The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-19


"THE SPIRIT OF 'SEVENTl' SIX"
The first number will probably appear about the
sixth or thirteenth day of September next.
CUsroM, seems to require that the Editor of a
Gazette should commence his career by q decla-
ration OF has political faith, and an exposition of
the principles which his laho.s Will be con-
Quoted. To this there seems to be no objection
lie who sohcits the Patronage of the people,
ought ttilr To explain the nature of his pretensi-
on, and TO state explicitly what he means to per-
form
The Editor of the Spirit of'Seventy SIX is
now and always has been Il true republican.
native OF America, he loves his country, and VIII
contribute his best efforts to advance its chara =
Ter, to promote lis interests, and to secure lis
rights Attached to tile constitution ot the Unit
Ell States rs the bond OF Our tnion the ark OF our
safe,y, and the palladium of our independence, he
VIII watch over 1t with unccasng vigilance, and
exert all his talents, suCh obey may be, To guard
1t from violation
The basis OF his repubcanism, is a conviction
that the people have intelligence enough 80 Un-
derstsnd their rights, ana iirmncss To- maintain
them; dIscermc INT enough to form Il correct es
innate OF their true interests, and integrity IL
pursue item. But Tor this great purpose they
mus have tuil information. And tie Editur trusts
that lie Will nave the power well as the incli-
nation, TO make has paper a channel thro' which.
ii Shall be ialrEy and imp.rtial!y conveyed
~. =
| lie approves The principles on which the pre-.
sent administration came into power and APP
p!ads the course that has been generally pursued.
But mdiscrmnate appreciation will seldom be
Afforded eit%er by intelligence cantiOur; and
| he acknowledges that there are some acts OF the
sc erai government, winch his best Judgment
mpcls ilri u contlenn. The RIG lit OF expire ,simg
hs own opinion ne shall continue 10 exercise with
| the most absolute independence. he will not
Halter either the government or tie people The
Ld'tor Is not OF opInun Illst the .so,ernmant can
10 no wrong. lie is not an advocate for Legs
iative or executive intaliIb.lty. The wiscst men
may err; the best may commit mistakes IN the
| highest deg.ee injurious To t'IcIr country The.
E'itorIs therefore an enemy TO that luoiatI.v; G
| Which, from the commencement Of our govern
ment, we have seen too much Blind confidence
IN those WHO govern, is thc most absurd as We.
AS the most fatal OF ali national decisions, The
jealousy which produc es watchi'mess among
tie people, Is the first and most valuable trait 40
lac character ofsepublcanism Who have been
)" successful IN their efforts TO establish tyran-
~ as those vino have mad the art to acquire un-
bounded popularity Let the late revuluL. ON IN
France, let all history speak
In the conduct OF the paper itself, the Editor
WI pursue course essentially dine. ent from that
| generally followed by the Editors of newsrap. rs
| He means upon all occasions and all subjects 10
5Ne iuii information and to tell the Whole truth
! !hi oSjvvt ut tire Editor IS not merely 10 rive.
:
hsh the people with AL the materials requisite 10
| enable them TO form correct udgmcnt for them
J selves. In a republican government, the opinions
OF the people have the ost decisive influence Oh
tle coRdHet OF die government How is it pos
SIbie That these opinions can be correctly formed
II they result from imperfect views and partial
| information Yet such is the situation of tho II
States generally, ut tl,Is moment Among those.
VINO subscribe Tor gazettcs, the great majority
receive one only, and generally speaking, have as
| much knowledge of public affairs as the editor
OF that paper chooses to communicate.
| lie great error into which the Editors of pa
pers IN the U. States have fallen is TINS The,
seem to consider themselves as advocates, VIII sc
business 1t Is, TO bring forward facts and arsll-
| inentS OH one side only OF the question. They
act before the grand inquest of tie nation, like.
counsel before jury, who press that evidence
anG those arguments which tend to support the
cause in which they are engaged, and like them,
they leave their antagonist the task of opposition
| andTepiy. In q coHrt of justice 40 Inconvenience
| results from tins arrangement. On the Contrary,
1t IS supposed to be the best plan ever vet de, ~
ed, tor the promotion of justice and the el,cida-
| non OF truth. The subject is fully discussed i,
| is placed IN every point of view, and the Jury af
ter hearag both sides, and not til then pronounce
| their verdict. No matter how OBSCURE the iudi.
'Idual, no matter how trivial the controversy tbi
course is invariably pursued. How much more.
| bow Infinitely more important is it, that the Deo.
| PIC SpOuiu nave correct information that they
should hear both sides, questions involving their
! BEST rights and tncr most valuable interests
| That such is the course generally pursued, q, /,
TACT winch will not, 1t IS presumed, be controyert.
! ed. There are many districts IN Virginia which
| depend entirely for paper Information ofInen
and measures, OH one of two papers pubshed in
thiS CITY. 1t would be strange indeed, if there
| was not great coincidence of opinion between
the Editor and his subscribers. The Editor or
| the SP1RIT OF SEVENTY SIX" means 70
adopt different plan. He dass not consider
himself as AN advocate, whose business il i, Il,
expose 20 view one side Of a subject He doe
not consider the press q rostium or tribune
nom which lac is to deliver 70 iiical lectures and
t. communicate long spcculituns for the iUstrt,c.
ton and amusement OF bis readers lie VIII NOT
be over anxious to communicate his own opinions.
under an apprehension, that his subscribers, il, j,
want OF las aid, shSuld be involved in error On
The contrary, he considers the press rs "a channel
through which information ought TO be freely and
July communicated to the people and th,t it IS
{ much more probable that they will entertain n
correct opinion, it they form it for Themselves.
at.cr receiving full information, thsn if they were
J to adopt it ready formed from the press The E.
duOr, therefore, reserying TO himself Die lipbt
which every individual has, to express his own o.
pinions, pledges himself to give place in his pa
per TO every address to the public decent, writ
! ten, and which relates to the affairs of tie ,ro
vernment, or the oihyia conduct Of those ,btri,st
/ ed with its mapgrefncot- hotyever d,is,,..,,, 81