Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-03-29

Know and believe, on matter SD vital
to the hreat interests of our country as
that we are about to open, our daily pa
PER would be daily lie to the commu.
nifty.
With these preliminary remarks, we
invite the attention of our readers to the
vote, in the Senate ofthe United States,
on Thursday last, for Printer to that
body. The occasion was in itself an
unimportant one, wholly unworthy of
special notice, and to which we certain
ly should never have invited the atten-
ton of our readers, but for the organi-
cation which if for the first time disclos-
ed, and for the principles openly avow-
ed on that occasion by the Honorable
MARTIN VAN Buren,, an eminent Sena.
tor from the State of New. York, who
has earned the distinction of being
brought into this bold relief, by present.
ing himself, on that day, as the spokes-
man of The party of which we shall take
the freedom tn consider him the head
and preventative, if be be not bath IFS
parent and its guardian. OF that Sen
ator, we should be the last to speak
with personal disrespect. With talents
enough TO be great man, he has the
manners of a gentleman, aud an envia-
BILE private character IL is only his pc
h'lca principles, his notions of patty
discipline, and the mannerin which he
has brought them both to bear upon the
present state of public affairs, that we
mean 10 speak.
On the occasion to which we have al
ready referred, Mr. Van buren, made
the following remark, which were care
fully noted down by our Reporter, and
! will not be denied or retrscted
lie had long been OF opinion The
sald) that the public interest might be
promoted, the condition Of the Press, as
aUeH here as throughout tie country, in-
PROVED and respect for the Senate, and
accuracy in the publication Of the Pro-
ceedings of the Senate, better secured,
by judiclous revision OF the laws rela-
tive to The public printing at large"
VAT A more CONVENE mt season, he hop
&c the subject would be revised, and he
promised himself the best results from
such provision as the nature Of the sub
ject was susceptible of
Now, to "the revision of the laws
&c. we have not the slightest possible
objection; nor do we care how the SEN
ate shall think proper to have its print.
ing done for the future, so it be deceutIy
done. 1t is to the aoosred object of this
proposed revision, that we take excep-
tion. We throw out of view the "accu-
racy in the publication of the Proceed
ingS," as motive for the proposed re-
| vision, because every one, who knows
any thing about it, knows'that this sug-
| gestion is thrown in TO make up light
weight: we pass by also the respect
for the Senate" ia which every IMAM of
sense knows, and every man Of candor
will acknowledge, we have never been
IN any manner deficient: and, leaving
such arguments TO those who swallow
them, we enter our protest against the
doctrine embraced ia the other part Of
his remarks, that the condition of Tie
! Press is to be regulated, not only here,
| but throughout the United ctates,o By
any vote OF the Senate, or by any le-
/ gisation of both Houses OF Congress
combined. We protest against this re-
viVal of the odIous principle OF the old
Sedition Law, viz: the right of party
to protect itself by or from the Press
through the agency of legislation by
Congress.
1t was, indeed, somewhat an extra
ordinary coincidence, that, whilst, in the
other House. the conduct of the Score
taTy Of State was arraisned for chang
ing some OF the Publishers of the Laws,
as though he had committed an offence
meriting impe achment, it should be
gravely proposed as a dssidsratum, IN
the Sc nate, that the Press, not only
here, but throughout the county should
be regulated by the distribution of the
Public Printing, with view to improving
"lhe condition of the Press" What has
been deemed objectionable in Secre-
tary of State, seem to have been thought
by the honorable Senator to be perfect
ly lair in party in one branch of Lee
glsIature, upon whose predominance
IN both branches of the next Congress
the most confident calculations are made
with what accuracy time will shew.
The honorable Senator ought to be
well aware ofthe utter fatility of all at
tempts to organize the public press. It's