The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-21
toR Tur FinstrIbs.
rIfp MusCELLANisT--NO NH

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rIfT msCELLAN1sT--NO Nil
"Ahai unfortunate beings are The conduct
!" afs 81 newspaptfs Whatever they Wy :.
" eslain 10 b. pisfe1resentrd b. some per
:, sen az other nDdif the Say nothing, which
.is the esnGeas course pursued hy many OF
"ihem. thet are thrown a,ida as 1ull stule
1sl 'chronioirrs of small beer II they do
moi publish the whole irudl about mntier,
and things in general, they are complained
"af for hacking independence aud il they
- Do .penk ont plainly end iearlestly, the whole
town will be set Ia an upfoar againsi them.
.iaon
Yon will not | hope, Mcssrs. Editors,
consider me IN usurpcr Of one of your pr
sicges, because shall attempt To show the
advantages of an independent press, aud
the innnmerablc evils produced by such Us
ar, afraid to speak their sentiments with
candid boldness. Among the measurable
blessings secured 10 the people by their
constitutions aud laws, il the liberty Of thu
press Tho pisr trainers of those charters
OF otu liberties well knew the importance
aud the power Of this engine. They had
witnessed its efficacy in speeding the bali
ofrcyoution 10 the goal of freedom. They
had seen whole armies raised by its inhu
enee in the times that tried mems souls"
they had seen the dormant energies of
a mighty empire reused into action by ils
appeals n the patriotism and courage of
the pcopie--they had seen the epark kin
died by lis ~ first weak breath afterwards
blown iuio flame by IL ru1er hlast--and
they had seen the storm hushed into calm
by its voice, hen need no longer existed
for urging the people 10 resistance. These
were practical comments on the blessings
OF an unshackled press worth whole yO-
iuine of the fears of theorists, who dread
that its freedom approximates too closely
10 liceuiousnrss. There is M good With
ost its conconlitant evil. Even the pulpit,
where We are taught TO look for purity
without stain, is sometimes filed by mcn
whose passions have never been thoI oughly
rcfned--hy men who take advantage of
their stations TO vent their spleen against
those who have offended ihem-and who,
measured by the standard held forth by
themselves, would be found unfit for the
Sanctuary. But, viii venture to assert
that the benefits 10 be derived from an in
dependent press far outbalance the OWLS
TO be dreaded from IT'S Aceulousnrss. Che
one " to the other no more than 81 10
Hercules" For my own part, would not
give FIX for a newspaper which DATE not
speak what itthinks of "priHcpta q hom
antS.' Newspapers, particularly in this
country, are looked upon as sentines ON
the watehtow,r. 1t is their duty TO cspy
the miscellaneous designs of men in powc
Ito guard the rights of the people---to
chaUi lan "A ri, III, ~ q
right by the people generally --to curb
the progress of dishonerahle ambition--to
check vice and immortality 10 expose
To ridicule and scorn the conduct of those
who, vested "wllh little brief authority,
play such fantastic tricks before high Heat
ven, as cen make angels wccp'--im fne,
they should be mirrors of the age, in which
vice and virtue may see their features re-
lected, and rccei,c lneriled appreciation or
censure. II viii be readily admitted by
every one, nj the very first glance, that the
positions which have assumed arecorrc,t
Then why, IL may be naturally asked, are
not onr presses Independent? Tvs is the
reason they fear 10 incur the disapproba-
ton of those who patronise them. You,
Messrs. Editors, have experienced the ef-
feets ofthis spirit yourselves; as pirit SO cs-
scnlially different from that by which those
who exercised it proicsscd To be actuatcd
| should deem II almost AN act of supcre.
rosatlon,if not an insult to the pubic un.
Outstanding, 10 enlarge upon the benefit,
oi newspapers, nj this enlightened day, did
not perceive that some men, who wish Il
pass Tor men OF sense and learning, seize
upon every occasion Ia edge in something
disparaglng TO them. | want no better c.
whence Of a mans weakness than to heal
nm deprcciate the lpasta aluable appestags
TO our free institutions andhurl anathcma,
al an instrument, which has so efiectual
ly aided in rcscuing the world from the
grossness of superstition and idolatry--anC
which, In the haGds OF the Supreme Being
IS now spreading Light and Truth through
out the world-teaching to monarchs on
Their thrones their duties and pointing GU
to the hunblest peasant his rights and pri
fIeges. Ii lsaeed.ess to say that where til,
press Is tree, 50 are the people and wher,
The people are enslived, 50 is The press
and draw from this fact the conclusion I,
which it irresistibly leads, viz That tn
dae Is the effect of the other.--This is wei
known to all--and il is a fact susceptible @
easy demonstration, that when the pres
JearS to speak It's oSu sentiments, from
whatever cause this fear may proceed, ey
cry thing goes on with dizziness and lie
fharsy wholly incompatible with the inter
est we profess Lofeeiin the durability an,
perfection of our governmrnt. Whene,
er press, forgetting lis legitimate purpose
and transcendlng its sanctioned privileges
becomes licentious, it ought tn be pu
down, and il win be put dosyu If not b,
legal prscess, by amore powerful foe, pub
lie opinion. But the distinction betwee,
freedom and righteousness is broad and
easy dedpitioa-and, although in lhr~<fts'