American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1827-03-13

to the great national Interests Of which "c az ar
proud Of being the advocates-we shou'u pe 'ai'n'
less to our readers, who look to US for the develop
ment Of nassinp eyents-if we did not speak PLAIN
Ilv what we know, and Disclose frankly what we
believe II this be offensive to the preJuaices oI
convictions Of any OF our readers, we s'a' rcsse
it. But, circnmsanced as we are, the supPressioh
of truth, on such subject, rs equiValehl 70 .e *
pression of falsehood. If we were to withhold
What we know and believe, on matter so vital to
tfie great interests Of country as mat we are
about to open, our daily paper would be dal'y
lie to the community. !,
| With these preliminary remarks, we invite the
attention of our readers to the vote, IN the senate
of the United States, on Thursday last, Tor rrln-
ter to that body. The occasion was IN itself an
unimportant one, wholly unworthy oil special no.
tice, and to which we certainly should never nave
invited the attention of our readers, out ior the
organization which it for the first time disclosed,
and for the principles openly ayowed on that occa-
sion by the Honorable MARTIN VAN BuREN, an
eminent Senator from the State of New York, who
has earned the distinction of being brought into
this bold relief, by presenting himself. on that DAY.
as the spokesman OF the party OF which we sfa'l
take the freedom to consider him the head and re-
presentative if he be not both its parent and ITS
guardian. Of that Senator, we should be the last
to speak with personal disrespect. With talents
enough to be a great man, he has the manners OF
gentleman, and an enviable private character. 1t
is only of his political principles, his notions Of
party discipline, and the manner in which he has
brought them both to bear upon the present state
of public affairs, that we mean to speak.
On the occasion to which we have already refer
red, Mr.. VAN BuREs made the following remarks
which we're carefully noted down BY our Reporter.
and will not be denied or letracted
III Lod ,f n, ~ liz
interest might be promoted, The condition v The Press
ueA here Mroughohe country improved and respect for
the Senate and accuracy in the publication OF the Proceed
ings of the Sen ate better secured by udcous revision
of the laws relative 10 the public printing large. at
convenient season he hoped the subject would be
revised and he promised himself the best results m such
provision as the nature Of The subject was susceptible Of"
Now, to :. the revision of the aws,'' we have
not the slightest possible objection nor do we care
how the Senate shall think proper to Lave its
printing done for the future, so it be decently
done. II is to the aroeed object Of this proposed re-
vision, that we take exception. We throw out Of
view the !" accuracy in the publication Of the Pro
ceedings,' as motive for the proposed revision.
because every one, who knows any thing about it,
knows that this suggestion is thrown III to make
up light weight; pass by also the " respect for
the Senate,' in which every man OF sense knows,
andevery man OF candor will acknowledge, we ehave
never been in any manner deficient: and, leaving
autH dTSulHcHtS tO th0Se VINO can swallow Inefll.
we enter our protest against the doctrine embraced
III the other part of his remarks, that tile condition
IF the Press is to be regulated not only here. but
: throughout the United States by any vote 1t thr
Senate, or by any legislation Of both Houses Of
Congress combined. We protest against this re-
yiva OF the odious principle Of the old Sedtion
Law, viz the right Of party to protect itself by
or form the Press through the agency o legislation
by Congress.
1t was, indeed, somewhat an extraordinary CO.
incidence, that whilst, in the other House, the
conduct ot the Secretary Of State was arraiuned
Tor changing some Of the Publishers of the Laws.
as though he had committed an offence meritins
impeachment, it should be gravely proposed, as
desiderntam in the Senate, that the Press, not on
here, but throughout the country, should be renua.
ted by the distribution OF the Public Printing, with
a view to imprnring the condition of the Press. .
What has been deemed objectionable i'll Secreta
ry OF State, seems to have been thought by the |
Senator to be perfectly fair in party in
one branch Of the Legislature, upon whose predom-
nance IN both branches of the next Congress the
most confident calculations are made-wth what
accuracy tlme will show.
The honorable Senator ought to be VEL, aware
OF tie utter tutilly OF all attempts to organize the
phbllc press. Its conductors are made of sterner
stun than to be brought down upon their knees
with one accord, to worship any idol Of party which
ne maT choose to set up. There are thousand
OF these individuals. many Of whom would not only
part with the paltry profit flowing from paltry pat
rolase, but even with liberty, life itself, sooner
than with the right Of private Judgment, Of which
his notion Of party discipline requires the absolute
surrender. Nor can the press be chastset, any
more tnan il can be bought or sold. The idea of
thus operating upon the press cannot live in the
pure atmosphere Of pablie opinion, however it may
De cherished by passion prejudice. Much NAV
be effected, we kHow, in regard to the press, by
party organization whiting tie limits Of single
state : we have seen examples Of that, as we have
OF the elect OF similar organization in the
de puaI fupnt nf fLn