Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-07-30
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE.

| ThlNClTLES ANU fhACI1CE. | Introductory RemaTks.-The present course of newspaper discussion, is degrading to our country and endangers the moral effect of our institutions and our prosperity on foreign nations. What the themes of editors and essaysts from Maine to Louisiana? Do they discuss those lofty principles which our fathers toiled and bed to establish? Do l they dwell upon the noble actions which adorn our history and give lustre to the Repubcl No! A mad ness seems to have seized the brain of those wh O ought to be, m all settlements and vicissitudes the cool and collected instructors of the public mind- | Principle has ceased to command the patriots pen Noble actions longer excite young enthusiasm in q glorious emulation.
 | What have inexchange7 Are our paners filled with the admonitions of good men? No Does spec | ulave science lead men into the world of reyerie and abstraction? No! Does practical learning fill the columns ofour journals, deducing from the specu- laons of philosophy and the calculations of science new inventions 10 increase the comforts and enlarge the mind of the human race 2 No!
 | While Europe, catching the fire of liberty from our atars, Is in con1agration what is America do- | ing? While inc French, in three days yanouished the Holy Alliance; while Britain shakes her chains and threatens to break them the beads of her op pressors; while the noble Poles, struggling for H bery and existence, keep at bay the whole power of Russia, what are we doing? While our principles | and oHr practice have instructed and aroused the world, transforming slaves into unconuuerable he- roes what doing to increase the effect of our example and give success to rivals in the glor- | ous race
 We blush for the degradation of the press Our newspapers are filled almost entirely with discus sons of private character, private quarrels and per sOna abuse. An effort seems to be making to de- eide every election by such controversies Nothing is sacred. While peculators are lauded honest men are foully traduced. The most faithful public ser vice, the purest morals, no shield. Thdy seem to attract the most violent assaults. The ieebler sex are dragged into the arena and they whom even barbarans defend with tue last drop of their blood arc hrutaly stabbed by our political gladiators. The confidence of private intercourse is violated honor among men is hooted at as out of fashion; no man knows when he writes but his proiessed friend will thrust his private thoughts before the world; no man knows when he speaks, but the hearer like a spy will retail il in the streets, whisper it to an enemy Do two men in private life quarre7 It rings through the Union great political event! Does man speak his opinion of another when asked It re- tailed abroad and returns upon him gross mpro- prety? Is man silent and faithful in the discharge of his duties It is the interest of some one to de- nounce him assassin. To this vituperaon there is restraint. Even the day sacred to liberty is degraded by giving new forms to old islanders
 audng pecuators and defauters, labelling female character, and consigning honest men to the gal ows
 For the honor of our country for the sake of its influence foreign nations, for the peace society, for the love of honor truth and justice, intend to make effort to change the tide of these discus sions We will thrust aside this angry foam which the cataracs ol passion and revenge roll upon us, and attempt to call the attention of the country to the principles which guide, and the acts which dis tngulsh tie administration of Andrew Jackson.
 Are the principles of the President sound? Are his principles in accordance with the interests and honor of the counuya Has he given us war? or confirmed our peace? Has he destroyed our trade oI tostered and enlarged it Has he overturned our manufacturing establishments or maintained and extended them Has he reduced the price of agri- cultural products? or enlarged it? Has he deprived our mechanics of employment2 or increased it | Has he diminished the wages of the laborer2 or increased it? Has he enlarged national debt? or reduced itl Has he usurped the powers of the States? confirmed theml Has he sought to &C., cumulate power and patronage in his own hands7 or repe9d itl Are not all protected in their rights Is religion trammeed? Is not the press free even to licentiousnessl May not every man follow his honest avocation without let or hindrance?
 The principles and practices which produce these happy fruits, it is our purpose to discuss These numbers will be hastily written. The thoughts will be put down glowing they rise, in plain and intel ligibe language. We should not stop, if we had the ability, to enwreath them with the flowers of rhetoric, or gild them with spanges of bool-earn- ing. We hope our readers will find in them some diamonds from the Republican Mine, hard enough to cut the artificial glass and tinsel with which ars tocacy covers itself to dazzle, deceive and tax for it's own support and emoument, the balance of mankind.-Gi0bc.