The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-11-19
From tte Baltimore C1,o,;,,s
THE PRESS

upl=
newspapers are we'll calculated 10 r, ,usi
people idih, but not 10 tLini.. VIA, ', -
meaning OF this profound otser,atia..' uit
bt, we confess we are unable To pnd.,..
unless IT Is indeed that newsna,e. 'ne
a pond, reus folio volume, neatly l., N'l
lettered-unless it is that the sl'hic,,' 'ld
treated Ia such publications. In All =, nj
ons lights aud bearings Unless !, i ~ ''f'-
newspaper IS mo- something else -
newspaper. In this point of view u
learned Doctors maxim. Is Just as orof II, t7
aud as pregnant with meaning. Az !,
be for a man, who, when lnykinr ov,.'.a
map of the world, in which he lives shs',}
refuse to become "A purchaser. becans.
could not lind his fathers house m ~
surface. A newspaper Processes io 10 e
thing more, and ii would be folly to alien, ~,
more, than To give rapid and hurried slsn54'
Of the world as II passes leaving for M
elaborate and leisurely publications. VIII
toll in lis rear, 10 fiji up the outlines, and,
give ID each transaction, its compl.,,o.''
hue, form, impress and character T'
genius that prcsides over a daily Jo..a't
may be said to fly in the atmosphere Lar3'
ing mirror up to nature. The form. :.
men aud things appear, and they disn,.s5
with motion almost as rapid and as Co.,:
Gus as the passage ofthe objects thernsel,a.
That precise and particular infornafio,
not conveyed, is Just as rational an obiec,;a'
as il would be that the images Reflected Ga
not abide in their passage on the surIacr -
a looking glass. We know that the learn
ed DIR. Johnson has many converts to h..
dogma-Many men who are prone to I'M.
derrate knowledge con, eyed in this way-.
who turn up a lip of sapient sheer whcne.
vera pGblc paper is mentioned Fro,o
what we have seen of human life, we wi.
! however venture this declaration, that sucI
characters who pretend to hold ncwsp.ue,.
in contempt, are ot all others the most an
noycd by their stings-Ofall others the mast
vulnerable and the most sensitsely aliyetn
such wounds. The press may be consider.
cd now as competent part of the govern.
ment itscif-lOr, as the editor of the Ma.
tonal inteiligencor has remarked some
time since, the government could not exist
without it. Its freedom is guaranteed Nv
the same instrument which enables Con
sreas to lesIslate-our navy TO acquire Iall
rels on the ocean, or our army upon the
land, namely, by the Constitution of our
country. Such high claims has the pre,s
10 public patronage, with all its impeifec.
tons. II we then contend for the dignity
and importance of this political engine, We
speak IN no other language than the foun-
ders ofour republic have spoken; it com.
prrhends the very essence of a freeman's
rights, and is in fact but another modi6ca-
ton of the freedom Of speech Whatever
IS taking place in Europe--whatever trans.
pres worthy of note, from the extremities
OF polar cold to the blazing equinox, Nhe-
ther the parties in the hustle, be kings and
emperors. at the head Of hostile armies,
ready to perpetrate mischief ON earth or
merely assembled in Congress, to devise
new ways and means ofenslaying the human
race whether they are poor unhappy men,
struggling with their ancient ch;ms, and
Drawing hostile faulchions or whether phi.
losophy is ranging the whole extent Of The
armament, or diving into the depths of he
ocean for wonders; whethcrit be the higha
of the muses. thro' the delightful dominions
OF fancy or the gigantic discoveries made in
the regions of whether it be that new
worlds are found in heaven, or on earth or
the decline, 81 the prosperity of the may
and cntangng, and multiplied machinery
OF commercial relations, they are all embra-
ced in the rapid career Of daily Journal
1t IS the connecting link between a man ST.
tuated IN the remotest depths of oar wes-
tern W,ds, and civilized or savage men,
separated by intervening oceans and noun
tains. This mode of communication Wa
unknown 10 the ancients--they did not
know how to make the winds and waves,
the couriers Of intelligence it was some
thing reserved for modern time to invent
| and to enjoy. The founders of our con.f
tuition did not overrate the importance OF
the press but il does more than even al
this-it holds a ccnsorial eye over public
servants-Guilt trembles to the inm0st
reccsscs OF lis venaIity, before its detecting
beams, and the modest retiring calumniated
patriot, rises from the overwhelming surgcs
of surrounding obloquy, more glorious by
the press. We shall conclude on the pre-
| sent occasion, by citing the words of ons
the most accomplished orators, states
men and scholars, that our country can
boast
The following is an extract from the
speech Of Mr. Webster, in Congress, on
the bill making further provision for filling
the ranks Of the regular army, January II,
1914;
Important as deem it to discuss, on all
proper occsions the policy of the measures
at present pursued, it is still more important
to maintain the right of such discussion, IA
lis full and just extent. Sentiments lately
sprung up, and now growing fashionable
make 1t necessary to be explicit on ibl'
point The more perceive a disposition
to check the freedom of inquiry by extra
VACANT and unconstitutional pretences the
irmer shall be the tone, in which shall as,
sert, and the free manner in which J shah
eXcrcise il. 1t is the ancient and un