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NOTE ON SOURCES
several essays on the Constitution and Maryland's ratification in the
summer of 1788.
The impartiality of the Baltimore Maryland Gazette was questioned by
some Marylanders and Hayes often defended his paper's impartiality.
On 11 January 1788, the day the fifth installment of Genuine Information
appeared in the Gazette Hayes firmly, and publicly, stated his editorial
policy:
When subjects of the greatest magnitude are before the public,
the strictest impartiality becomes the duty of every printer in con-
ducting his press.-To preserve that most invaluable privilege, its
liberty, it becomes necessary to admit the pieces of writers on both
sides of a question, when they are intended to inform the public
mind, and not to be the vehicle of personal reflections and slan-
der-Impressed with these sentiments, the Editor of the Maryland
Gazette, &c. would always wish to oblige his friends and correspon-
dence-as much of his paper as can possibly be spared, will always
be at their service, and he will endeavour to insert their pieces
correctly and in the best manner-While it is thus his endeavour
to please, he flatters himself that every candid and enlightened
mind, will pardon any involuntary error, and kindly afford him
encouragement and support in this his arduous business.-Origi-
nal compositions will at all times be particularly acceptable.
On 15 February, when Hayes started publishing the Antifederalist
essays by "A Farmer," he expressed "his gratitude to his literary friends,
for the numerous instances of their patronage-The many original
pieces which he constantly receives from every part of the State, suffi-
ciently evinces their approbation of his conduct, in the publication of
his paper, which he has now the happiness to find extensively estab-
lished. He must assure them of his determined resolution to support
the dignity and liberty of the press, by an impartial admission of pieces,
on both sides of those great political questions, that are intimately con-
nected with the public welfare."
On 27 June Hayes elaborated upon his publication policy of the past
and outlined his policy in the future with respect to personally offensive
articles. He stated that:
From a desire to protect the reputation or good name of our
fellow-citizens, we have frequently taken the liberty when any pieces
have been too acrimonious and personal, to obliterate or soften
the exceptionable passages, and in so doing, have sometimes gained
the approbation of the writers themselves: for men, in the ardor
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