The New Hampshire Gazette

Liberty of the Press.

WHATEVER be the fate of the indictment pending against Mr.CARLTON, Editor of the Salem Register; every one who knows him and his meritorious paper, will regret that he should be selected by hatred and persecution, for a passage that has been insinuated from one end to the other of the United States, in public and private, for these three last years; and for the first time on the loss of an election, it is thought to comport with the dignity or convenience of the Law; or rather the hatred and persecution of certain persons to prefer an indictment for an accidental and purely casual repetition in a newspaper of an hackneyed opinion, that could never be particularly meant or designed, with that ingredient of malice that constitutes a Libel. Therefore, so considering the article, no honest Jury can ever pronounce it a Libel.

The Liberty of the Press, like religion, makes ever fresh struggles, (to check even the excess of it)the flame is confined, not extinguished, and burning fiercer from confinement, bursts out in destruction upon the persecutor. This is a purely philosophical sentiment, confirmed by history, ordinary experience verifies it.

The partiality and injustice of this persecution is more striking and palpable than could be imagined. At the moment, when the highest and fairest character in the United States is libelled with impunity, counteracted by contempt; the poisonous arrows of dark treachery and hired mendacity, plying with unwearied pains, and unvaried aim at his impregnable virtue and supereminent qualities.-"An individual is singled out for what we know to be the casual, every day's accident of a newspaper, embracing a popular idea." But as in the former case "Good sometimes comes out of evil," the calumny on our revered President, has, from one corner of this great part of the habitable globe to the other, recoiled upon his wicked factious enemies, and redounded to his. unceasing praise, by the viciousness of some attempts, and the weakness of others So, Mr. CARLTON, we doubt not that ere long you will be effectually shielded from the persecution of your particular enemies and persecutors, and realize the blessing (for persevering in the cause) of Liberty and Republicanism. We sincerely wish you a happy deliverance from those persecutors in this aim at you : and for the present cheerfully rely on the honor of your Judges, as. you may well do on the virtue of a Republican Jury.