If your
adversary hire better writers than himself to abuse you the more
effectually, you may hire brawny porters, stronger than yourself, to
assist you in giving him a more effectual drubbing. -- Thus far goes
my project, as to _private_ resentment and retribution. But if the
public should ever happen to be affronted, _as it ought to be_ with
the conduct of such writers, I would not advise proceeding
immediately to these extremities; but that we should in moderation
content ourselves with tarring and feathering, and tossing them in a
blanket.
If, however, it should be thought that this proposal of mine
may disturb the public peace, I would then humbly recommend to our
legislators to take up the consideration of both liberties, that of
the Press, and that of the Cudgel, and by an explicit law mark their
extent and limits; and at the same time that they secure the person
of a citizen from assaults, they would likewise provide for the
security of his reputation.
_The Federal Gazette_, September 12, 1789
_An Address to the Public_
FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE ABOLITION OF
SLAVERY, AND THE RELIEF OF FREE NEGROES UNLAWFULLY HELD IN BONDAGE
It is with peculiar satisfaction we assure the friends of
humanity, that, in prosecuting the design of our association, our
endeavours have proved successful, far beyond our most sanguine
expectations.
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