It has also been reported to me that Martial law has been declared in that persons and property, have been and are now forcibly imprisoned and detained there and that the has been ordered under arms to resist any attempt to arrest the persons accused. I have not particularly enquired into the truth of these latter reports; for although they may become matters of great importance in the sequel, they are not necessary to be ascertained and acted upon at present.

I now express to you my opinion that your conduct in the destruction of the press was a very gross out-rage upon the laws and the liberties of the people. It may have been full of libels, but this did not authorise you to destroy it. There are many Newspapers in this which have been wrongfully abusing me for more than a year, and yet such is my regard for the liberty of the press and the rights of a free people in a republican Government that I would shed the last drop of my blood to protect those presses from any illegal violence

You have violated the constitution, in at least four particulars you have violated that part of it which de[c]lares that the printing presses shall be free being responsible for the abuse there of and that the truth [p. 3]