Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-25
RICHMOND. JULY az.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
THE PRESS


sesses as u free and independent Republic none 10
greater than the freedom of the Press. This NAV ,
"uiy be denomnated the "Palladium of Liberty. :,
, uru INC protective power IN every government
w her the hands Of the printer are mufflsd, ami
ms course governed and directed by those wbo
hoid the sceptre, then il becomes source of On
preston and tyranny. Although the Press to
possessed OF unboundcd freedom in the inv esti,a
no" ana scrutiny OF public men and measures Yet
II should tread with caution the mathis of or;v,,
HE ana domestic circles. Whenever those who
conduct these mighty engines in our government
uesceha into the examination and promr'. ate the
eIrauohs OF moral recuude in private i..v, whe-
'her true or false, they do deserve the co,n,e
nance OF an enlightened s. virtuous nation Donot
'e' De understood from this observation that any
circumstances in the conduct of pubc men, re-.
ia,ihg TO- or IN any manner concerning the Affairs
ol government, should not be freely canyassei and
Iuiy exposed. But such occasions se Iou, b.rnor :
y nat mas De'n said by the learned, perspcuous 4
ana sagacious Junius, in regard 10 the freedom az
the Press in Great Britain, may with propriety be-
appneo 70 IL IN our own country. g A considera-
Die Latitude, says he, e must be allowed in tho
discussion OF public affairs or the liberty of liz.
Iress VIII be OF no benefit TO society AS them
duigcnce oil private malice and personal slarier
SHOULD De checked and resisted by every legal
means, SO constan; examination into the cha-or
'ers and conduct OF ministers and magistrates
should be equally promoted and eucouraget Tha,,
VINO conceive that newspapers are no restrain.
upon oad men, or impeachment, to the execution of
uau measures know nothing OF this country In
that state oil abandoned serviiity aud oros,itn,;on
10 which the undue influence of the cro,yn hos
'euuced The other branches of the legislature orr
ministers and magistrates have, in reality. it'll,
punishment 10 lear and few difficulties to contend
WIN, beyond The censure OF the press and the sr;
tt oil Resistance II excites among the people Whils
'his cehSoiial power Is maintained to sneak in ,J,a
words oil an ingenious foreigner both minister and
,'aSis"hte are compelled IN almost every instance
70 10, choo-e between his duty and his reputation
.,.tl.. T.. r
not, indeed work miracles on his heart hut 4, ,in
assurediy operate IN some degree on his conduc.
III an euenfs these are not the times to admit NJ
any relaxation an the little discipline zoe hare
Those who conduct The Press should he ;ra,
pendent 81 those possessing he power The,
stouiu stand aooi and look down upon tho actions
OF puhic efiictfs with the srictest scrutiny and
mus impartial observation. They should upon all
occasions when the necessity was apparsnt spoal-
lorth without fear trepidation; they should ba
"unPet-mOdthed, ,ha! they should b. heard IN a.
very recess and by every freeman The Press
should protect the injured and oppressed and hum.
Die the naughty and imper ous; il shouIdlook down
WIN scorn and indignation the man who Womb
from Inalevolence, attempt TO expose the ipt;rr,;
ues oil an individual, for the purpose OF MORT
Tying me one, 10 the base intention of gratifying
mahghan, temper. In conducting the Press no
private malice or spleen ought to be INDUCED in.
d. u Is calculated to lessen its dignity and divar,
tht 'hind from the main and important ol,;ectthe
due regulation OF the affairs of government From
me Immense weight and vast influence il exerris
IS III q government like ours in l. Decessary fit
ti.ose men who guide and direc; these potent wea-
pons, should be honou. able learned and correc,.
VINO would not condescend 10 a low action uhn
would not knowingly propagate faIsehood, who
Wou,r NOT screen the gully or fail to protect the
ihnocsnt They in the political yha, minis.
"is ar IN the religious worli. They are looked
up 10 Tor hight and instruction on the various SUR.
Jor's 'nat occupy the attention of the nation, and
accofdihSiy as their own conduct is consistent and
honourabie, so will their opinions and doctrines ba
received. NO
Lei us now take retrospect of the condition az
inc Press III this country, and the manner in y.bcb
u mas peen conducted for few years past On the
great and important subject Of the Presidency.
T ''e Pr'sfrni incumbent has possessed the
Chah the Pc mas perhaps been mo,a act;vei',
engaged in IN scrutiny OF men and ne.suras
,hah u ever has been since ho establishments ofo,,,
government ~ IL career there has ieeo much
:" aus'e ana much to condemn. II has hunted
oht corrupli ION, II has exposp intrsu. and sbe,y,
uie people prodigai waste of their funds nv those
WHO hold the reins OF government
"hohesei The measures OF government and fine
eohuic'o Oh puniic men were investigated and dis
eus'en' ue Press was in lis proper sphere; then it
was ne diguificd defender Of our RIGHTS ,hn nv
aed censor of oui Republic the firm shield ofour
nuer'y' nu' when II ''csc nded 10 personal sour.
my ana abusive epithets, prying into the receg.
&c VI P'iV''e lie, aud toling up 20 the gaze of
~ W. '"' ."e ACTIONS al private iiGiyidu ais not
even regaid ding the sanctty OF female cbaractc-
'hen II became degraded and debased
III Is much TO be lamented, tina, durino IN. ner;
Oh aiiuded to, we have seen the Pyess nroa.
u'uted 10 The use OF men high IL power The
neans piaced In their hands By :le laws of our
coupuy, nave been made use of to purchase tho
au'oIliy oil the Press 10 shield the m iro,n the s.,
oi at injured people, and TO gloss over their trans
eressohS IL has long since been observed that
C az soVerhm IN ~ can be perfect Giving the vast
liu nee OF the Press 10 our executive officers,is
an iihperiecon, which it is hopedou national To-
SSia'sfe VIII not TAIL TO remedy. and & . bv re-
move danger that stares US in the face. Tbia
po"sf Is now but partial in its operation. vet.
IL showed 10 accumulate may become so i'm.
,nense as 10 endangci the safety of the Repnh.
lie With the whole aggregated power of tho
FreSs an influence might be obtained in our coy.
erhhthl, winch could remove every obstacle IN
l"perl"i sway and secure firm footipo az ia
possessed by the Aut0crat Of Russia
Under The manifest guidance Of men i'm authori
y we nave seen the most contemplate means a.
dopted 10 influence the passions and mi,lead lie
reason and Judgment oft the people.
such measures deserve the scorn and ind;ona
tion OF every patriot citizen The Press 10 preser,
It's dignity and influence should refrain from s,,c
low afthce and false conclusions a. are calculated
10 deceive and lead astray the Iess-informed and
lbn'eiiigent portion OF the community. The Press
IN our country is what the forum was in Rome
The people had no means Of obtaining information
respecting the state OF their political affairs
rom the speeches OF the orators in the public TO-
'um' by These they were governed in their opi.
Mons ana directed in their actions So long as thci-
,ralors were actuated by love Of country and a
ieslre TO perpetuafe their institutions, Rome was
iOurislng Republics; but when the political de
nagogues beguilrd and misled the reople tI,e co,
'crnnrent shook. it tottcred, and il fell.