Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

For the GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES

Mr. Fenno

Notwithstanding the malevolence of Peter Porcupine against the friends and champions of Liberty, I have always been inclined to think well of his principles; imagining that his bitterness proceeded from his education, and that all his sarcasms, however severe, were the feelings of his heart.

I have, however, like many others, been disappointed. In a pamphlet, published by Mr. Bradford, the public are presented with a letter written by Peter Porcupine against himself, which he sent to Mr. Bache to be published, as coming from the democrats. Such baseness and deceit, I think, can result only from a disposition long hardened in guilt; & that the writer should possess so much malignity as to submit even to forgery for the purpose of annoying his enemies, is what I never could have believed.

How can Peter expect, after such an instance of meanness and falsehood, that any of his assertions will be credited? or how will he convince us, that his scarecrow letter is not also a forgery, and even all the letters that have been written against him?

I recollect reading an address in one of our papers some time ago, to the citizens of this place, urging them to check the scurrilous writings of this author, and alleging, at the same time, that such abuse would be pardonable in a native American; but that no such liberty ought to be granted to a foreigner. Such a sentiment excited my contempt at the time: and I have, since seen it commented upon, in one of Peter's pamphlets.

The idea of confining the freedom of the press to the natives of this country, is too grossly absurd ever to have been the real wish of any person; and I am now firmly persuaded, that the same was counterfeited by Peter, and intended by him as a handle to his enemies, upon which he might ground some censures at a future day.

Let any person consider, whether such a sentiment, at once so base and so ridiculous, could be the cool opinion of any man amongst us; and if his judgment acquits these, whether we may not justly charge it upon him, who has since shewn himself capable of similar misconduct.

VERITAS.