Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-02-19

your WILL. Ii the honest expression of
opinion is to be stided in our Common
WEALTH. matters little by what means:
whether by the veto of a censor, or that
Of a PubliShcr--whether by Legislative,
Or by Editorial, Tyranny. 1t matters
little-did say? no! it does ma,,er-it
matters much. Between the two, who would
hesitate upon Il choice' The former but
serves to simulate the Spirit of Free
dom to a display of her energias and
thereby, to make her inevitable triumph
the more conspicuous. But the latter.
once acquiesced in, deadens her senses,
and belrays into the sleep of death.
JEFFERSON.
1t is far from my intention to convex the idea
that 1t has been propugated by the Enqui,o or
under n conviction of its falsehood But this has
no earthly conneSion with the Charge now
brought against that paper. That charge re-
lates not to what it has circulated but to villa, it
mas endeavored to stihe. Regarding matter of
tact, OF which accident had given Ipc personal
knowledge statement had gone forth anon q
my CountryUen, which conscienciously be-
hcvcd to be false, and dangerously false In
tho discharge ofu duty which we ali owe to one
another, raiscdmy voice to warn my fellow CT.
tizens of the false and pojsonous nature of tie
coin that was palmed upon them. This voice,
the Enquirer has done It's best to stihe IL re-
mains for my Countrymen to decide what cha
acter their Press shall bear. Whether it shall
be an Organ for that free discussion upon which
our liberties depend, or tool in tho hands OF a
I few for the management of us all. Now is the
time whenthis question is to be finally decided
when it mast be finally decided, for decided it
'oW be, against them II they acquiescc unde r
, this instance oftyranny. My blood boils at the
thought What is here in Virginia principles
to MAKE them dread the hght--to require the
l forcible suppression of truth No, In omen
field aad a clear sky this is the war word
which springs spontaneous from every..true Fir.
ginian, this is all that Virginia principles re-
l qulre, to ensure their Victory.
, The Richmond Wing, by means of which
some of my Countrymen have been enabled Ia
hear me, had introduced my communication as a
| vndication of Mr.. WEBSTER" This is certain
lY an effect but it is incidental effect only
it was not my object. Mr.. Webster as nothiue
to me; nor am Iaay thing TO Mr. Webster. i,
is vindcation Of TRurH. My object was two
fold first, to warn my Countrymen against the
rank, deadly poison which, i'll the honest conf.
dence of their character, they are receiving as
wholesome food and by which they thus un.
consciously suffering their pure nature to be
tainted. Secondly, to place in its true light, fol
their consideration, question regarding the
, | fundamental pTtnctpts oil our UNION. That sub
jecr which, of all inportent subjects, is the most
important that subject in regard to which they
I are the most vitality Interested in having every
, question fairly stated, that it may be soundly
judged; not by Editors. but by themselves
that subject, therefore, upon which it specially
r behoyes them to maintain inviolate the FREE
DOM OF THE PnLss
Every paper in Virginia entertaining rospec.
FOR the freedom of the Press, is respectfully re-
Iuesicd to give place 10 :" Jefferson" In this
request, the Richmond Enquirer is included
should 1t however see reasons for declining a
gratuitons insertion it will please to insert tho
; piece ones as an .ldrei asemenf aud 10 forward
It's account to this office