Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-11-02
EXk NDRgA,
TUESDAY MORNING, NOV. g.

Mr.. SNowDEN-ltis with real regret, that
daily witness the ungenerous spirit which
pervades our public iournals-the manifest dis.
regard and disrespect for moral principle,
which is increasingly poured forth, in the bit
terest acumen, from these intended dispense.
ries of general good legitimate guards
ofour liberties and national happiness. con.
slider the press as legacy which our noble and
patriotic forefathers deposited in the hands of
their posterity, that they might disseminate
the causes and effects of beneficial government,
the sources and hidden recesses of republican
institutions, and have proper regard in our
examination OF the conduct of distinguished
characters, for decency, intelligent discussion,
and careful reasoning. But the contrary has
been the issue: this sacred trust has been VIC.
lated: and instead of that mani, and o en- libe.
ralitv which should characte rise every disinte
rested conductor of the press, we find false
hoods ustgated, the revilings of calumny and
the most despisable treachery, merely on the
account Of some casual trifing transaction and
even in the administration Of ones most private
concerns. And when a mans private business
is laid before the public IN the presses of this
dav, and invest gated with the most scrutiniz
ing unGeelin gness, blended with IN bounded lie
liherality he must be as stationary as a rock,
midst the pillows OF the wide ocean, if ne can
avoid rising to castigate.
must agnize, that there are some of our
public presses which have not this disgusting
fault; and thesel would set up as bright and
elegant models for imitation. If they were
taken as examples, we should surely be re-
lieved from much of THAT bIamcable folly with
which we have been continually inundated:
that envious detracton and inc consistency
which has SO universally marked the principal
part these cauteous sentines. And, more
over, as they are the greatest means of widely
circulating intelligence & information, is it not
binding on them to do it with the most becom.
ing modesty and cheerfulness, that they NAV
not inculcate an overweaning rashness in the
advancing generation, who would perhaps
urge it as the example of their predecessors !?
Instead of that kind OF matter which has lately
occupied them. should they not be taken up
field for mental cultivation, and in the moral
benefit of those vi no shall act upon the stage in
DAYS to come, and which was the intention of
our ancestors, by whose eXertions this nigh
ty engine of the pubic veal was achieved2
Should we not preserve what was obtained for
us by the unbending patriots ofthe Revolution?
shall give you an extract from the writings
of that illustrious apostle of freedom, and anna
BILE philosopher of heaven, whose example
is an archtype for every follower of virtue,-
DR.. franklin. Let each editor select quota
from what follows, and practice his duty:
In the conduct of my newspaper, care.
fully excluded all libelIing and personal abuse,
which is of late years become so disg'acefnl to
our country. Whenever was solicited to in
sert any thing Of that kind, and the writers
pleaded las they generally did, the liberty OF
the press, and that newspaper was like
stage coach, in which any one who would pay
had right to place, my answer was, that
would print the piece separately. ifdesired, and
the author might have as many copies as he
pleased to distribute himself, but that | would
not take it upon me TO spread his detraction;
and that having contracted with my subscri-
bers to furnish them with what might be useful
or entertaining, l could not fill their papers
with private alteration, in which they had no
concern, without doing them manifest inius-
tice. Now. many of our printers make no
scruple of gratifying the malice of individuals,
by false accusation of the fairest characters a.
mong ourselves, augmenting luminosity even to
the producing of duels; and are, moreover, so
indiscreet, as to print scurrilous reflections on
the government of neighboring states, and e.
ven on the conduct of our best national allies,
which may be attended with the most PERM
cious consequences. These things mention
as a caution to young printers, and that they
be encouraged not to pollute the presses. and
DISGRACE their profession by such Infamous