The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

The face of our country is charming in our eyes, as well as in those of strangers who visit it. We take pleasure in hearing them express their approbation of what they see. We are flattered still more by finding that they like the inhabitants, and we love our country and the cause of freedom the better for believing, that they will go home and diffuse through their several countries an high opinion of our nation. Our newspapers are sent into foreign countries, and those who read them, form their notions of us from the accounts they contain of our Situation and expectations. What good end do those writers who fill them with slanders of men and measures expect to answer? Do they fancy that foreigners will respect a people whom they describe as destitute of rights, having lost them very lately; their property tyrannically torn from them by excise officers whom they are directly advised to tar and feather. Will they chuse to remove with their estates, their workmen, and curious arts, into a country which is so ignorantly and villainously governed as the newspapers represent? In France they consider our condition as a triumphant proof of the efficacy of the principles of liberty. Other nations are beginning to adopt their ideas. But we have men who are labouring to deceive them, and to induce great numbers to stay at home, instead of emigrating to this land of oppression. It is so much the interest of the rulers of nations to keep the industrious and wealthy people at home, that we may be sure every advantage will be taken of the scandalous paragraphs published here, in order to discourage the throngs of settlers who are disposed to cultivate our forests. It must be confessed, if these writers are paid by any foreign power to misrepresent and discredit the affairs of the country, they are well entitled to their reward.