66

persecution, which form the leading policy of
the advocates of toryism and royalty; but he
pledges himself not to allow them a single inch,
even should they oppose to him their whole
phalanx.¹³⁰

Apparently there had been some demand for a Re-
publican (Democratic} daily newspaper in Baltimore -
According to Martin, William Pechin "relinquished his
intention of creating this establishment in our fa-
vor".¹³¹ While he was awaiting the arrival of his
printing aoparatus, Martin formed a verbal agreement
with James Carey of Philadelphia,

late editor and printer of the United States
Recorder, a paper decidedly devoted to the
support of the Federal Constitution, and the
pure principles of genuine republicanism^l32

for publishing the American; but this proposed part-
nership never materialized,¹³³ and the American
carried in its caption, "By Alex. Martin",

George Fryer was employed to canvas the city for
customers for the paper.¹³⁴ Martin later issued this
statement regarding the subscription list:

It had then no subscribers previously engaged;
like a friendless stranger it threw itself
upon the generosity of the public ... many of
the hospitable doors of its citizens were
thrown open for its reception.¹³⁵

At the end of the first year, nine hundred subscribed

130 American. May 14, 1799,

131 Ibid. May 14, 1799.

132 Telegraphe. March 13, 1799.

133 American, May 14. 1799.
134 Ibid. May 18, 17§9.
135 Ibid. June 9, 1800.