COMMENTARIES, 25 OCTOBER, 8 NOVEMBER 1787

fellow citizens, to be ascribed?- The press is the scourge of tyrants and the
grand paladium of liberty.
I shall reserve the remarks I intend to make on the remainder of
your speech for future letters, but before I close the present, permit
me to ask, whether the formal declaration, that no title of nobility shall be
granted by the United States, is to be construed to imply, that some degree of
power is given to introduce a nobility? and whether America (as it would
appear you are deep in her councils) among the other great blessings
she may derive from the adoption of this new constitution, may expect
(by the permission of Congress) to be favored with a foreign or self-
created nobility.
New-York, October 19, 1787.
1. "A Republican" quotes Article II of the Articles of Confederation (CDR, 86).
A Slave and A Son of Liberty
New York Journal, 25 October, 8 November 1787
"A Slave" was apparently a response to a satirical Antifederalist piece printed
in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer on 6 October (CC:136) that was re-
printed in the New York Morning Post and New York Packet on 11 and 12 October,
respectively. This Antifederalist piece listed thirteen "blessings" that could be
expected from the Constitution, including the abolition of the liberty of the
press and the establishment of a standing army. "A Slave" responded with an
alternative list of thirteen "most salutary consequences" to expect from the
Constitution.
"A Slave," "unavoidably omitted" from the New York Journal of 18 October,
was reprinted in whole or in part nine times by 4 December. The entire piece
appeared in the Country Journal, 31 October; Massachusetts Gazette, 2 November;
and New Hampshire Spy, 6 November. The Massachusetts Centinel, 31 October,
reprinted only the "salutary consequences." This shortened version was re-
printed once each in New Hampshire, Connecticut, and South Carolina, and
twice in Massachusetts. The Centinel reprinted the "salutary consequences" in
combination with the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer's thirteen "blessings."
"A Son of Liberty" responded to "A Slave" by enumerating thirteen "curses"
that would result from the Constitution. It was reprinted in the Boston American
Herald, 26 November; Virginia Independent Chronicle, 12 December; New Hamp-
shire Recorder, 1 January 1788; and Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 16 June.
Because the New York Journal, 1 November, announced that "A Son of Liberty"
was "unavoidably postponed," the 4 November date is suspect.
A Slave
New York Journal, 25 October 1787
MR. GREENLEAF, I observe we have our doubting, fearful, and pro-
crastinating brethren; those who, in the profundity of their penetra-

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