Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-14
From the Cincinnati Gazette, June 90.
PURCHASING THE PRESS.

The fact that the public men at Washington,
members Of Congress and others, who have ar
rayed themselves in opposition 10 the admins
traiion, purchased up one press, and establish
ed another, has been repeatedly asserted, and
but feebly and evasively denied. The United
States Telegraph was established in January
last. upon the moral of the Washington City
Gazette; and from its commencement assumed
the position Of an official organ Of the opbosi-
ton. In this character il has been recognized
by the subordinates throughout the Union
Hence, its foundation and character become
matters of public interest.
The will oft the people, it is said, was defeat
ed at the late Presidential election: therefore the
people are Justly Indignant, and determined to
| remove from Office the present executive and
his colleagues Ifthis were the fact; if the peo-
pie are, indeed, indignant, if they feel, as they
are represented 10 feel, can it be supposed that
they would not, spontaneously, call into exist
ence newspapers to give expression TO their
! feeling? Would il be necessary for uneasy, dis
contented and disappointed spirits TO purchase
presses, BY subscription, through which the
people might be instructed? The fair answer to
| these questions would seem to involve the con-
clusion, that there is not, among the people,
| that extent Of dissatisfaction which is assumed:
Because, if there were, the courses rcsorted TO
would not be necessary.
| II we suppose that discomfort is confined to "a
| few, and that the intention is TO operate upon
the people, and extend that discomfort for self
| ish and factious ends, then the course pursued
is fully explained. The leaders of the opposi-
ton act in the spirit of Chamont, one Of the
chiefs ofthe French revolution, of whom Mar
mon,el relates this anecdote. He detailed at an
early day, pretty fully, the whole extent of the
designs against the eriStipg government " Do
you think, said one of his auditors, that the
people will GO with your ."The people, he repii-
ed The people are great fosk, that Shepherds ,cHh
good dogs, can lead ,chere they please
We may suppose that Benton, Eaton, Nc
| Dufie, s Co., assuming the character Of shep-
herds over the people, intend to use the presses
they purchase as shepherds dogs, to lead the
people where they please. In this view of the
subject we see al once, the necessity of pur-
chasing presses: but on the supposition that
the people are themselves indignant, the neces-
sity could not exist.
We shall here, no doubt, be told that the fact
Of purchasing presses is not admitted, and that
the proof should be adduced before the infer
ence is insisted upon. This is but reasonable,
and the suggestion shall be attended TO.
The charge of purchasing the Telegraph has
already been referred to- In that paper of the
5th inst the present Editor, Gen. Duff Green,
has addressed himself to the public, for the pur-
pose of explaining his connection with it, and
the manner in which it is proposed hereafter TO
conduct it. With this explanation he has con-
nected some other transactions, which are in
troduced to negative the charge of purchase,
but which, in fact, SO conclusively TO establish
that charge.
"The line of policy" says Mr.. Green, "adopt-
ed by the National lntelligencer and the Nation
al Journal, induced many of our respectable CT
tizens to wish the establishment of paper in
the District of Columbia, through which those
who were unwilling to lend themselves to pur-
poses fpower could be fairly and tearlessiy de,
Tended before the people.
"The United States Telegraph was establish
ed for this purpose.-Much has been said
about the purchase and the parties 10 it. con-
tent myself with saying, that believe nothing.
so far as Mr.. Meehan is concerned, has been con-
cealed from me: that the property in the estab'
lishment was solely his: that it was FREE, and
that neither ne, or any Of his friends have any
thing to fear from a full disclosure Of the ,choie
transaction"
There is nothing more difficult than to assert