The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

On the proposed TAX on NEWS-PAPERS.

I CANNOT help lamenting, when I consider the great injury the People will derive from so UNPRECEDENTED and PARTIAL a TAX, as that proposed by Congress on the carriage of News Papers—unprecedented, because I believe no such thing was ever heard of before, unless it was in countries where the Government wish to prohibit the circulation of News Papers; and partial, because it is paid by one particular profession only. It is certainly a Tax, and, for my part, I believe it little short of a stamp—and I wish it may not prove more destructive to the profession, than any stamp-Act would possibly be. I have always understood it as one grand principle, in our political creed, "THAT THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS OUGHT NOT TO BE RESTRAINED;" and I well know that the citizens of this country are so fully impressed with this idea, that any steps which might be taken to obstruct it, would be considered in a very unfriendly point of view. The People are not without their JEALOUSIES and FEARs. and I hope they never will be, as it is that alone which can prevent the arm of authority from encroaching upon their Rights and Liberties. The LIBERTY of the PRESS is the GRAND PALLADIUM of Our POLITICAL FREEDOM—the people have a sacred regard towards its preservation, and they have too much penetration not to feel alarmed, when they see any measures taken to clog it. It is the only channel through which they can be informed of the proceedings of their rulers. They are already but badly informed of them, which has given rise to many misapprehensions; and they will be much worse informed, should the proposed enormous TAX, or POSTAGE, take place.

There are now published in Virginia, nine News-Papers, and more than two-thirds of them entirely depend upon subscriptions, for their support. Now, is it possible that a Printer who, perhaps, does not receive more than one or two advertisements a week (for this is actually the case with many of them) can afford to pay three or four dollars a week postage!—His subscriptions will barely support his Paper, and they are paid annually.—A Printer, therefore, thus situated, must give up his business—and this will be the case with a great many of them. Here is an Act of Government, restraining the Press, by which the People are debarred of that useful source of information. Will they not, then, have fears and apprehensions? I know it is suggested, by some, that so many News-Papers are a burthen to the community—but, if there was one printed at every court-house in Virginia, I believe they would greatly tend to preserve our internal tranquility, and would prove a blessing to the community; and I will not harbour the idea, that any one can be so great an enemy to his country, as to wish to destroy a profession that has proved so beneficial to it.

In North Carolina, there are but two News-Papers published, and which afford but little profit to the proprietors of them. Here, in my opinion, Government ought rather to contribute towards the support of the Press, than do any thing which might tend to destroy it. The Printers of both these News-Papers derive little or no profit from advertisements—how, then, are they to pay the postage? and, if they do not receive the Papers from their Brother-Printers, how will the People of this State be informed of the proceedings of Government? This State is worse off than any other State in the Union, in the circulation of News-Papers; and I do firmly believe, that the enmity still prevailing in this State to the Federal Government, may be attributed to that cause. How, then, will the People be informed, should these two Printers be obliged to give up?

In South-Carolina, there are three News Papers published, two of which are printed in Charleston; the other, I expect, will meet the fate of the rest of his unfortunate brethren, whose Paper is not amply furnished with advertisements.

In Georgia, there are two. Both in South-Carolina and Georgia, the News-Papers circulate badly, and will much worse, when the people find themselves HEAVILY TAXED to receive that knowledge of the conduct of their rulers, which ought to be conveyed to them upon the most easy terms possible.

Now, Situated as the Printing Business is, in the Southern part of the United States, is it Policy, or is it safe, in Congress, to abridge the number of News-Papers?—and, if they lay that heavy POSTAGE, or Tax, which they have at present in contemplation, the downfall of some of them will be the natural consequence.

The Printers of the United States have always shewn themselves to be men of liberal and independent sentiments; and I am well convinced, would cheerfully pay a compensation for their Papers being conveyed in the MAIL-Coaches—but for Government to attempt to derive a Revenue from them, is a measure so partial and impolitic, that, I flatter myself, a majority of our Representatives, on a review of the subject, will be more favourably disposed towards them. By the proposed Post Office Plan, it can easily be proved, that from the Printers alone (if they were able to pay it) upwards of sixty THOUSAND DOLLARS would be annually paid Government—a sum fully sufficient, with proper management, to support the Post Office-ESTABLISHMENT—and this to be extracted from the vitals of the poor Printers of the United States!—A circumstance they little expected while struggling, with their fellow-citizens, in the late glorious contest, and, since the termination of that happy period which gave us Liberty, have less reason to expect, in our present flourishing and prosperous situation. The Postmasters appear to have been extremely anxious in this business, and they really have completely effected their purpose—for, they are to receive one half of this postage, for their additional trouble; and the fact is, they will have no more trouble then, than they have now.

But, have not the mail-carriers carried the Printers' Papers for these seven years past, without asking one shilling more for so doing? And would they not have done it again, if Congress had not interfered in the business? Then, why should Congress saddle the Printers with a Tax that is unnecessary?—or why should Congress TAX them more than what is necessary to pay the carriage of their Papers? The fact is, Congress ought not to have interfered in this matter at all. They might, with equal propriety, lay a postage upon the baggage going in the mail coach. The Printers' Papers is, indeed, part of the baggage, though they have been admitted in the mail. The carriers of the mail had a right to refuse to carry News-Papers; and if they had done so, the Printers would have compensated them for their additional trouble, rather than pay GOVERNMENT an ENORMOUS TAX, UNPARALLELED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF ANY POLITICAL BODY ON EARTH.

I hope, however, that Congress will permit the Printers to exchange their Papers with each other, free of postage, as it is of material consequence, both to them and to the citizens at large. In the mean time, the Printers had better associate together, and adopt some plan, so that their Papers may be conveyed, through their Friends and Brethren, in the places where their Papers circulate, to their Subscribers, without troubling the Postmasters with the business. Their Papers may be conveyed in the mail-stage, from one end of the continent to the other, at a considerable less expense than the proposed by Congress—and they may save the fifty per cent. by getting their Friends and Brothers to deliver their Papers to their Subscribers. In this they will be COUNTENANCED; for there is not a citizen but what reprobates the proposed TAX, or POSTAGE, on News Papers.

PHILANTHROPOS.