Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-10
NEWSPAPERS.
lyon Tie aiossaehusetts Spy.l

oThis folio of four pages. happy work!
what is it, but man of busy life,
Its fluctuations and its vast concerDs"
During one Of those gloomy days OF
autumn when the atmosphere was filled
with lurid clouds, agitated by an east
wardly. wind, found myself, as usual
in such weather, little detected, and
contemplating the miseries OF human
life. Twas reused from my reverie by
the entrance Of the printers boy, who
threw down before me copy OF well
conducted journal Willing to fly
from my unpleasant thoughts, began
to peruse It's columns, which afforded
me no small degree Of satisfaction and
pleasure. The tone of my feelings was
restored, and | exclaimed,
"Sweet beguiler ola wretched hour, =,
know thy worth, feel thy soothing power"
In these publications, we are present
ed with anepi,ome ofthe history oithe
present time They contain accounts
of incidents, not only domestic, but
foreign; not only Of small, but OF great
moment. In these are noticed the most
important discoveries and improve
ments in the fine and mechanic arts,
in agriculture, commerce and manu-
features; in literature and science, in
domestic and political economy, and
sometimes, the alterations in etiquette
and fashion. They are kind OF mi
nature cyclopedia; conducted by almost
innumerable editors Their columns
are ever open to the light and fantastic
essays Of youth, the able and judicious
productions Of manhood, and the peril
men, and sage remarks of age. Here
young genius can test its merits by the
impartial standard Of public opinion,
which reaches its ear unaccompanied
by the Establishments Of fiat:ery, the
palliative Of delicacy, or the injustice
and censures ofpersonal dislike. They
are the records of prosperity and ad-
versity. of happiness and misery, Of
ESCAPES and accidents, of marriages
and deaths They are pretty puryey-
ors TO the wit and the sage, the poet and
philosopher, the moralist and divine,
tie lawer and the statesman TO some
they age the heralds of Joy, to others
they are the messenger. oil grief. They
afford amusement to one, and instruc-
ton TO another. In short like we'll
stored Cook shop, they furnish some
thing suited to every taste.
Their political Importance is truly
great They contain summary OF
the affairs ofour own and other nations.
They are kind of court Of inquest Of
public characters, where honor and aD-
plause are awarded To the faithful and
deserving. and censure to the treacher-
Gus and nnmerirorious They are. TO
large portion Of the. community, al
most the only source OF politica! inior-
nation; being the common Intelligent
GERS, both Of the people and their eo.
yernors, by which the interests and sem
timents Of the one, and the laws and
regulations of the others, are made
known. In these, legislative proceed
ings AMI plans, are freely canvassed,
the rights of the people asserted. and
the dninrs Of the executive and judicial
departments are reviewed before the
high tribunals of the people Tins
they appear to constitute one of the
safeguards Of our freedom, not only.
from the above considerations. but al
so from their being a means by which
knowledge is greatly diFused From
their abundance, and their consequent!
cheanness, and the facilities Of their
distribution, they have an extensive
circulation, finding their way even to
the rude cabin Of the western forester.
Indeed there car hardly be found in the
United States person so poor that he
cannot buy, so illiterate that he cannot
read, SO void Of curiosity that he will
not have access to, or so destitute OF
leisure that he canaot peruse, a Neacs-
paper.
Their influence must, therefore, be
very great. AS confirmation OF this,
go and listen TO farmer and mechanic
in the most retired part of the country,
and hear them, while they til! their
grounds or pursue their handy work,
at the evening circle, gathered around
the humble fre-side, discussing the af-
fairs Of Europe, canvassing the differ
ences of the !Asiatics, recounting he
Of the South Americans,
discoursing on the state Of the Ame-
ricans, or the islanders of the Pacific. !
Their knowledge of these, and many
other subjects, has been principally !
culled from the columns Of the Gazette. ,
If, then, our public journals, are
such powerful engines; their mango |
ment ought never TO be entrusted - ,
imp. incipled hirelings, who would not !
hesitate to direct them against public
morals and virtue, and make them rhe
Instruments Of sedition and disorder, of
injustice and calumny, as has some
times been the case. Their patronage
ought to be such as to enable their
20 command the aid and