The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

Mr. Willis,

At this juncture, when so many publications appear in your Guardian under feigned signatures, I feel myself interested, and think it a duty incumbent on every judicious and candid observer, to treat such publications with supercilious contempt. It has been adopted as a maxim amongst eminent writers treating of the laws of interpretation when an author omits setting his name to his work, we ought to beware of giving much credit to what he relates; although there may be times when it may be prudent, and even necessary for a wise man not to subscribe his name to his work; as when he lives under an arbitrary government; yet in every free government it must be a great abatement of the credibility of a writer, when he conceals his name, as anonymous writers have rarely obtained much credit, or done any service to mankind: and a man who either does not, or will not tell his name, ought to be presumed to be an enemy to human society, and unworthy the least credit; although many authors have set their names to great falsehoods, ceteris paribus, an author who gives his name to the public ought to be reckoned worthy of credit, unless we have very good authority for contradicting his testimony.

The liberty of the Press as it is understood and contended for in the present age, is more inconsistent with liberty and character than can be well described, as it implies a liberty of assassination or stabbing the characters of innocent persons by lurking villains, whom it is impossible to discover. If a man should pretend that he had a right to go through the streets in the dark, and to stab any person that he pleased, and that it was unlawful for any person to pursue him, or even to carry a lantern to discover him, he would justly be considered as an enemy to society. Notwithstanding, this is the very right these men contend for, who allege that the liberty of the Press permits them to say anything they please without fear of discovery. But there could not be a greater proof of the cowardice and meanness of the present times, than the fondness they have testified for lurking in darkness, and stabbing characters at pleasure, as no man of honor ever was, is, ever will be, or can be desirous of such a privilege; which belongs only to the midnight assassin and cannot be desired by any other. But the true liberty of the Press is, that men should be permitted to publish what they can prove to be true, and to print only those sentiments that they have courage to own.

FRIENDLY DICK