Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-06-13
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WEDNESDAY, yusr IS.

.erl resse table. Whenlt IS permitted
b.coa,c the medium through which
s1.sbooa, unfounded detraction and ma
n;ty are circulated, lis utility is destroy
3by the subduction of public confidence.
Sawhat degree of improvement might
neral information be advanced, were.
9TH oDlv committed to the press, or ev-
) wiliul deviation subjected to che
,ssrest penalties! How happya circum-
',ace were eulogy the sole prerogative OF
$ meri.orioas, and censure suffered TO
o,t her shafts at infamy alone
No government was ever vet formed to
sbich the aid of an uncorrupted press was
mare essential than to the government OF
he United States, and with shame be It
,-knowledsed, no country ever saw 1t
more debased. The anwho is resolved
! devote himself conscientiously to the
promulgation OF interesting Information,
Gees with modification and disappoint-
ment. his labours lost, in that deluge OF
fiction and misrepresentation with which
The popular mind is continually over
vaelmed. The impositions which are
iacessautly practised, have tendency TO
Imir the credibilitv OF writer, however
deserving of universal confidence, to the
uarrow circle Of personal acquaintance ne
who is faithful to the truth can fad no
stamp of veracity which shall be gene
rally recognised, or which an artful or as,
umine villain will not readily counter
felt.
The abuse of the press has reduced A
nerica to depiorable situation. Every
thing in our government depends on the
popriety Of our elections. Enlightened
suffrage can result from correct information
alone. There is no possible way of diff
islng that information but through the
press; and the press has SO frequently been
prostituted to the base purposes of calum-
ne on the one hand, and the intrigues of
wicked ambition on the other, that it serves
batto distract, not to determine. Where
will this terminate? If not corrected, in
the. ruin and disgrace of our political insti-
tltions.
Every well wisher to the honor and hap
eiaess of this country must,have witnessed
with sincere regret the death blow inaict-
ed by the present chief magistrate of the
United States, on the dignity of the press.
Instead of exhibiting the least disposition
to Acknowledges and preserve It's respecta-
bility, by restricting it to the promuiga,ioa.
Of truth, and of rendering it serviceabls
TO the public, by taking measures to IN
sureits confidence, he was the first to sane
ton its dsgradation-the first among our
exalted characters who presumed TO treat
itwith contempt. No greater iasult could
Be- offered to a free people, 70 more insi-
dious attack upon their rights, than that
single expression, by which he pretended
to divest himself OF all solicitude respecting
the s laceratioas of the press"
That officer who avows an indifference
soFeputation is an enemy to a republican.
goyernmens. The /" laceranons of the
press are the seyerest punishment, which
san BE- inflicted tor misconduct; and should
Mr.. Jefferson be able to persuade the pub
licin,o the sentiment he has advanced, that
alicenssre is to be disregarded, he Will
have completely disarmed the sentinel O
our liberties, and may commit outrage up
saoutrage with IMMUNITY.
That the press has been prostituted to
the vilest purposes cannot be denied; bu
instead of sinking it still lower, let it be
corrected. Let our public characters, IF.
TaEy DARE, parity the channels OF popu~
lar information, BY bfotsctng truth, and
@sceuatepaacingg talsehood. Prosecution is
the only means by which it can be restored
10 confidence, and in government il
ought TO be the duty Of every Pub,ic officer
70 prosecute thg nan who attacks his rept.-
tatlon. Let trut'. be admitted in justi6ca-
hon; then would our Journals, which are