Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1810-10-26
PROSPECTUS
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TO Be PgBLIsgED ~ NARfIEsEyR5E1
BIZ
TOHH ALBURTYS.
PROSPECTUS
ALBURTYS.

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< a free and "epublcan spirit, than Oge too for
chilly suggested By the history OF mankind, that free
goyernmenis have ever been e%phemcral aud short
lived that they have ever been prematuFely des-
troyed, either by the slow but CERTAIN Operation OF
internal corruption, or by the furious assaults OF ex-
ternal violence. The proud structures OF Cgecian
and Of Roman liberty, whose apparent strength gave
promise CT millennial durAtc4rj after exciting for a
few years the wonder and admiration OF the world
were sapped aid overtime WIN. Their short and bril-
liant day of liberty has been succeeded by a long and
gloomy night. For nigh two thousand years, the
banners OF despotism have sulenly waved over the
majestic ruins Of the Capitol 1.-THE morH.neuts of
kthenian greatness are overthrown and scarce a
vestige IS left, to rem nd the degenerate sons ofthe
heroes who conquered at Marathon, at Salamis and
ut Pldtra, Mat their fathers w~erciree.
Such too has been the fac OF the modern Europe
an republics Our own eyes have seen them all Pc
IRISH in succession. Holland, VcIice and Genoa have
bowed their heads 10 a despot and Switzerland, a
name dear to freedom and virtue, Switzerland too
has fallen.
Would we avoid the fate Of the republics, which
have passed down the troubled stream of time before
us III VIC would, let us diligently use the means Of
giving durability 20 our republican institutions. OF
these means, the diffusion ofusetul knowledge among
the people, has fcea considered by the wisest politi-
clans, as the safest and the best An enlightened
and well Informed people, only, can duly appreciate
the blessings of liberty and unless the inestimabie
value ofthat rich boon from Heaven, be known TO
IL laS III lC pIOPiCy " u VAN ~ hOiO tiia~ tiNy
will venture their lives and their fortunes iHits de-
fence.
Until a system Of Irrational education be adopted ard
carried into execution, that general diffusion o:knCun
ledge, so essential to the preservation OF our liberty,
can be effected on1y thro' the medium of a free, un-
shackled Press ii is the pride and the glory of our
country, that the Press 10, here, as free and unres-
trained as the wind on our mountains. 20 the free
dom ofthe Press do the people OF United America
owe their independence for it was this which ena-
HID tha a,lia1fanel M fri IF sIE m cvrifa IN ,ha
rtass ofthe people that unconquerable love of liberty
which supper ed them under all Tive ~privatioes and
calamities of a seven years war--wsich infused into
every soul that grand revolutionary sentiment sit is
better to perish THAI to live in slavery"
An institution like CHS cannot be too much cherish
ed OF extended. It were well for our country, if
every town, ifevery village, if every hamlet contain
ed one OF these fountains of knowledge, pouring forii,
salubrious streams to refresh and animate the people.
Nor let it be objected, that the Press ~disseminates
perricious, as well as wholesome principles that,
tho it frequently aids the cause eftruth, it sometimes
extends the dominion Of error. Establish the IItnci-
pie, that we s.iould cease to use all those things which
are cminently liable TO abuse, and you overturn, at
once, all that is useful, all that IS venerable, ali that
is holy among human institutions. The Christian re-
lgion itself, sacred tho it is, and divine Us was it's
author, would be banished from the eartl. by the re-
cosnltion OF such a principle Tor the most odious,
black and detestable crimes have been perpetrated, IN
the sacred, but abused, Maine Of the Saviour of man.
kind.
Instead, therefore, Of wishing to see the influence
OF the Press diminished in our country, We should
endeavour, at the same TINE, to purify it, and to
widen the sphere of it's operation. Into the purest of
those Gazettes which make the domestic politics of
our country their principal theme, party violence
rsncour and f~alsehood, viii sometimes lntrude. A pc,
riodlcai publication, whose object is the diffusion OF
useful knowledge, and the dissemination of sound prhn-
cipies OF morality, among all classes, degrees and
denominations ofmen, should avoid the discussion OF
topics, which arouse all the turbulent passions Of the
human breast.
A periodical work of this latter sort, to be entitled