Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-04-06

is made to say--"Tyrans in all countries have beer
"its (the Press's) enemies-The friends of Libert,
shave been its advocates. The elder Adams endea
''vored to suppress it. by sedition law. Tho youn
eyer Adams and his associates endeavored to DESTROY
ITS influence, by placing the most vena under pay
1.-The Coalition would now effect its overthrow by
prescribing it."
1t would have neatly rounded off the paragraph
and been quite true most of the above charges
had Duff completed the catalogue by adding--"And
General Jackson is seeking to corrupt it's virtue
and purchase its influence, by re,oarding its editors,
proprietors and conductorsno less than 4s of whom
have in twelve months, experienced his bounty"
This truth SO much the best established and most
striking of the WHOLE that wonder at its escaping
Duff 8 sagacious observation
In the article Duff says-tBut we are told
that Bfessrs. Hill, Kendall and Noah, were editors
by professions; and that therefore, they ought not
be appointed to ofice' Was not Benjamin Franklin
printer, and what public servant was more worthy
of Office than Franklin"
High respect paid to the memory Of Franklin
ythis comparison! But to make the example peril
nent, Duff ought to prove that DR.. Franklin put
into Office. because he was printer, and not the
wisest man of his age--us Noah, Hill and Kendall
have certainly been put into Office because they
editors. Now will he deny either of these facts
that DR.. Franklin was trusted by his country with
the highest Offices, from the confidence inspired by
bis almost divine wisdom, and patriotism, unniu
enced by his accidental professionalism that Noah,
Hill and Kendall, have been advanced for partizan
services; REGARDED mere tools of individual Sic
cess? Were they known but as editors, had their
lives given them the slightest claim national con-
tidence gratitude? Claim did we say? Are not
two of them, Kendall and H infamous, by general
conccssion-and is not the third buffoon: who
sports with sacred things, and makes jest of truth?
Duffagain "peaks: 1t is the duty OF an editor to
study public He reads and reflects. more,
passing events, than other men, and all other
things being equal he is in that respect, better quail
lied for pnbc trust We live in a land of equal
rights. The highest. offices are open to the hum
blest citizens. We have no privi!egsd orders, and
we should have prescribed class. But Of all O.
TIERS the Press should be left free and indepen
dent"
We subscribe TO the truth of these observations
though we may differ with Duff in his nereuces from
them 1t has never been contended that the Press,
its conductors ought to be prescribed What has
been, and contened for, is that its efforts to elect
particular individual President, should not be sys-
tematcally rewarded. The conductors of the Press,
ought stand on the same level with all other ct-
zens, and have the equal and fair chance, for
the honors and Offices of the Republic. To deprive
them Of this equal chance, would be tyranny to give
them more, is making them privileged class These
are postulata in which all men of one opinion,
and now let apply them to the practice of the
Jackson Administration. The editorial corps may
form about thousandth part of the population of
the o.. States-supposing it to contain s5o-yet this
10 oOoth part have received rs offices at the hands of
the President-probably in fifteen, out of all The
Offices he has filed! Does this look like proscrip-
ton, doesn't bear the undeniabc stamp of design
to REGARD its services in making the rewarder Pres
idcn.! Answer US Duff, upon your uoir dire? Come
tn the point, and cay does This, does it not, look
like rewarding'