisher or conductor of a newspaper is uniform in exposing to his readers but one side of a question—For example, it is not fair to stigmatize the law of Congress respecting newspapers with having for its object the prevention of disseminating the proceedings of Congress, and to hold up a majority of the members of Congress as enemies to the liberties of the People. In the first place, the law alluded to obliges the post-office to convey all exchange papers, to and from printers, within the United States, free of postage—thereby enabling the printers in the several States to give due and regular information to the people of the proceedings of Congress—So far therefore from stopping information at the seat of government, it has rendered its transmission to the several States more certain than heretofore—Secondly. the law does not prevent, but authorizes the printers in the several States to send their papers to their customers in any manner they may think most convenient. It does not compel them to employ the mail stages; and allows them to use any other. In this respect, therefore, it cannot be said to abridge, in the smallest degree, the dissemination of newspapers or congressional proceedings—Thirdly. if the fact be as the paragraph from the National Gazette states, viz. That the rates of postage will lessen the sale in the several States of papers printed at Philadelphia, it follows thence, that as the papers printed in each State will come cheaper to the people thereof than Philadelphia papers, the former will be preferred by the people thereof to Philadelphia papers. And as there can be no doubt but that the State printers will insert in their papers all congressional proceedings, the people, by preferring their State papers, will do injustice to none, but [lose some] information, though the Philadelphia printers may [lose] some profit. But the fact is, that the regulation in question is calculated to ensure the circulation of newspapers by annexing to them the same sacredness and protection as to letters, while the postage is perhaps less than they would be carried for by a contract made by each printer, taking into the account certainty and regularity of delivery, which every subscriber will naturally consider of some importance. Whoever, therefore, will view the subject in this candid light, will be cautious how he adopts the insinuations printed at the seat of government, whose tendency, if not object, evidently is to inspire the citizens with a dislike to the Constitution, by inspiring them with a dislike to the Laws, and an abhorrence of their Framers. At the same time every unbiased reader will expect from the printers of such paragraphs a corresponding insertion of those of a contrary nature, in which the Government is vindicated, that so their readers may at least have an opportunity of hearing both sides.