Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-05-01

e. :, s,arenents repeated. thar .hry At
.ll,-t at,ach some importance TO them. and look.
ling only at one side of toe question: begin to lena
a faint assentto What they ~ first passed over
as I;cence of The press, OF rally Of pessantry.
I On sucf, n may NOT be useless. soiemny 10 call
land 20 ooni IRE them as ,ary value the cause OF
truth and Justice. to take iaio their most serious
cousiderasion the present state of the press, and
! endesror 10 come at the root of, and find some
remedy for. an evil which in its growth and vi
oience baiies all hnman calculation, and threa-
tens in its further progress, the security and ve-
ny existence ofsociety.
Enthusiasm, even in the best cause, is danger
Gus In religion it leads to intolerance. in poi-
tics to persecution; in both it should be avoided
as the bane of candid and liberal discussion--I
should never be disposed TO condems amanly OPP
position 70 any administration in most countries
it is necessary TO corref abuses in arepublican
one TO prevent them The warnings of the press.
like the saiutary advice of the physician, may
point out distant danger, and thus preserve rhe
constitution by regulating or changing the diet
and as that patient is generally given over
hopeless, who refuses TO listen TO the maxins of
health. SO he hrst grea, Symptom of decay in
free state is etcct on tbe liberty of tbe press
| This sir, il my creed, and take pride in thus
publicly declaring itg5e press og5t Ia Be ITS osvh
coryerto,. Let every man be al liberty TO publish
at ITO osber hazard. than iossyf ebaracter-except
| those inlarmatory writings which are calculated
to spread poison through the blood Of youth. ard
there il is and ought to be the province Of the
! law. TO punish an offence which threatens gene
raj deprayity. But let me intrcas every homes,
American to remember thar il public opinion is.
the great guardian OF the press. it should be the
severe monitor of its RIGHTEOUSNESS and that If
the character OF the private individual atogosher,
depends upon the integrity of his dealings and
the truth of his conversation, IT is the heigh of
inconsistency to excuse the violation of ,N;h in
| much more important matters, and 70 perni, the
publicity and enormity of the offence 10 screen
the offender. Can you overlook. much less ap.
plaud. that distortion of fa9s and ranccur of per-
sccution against one whom the alr,os, unanimous
voice of the cointryfias proclaimed it. benefac-
tor, which If efeeted against the obscure in
dividuai by private ruaiignity, would enlist every
, feeling and geserous mind against the cppressor
| and sentence hin, TO r,erited indignation?
| And is not the fat notorious n put it 70 the
honest, plain. intelligent sense cf every CITIZEN.
who is not sunk so deep in the mire of political
prejudee as to lose all sense ofright and wrong,
that Of the public prints denomiuated fsaeral the
mos.sare the rancorous opponents of every aa of
administration, for no other reason, than because
| IL is a me.Ishre OF qovcSrr,enf2 Have we rot
heard day after day, until the Disgusting repc:i
lion tired even their Srst inventors calumnies the
| most foul, and paragraphs rhe most offensive.
per 10 paper, with fresh comment and addition,
and tho repeatedly refuted and exposed. again
and again, made the theme Of reproach, and The
ropic of SANDER
Let il be asked. Cor what purpose is this inces
SAINT clamor which is expected to drown the
voice oftruth and justice. thus industrious,y rails
ed The answer is obvious-to keep alive me
spirit of opposition which might anguish for
want OF occasion 10 exert itself, 10 fan into n
a. c-rntsa of
produce struggle by which they are sensible
they cannot lose, by degrees 20 ALLEVIATE the public
mind, and 70 sum up these various obJea5 in one,
srrife dolvn RE present Gd1aisraiion, aud to c
rea Its ruins system OF things. which. what-
soever may be the merit OF i,s eaiers, must de-
rive ITS popular support. from shameful. and a.
bandoned desertion of principle To effect .his
objeSt the means comm :nsurate TO the end
and as administration is 10 be overwhelmed pr
Jas e. nsfss it soy 20 be wondered A. if truth is
perverted, and decency violated, if the associate.
ons of life are enabilterel It's intercourse inter-
ruptcd, & nunbersss dissensions and ieaiousies.
sown in the peaceful garden Of society.
And who are they, who. having arrogated TO
themselves the station Of political eensors and in
struaors have become thus distinguished az the
organs of disafsetion and irumpeters Of sedi,ion
Are they men whose sentiments would have any
weight or responsibility unconneaed with the
party they have espoused. whose education, mo-
rails. superior learning, or superior moderation,
raise them above the level of their feow-citizens
ARE they independent either in fortune or sem
timent, or are they not generally speaking, men,
who having vainly tried other callings for SUBJ
sistence. have gathered i,npudence enough. from
various disappointments, 10 set up f5e raae of a
sezssbsprr. and 20 make the business profitable
they invite subscription by superior vigor Of
inveStive. and venom Instrumentation.
Some needy adventures. who, having TO.
thing 20 lose, expcG profit by change, and
therefore abuse and niisappIy very moderate
portion of inieIea in the cause of faSlion and
filsehood, and trusting 70 the versatility of pc.
puIar opion, hope TO make themselves instrument
tai in revolution forwi,ich they are to receive
a reward proportioned to their service.
Another description consists Of those, who,
having long hazarded their small stock of cha.
raSter.' on desperate allegations, boldly andimpu
IDENTITY pronllga'ed. find themselves reduced to
the alternative Of perseverance in falsehood, or
the Illuminating Acknowledgements, that they
have forfeited all pretensions TO the future sup
port and confidence Of their patrons.
The shfd class land this Is she most numerous)
having neither the talent of invention, nor the
faculty Of reasoning. are Obliged 10 content
Themselves with the humble fame Of the copyist,
carefully gather rho choicest morsels of abuse
Ifnrt al, lit. -.