Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-09-19
FRIDArs,) BY SAMUEL PEASANTS, Jus1oR,

nation, the people are made acqaaint-
ed with the subject under discussion ;
with the interesting speeches for, or
against any measure: and by whom
such measure may happen to be oppo-
sed or to be supported.
BY the publication Of the laws which
follow, they are enabled to judge how
far the rights of property or personal
freedom are abridged: and whether
such laws ought to be continued or re-
pealed.
In the same manner they are infor-
med of the cool or bad conduct OF
their judges and magistrates whether
they discharge their respective Offices
with ability, integrity, humanity or at
tention 8 or whether for incapacity,
Partially, negligence or connivance in
the execution of the laws, for vexations
and oppressive practices they deserve
to be tumbled from that elevation, for
which the defects oftheir heads or the
|depravi,v of their hearts have render
ed them unqualified.
The proprietor Of this paper is one
among the many who has thus endea-
vored to discharge his duty as a cent?
nelin the fortress OF our political rights.
He has tried to exercise according to
the utmost of his ability, power that
is formidable to every agent Of execu.
tive government power that cont.
nues to pervade every quarter OF, the
country. 1t should, therefore, reason.
ably be hoped, that the public, from
the consciousness of its utility,
would contribute at least punctuallv, if
not literally, to its maintenance. Has
the case been so? He will state the
facts, and his patrons will themselves
pronounce from the statement submit
ted to their inspection.
This paper has been sixteen wears
established last April and we trust,
with some beneficial effects TO the
cause OF freedom: yet there are thou
sands of dollars on our books, of which
a large amount consists or debts of
from SIX to ten years standing.
With twelve hundred and fifty sub !.
scribers, and upwards of six AMI TWEEN.
ty hundred papers issued weekly from
our press; the profits Of the es ablish
ment should amount to considerable
sum. Yet whilst the price of paper
without mentioning work mems wa
ges, &c. amounts weekly to from fvtt
and twenty to thirty dollars and whilst
types require TO be renewed every
| three or four years our annual re-,
ceipts do not amount to two thousand
dollars, exclusive of advertising sum
inadequate to answer the di5burse-
ments of the establishment.
The price of this paper too, has no,
been raised, but is continued 1T four
dollars per annum, whilst most other
papers published twice week, are al
five dollars.
| Under such circumstances, it has
become an imperious duty for the pro-
prietor to address himself to the Jus.
tice of his subscribers. He feels it in
dispensably necessary, that those who
lowe him long standing debts should
come forward and discharge them
and that those for whose punctual pay.
ments hitherto, he feels grateful, viii
pay the amount of the sums which they
respectively may owe him.
| The proprietor feels conscious thai
ne has conducted the paper since it,
first establishment, upon those princi
lples which he deems the most virtuous
He therefore hopes that his presen
appeal to the justice of his subscribers
will produce those effects which h,
thinks it merits.
Argus Office, 5M Sehtm6er, 1909.