Page 586

COMMENTARIES ON THE CONSTITUTION
Eleazer Oswald's Editorial Statement, 28 April
We have at length procured the New-York Journal of the 24th March
last (but not through the medium of Mr. Post-Master's opposum-) to which
one of our correspondents had reference in our paper of the 16th instant,
and now take the earliest opportunity of laying before our readers,5 all
that have reached us on the subject of the reply of the General Court of
Massachusetts to Governor Hancock's late spech. The irregularity of our
communications must be solely ascribed to the Post-Master General, who
is still permitted to exercise the most execrable tyranny over the Printers,
and to sport with the sacred liberties of the people.
1. For Governor Hancock's speech and the reply of the Massachusetts House of
Representatives, see CC:566.
2. Reprinted: Philadelphia Freeman'sJournil, 16 April; Baltimore Maryland Gazette, 22
April; Winchester Virginia Gazette, 14 May. The copy of the Independent Gazetteer at the
Library of Congress contains this marginal note: "See the Bostonian in next Paper."
3. "A Bostonian" was perhaps Jonathan Williams, Jr. (CC:566, 608).
4. This editorial comment was printed in brackets immediately below "A Boston-
ian."
5. See CC:566-C. For the meaning of the term "Mr. Postmaster's opposum," see "A
True Federalist," New YorkJournal, 26 March (above).
A Friend to the People
Philadelphia Freeman's Journal, 16 April1
When the advocates of despotic power found their efforts to shackle the
press unsuccessful in many of the States, their next step was as much as
possible to cut off all communication of sentiment, and to prevent any
publications developing the mysteries and dangers of their plan from going
out of one State into another, and also to cut off all real intelligence; all
this was effectually performed by means of the Post-Office, which for sev-
eral months past has stopped and destroyed every newspaper which con-
tained any real intelligence or patriotic publications, while those papers
containing sophistical delusion, deception and falsehood were propagated
through the continent with industry. It is remarkable that the same con-
duct was observed by Post Officers under the British government, when
foreign tyrants endeavoured to enslave America.
The groundless assertions and paltry evasions which make up the publi-
cation of Ebenezer Hazard (that appeared last week)2 can only be equalled
by the enormity of the crime of which he stands charged:-And as the
Legislature of this State has taken the subject up so warmly, and have
instructed our delegates in Congress to enquire into the business,3it is to
be hoped that Congress will take such measures, that in the event Mr. E.
Hazard will meet with his deserts, for rendering an office established for
the general welfare of the people an instrument of tyranny.
2d April.
586