The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-21

sinn of opipinn may hr construed ira an
n u,eerssa Y aud oterheaird abuse Ut y
9 auf,.d pfisi,gr, yet on sober refeerion'
his feeling must suhsidr iuto admiration
# the independence which dares 10 stem
tho tide III powerful opposition. There
>. I think. a belief In existence relative To
newspapers, than which .noililng can he
morn erroneous And this belief Is IN
GREAT dcgrec encouraged by the editors
themselves. II is tllis--tha they are to
ins.ft nothing IN politics or religion, ba,
" hat their subscribers deem orthodoxy
Bm the total mpossibily Of performing
! this duty must be- evident, when we reilf't
| for a noment on the diversity Of characters
who compose subscription list; even 1t
the impropriciy of making such requisl-
ZION nere not palpahle. An editor OF a
new spapet. should suppose, is mol hohnd
down Ia Il certain sci of opinions, because
he i. a caterer for the public appetite. lie
should mol be restricted from the Tree ex-
preston nj his sentiments on whatever
question OF policy may arise, by a fear Of
cnconniering the ire of his patrons-hc
should the rather be encouraged 10 speak
freely his opinions, that, whether they be-
regarded orthodox or not, they may have
The effect either of shedding or elclling in
formation. Such are my views of the rel
alive duties OF editors aud patr0ns--crude
aud crroBeoiis porhaps-bGi nevertheless
such as | haze ever entertained --'lem .
which have " grown With my growth, and
strengthened with my strength"
Ii an editor bc restrained from promnl-
eating his sentiments, by the fear {" losing
his patronage, would with Difference a5k
of what use is his paper? Does il fulfil
one of its high obligations? Ne. II Is Il
mere fac simiio of everyday transactions,
without las it will be admitted is right gl
wing honor where honor j. due, or awaken
ing the people to a scnse of thcu danger
when their rights are violated. Ia the iaD-
guage Of my motto, such papers would IN
deed be nothing bal duh, staie, fai chroni-
eiers If smaH beer. II is true, We should
hear Of robberies and murders, of maria
gcs anil deaths, aud al "hair breadth 'scapes
by flood and field but, as 10 any great
questions nf national policy, and as 10 the
propriety Of the political cosduct OF our
rulers, We should be as much in the
dark MS were the Egyptians. In Egypt,
TIT hlfHn WAS ftHF tatl Nbilu u bi WIN
as, were our presses trammclled--lt would
be .ftH in the loss Of our rights and liber
tcs-it would be FIJI not only in our poll
teal but in our mogoi degradaiion-super
stition and bigotry would again stalk thro'
the land with imposing font, and reason
would be- swept from the face of the earth.
The cloud a ID pitlU Of fac, one of which
now shelters rs from misfortune, and the ~
Their guides our loostepsin the path to midi
Tldual happiness and uation,d glory, would
be converted into engines of darkness and
peIseculion--our minds would be hecload.
ed with ignorance, and our hands would
be engaged in kindling prosecuting fires,
under the belief, that the spark descended
from the blazing piiiar set up on high, rs a
beacon TO guide rs, by the God who placed
us on this mundane sphere. Let our pres
SEES be free aud independent, and they will
not only he guardians of the naton's iIhnr-
lies and independcnec--thcy will not only
be indicators of its righis--but they will
be eilcctual guards against individual
encroachmcnts--.ihe Will form barriers
over which towering aud unchaslencd am
bition will in vain endcuvortolc leap thcywlll
be the terror of the great 81 wealthy, when
they presume upon these ioriuitous circum-
stances IN trampIc on the rights of ;hch hum
BILE eottager--and they will be the support Of
the INDECENT &puor, " hen oppression would
attempt 10 deprive them oftheir immunitles'
They viii uphold the weak and humble in
their lowly walks and they will snatclthc
plume from the crest Of the naughty fool,
whose haugldincss is his only claim to no
tcc.--In fine, they will be- the protectors OF
the honest fame of individuals and natioTs,
aud caSiigdtors of those who attain their
power, wealth or Importance by dishonest
aud oppressv, means. CllILIS.
February 9TH, 1923.