Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-14
Richmond, Va. Saturday, Jan. N.
THE PRESS.


Mr.. Nathaniel Alexander has made diving effort in an
address of half column, in the Wing of Thursday
ing Let it die and let the whole discussion now quietly
"desccnd 10 the tomb of the Capulets
Mr. A. says that he did not address his constituents in
pet in consequence of their reply nocwe are perfect
ly willing TO believe himbut he does us injustice i'm max
ing the following statements:
"Ths following letter addressed Mesrs Richie Cook,
pSd the to whose care esS.isnG eaa at er yes
S"S w% sV S 10 mat no Hs doubt ss s"s
correspondence before his press"
Mr. A. is completely ''mistakcn'-Thc Editor of this
paper did not dream of the existence of such letter,
until it delivered TO him by MIR. As friend the
Capitol Square, after IL o'clock on Ihursday-lis friend
did call at the Office and not finding the Editor stated that
he could see him "tomorrow' without giving any init
nation of the object of his visit. Mr.. R at his
house, engaged in his ordinary occupations-sureY
putting himself out of the way OF any letter nor hav-
ing the least idea of Mr. AS desire to have any further
private correspondence with r. s C.-parcuarly since
his Address to his Senatorial District had been spread be-
fore the public in the columns of the Wig.
The letter to II. s c. published the
ing. 1t waited for answer. Ii required none; and
the public will scarcely expect one We take no
exception but TO passage We could easily satisfy
before the Convention Bill passed; before the current
had turned in that direction; before the West had
the victory, which he ascrbes to them, had
advocated in this paper, the call of Convention,
10 cqualize the unequal representation in the counties
course, unfortunate enough offend the feelings
of of best personal and political friends in Eas
tern Virginia
But we have donc-We had determined not 10 answer
Mr. A's lcerand determination is strengthened by
the character of the few brief remarks with which he in
PRODUCES il TO the public.
Mr.. A. seeks 10 draw line between the liberty and
the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the Press -lf the attempt TO
the prejudices OF great people, and to concentrate tho
lightning of their indignation upon the heads Of Editors,
who have spoken only have spoken, be not pro-
scrpon of the liberty of the Press, then indeed have we
miscalcuacd the liberty it should enjoy and the danger
which may overwhelm it, The following extract from
the Defence of free Press by the immortal Milton,
shewS that he understood il least well Mr. Alex
ander:
"Methnks (exclaims that great and noble sprt) sec
IN my mind noble and puissant nation rousing herself
like strong after sleep, and shaking her invincibe
locks: Mothinks see her Eagle muing her mighty
youth, and kndlng her undaZzd eyes at the ullmidday
BEAM puging and unscang her long abused sight tho
fountain itself of heavenly radiance; while the whole
OF morou and ockng birds with those also who love the
twilight, Halter about amaZd at what she and i'm
their envous gable would prognosCate year of Sects
and Schisms.-What should you do thcni should we sup
press all this fowry oil knowledge and new light
sprung up and yet spngng daily in this city? Should We
set an Ohgdrchy OF twenty ngrossers it, TO bring
famine upon minds again. when shall know nothing
but what is measur'J 10 by their bushe Believe it,
they who counsel TO such suppressing do good
bid We TO suppress yourselves If ii be desrd TO know
the immediate of all this free writing, there cannot
be assgnd ruer than your mild, and free, and hui
name government; is the liberty, which your own
lorous and happy Counscls have PURCHASED us Liberty
which is the nurse of all great Wits this is that which
hath raryd and enlightened spirits like the influence
of Heaven; this is that which hath eniTancis'd enlarpd
We can grow ignorant again. brutsh formal and savsh
as (our anccstoTs found then first become
that ~hch ye cannot De- oppressive arbitrary and ty
rd1no'ts they from ,ch0m (fhey) haze freed
us"-Such is his picture, and such the source, OF the
Liberty of the Press.
But cnough-This discussion with Mr.. A. we have
mover sought-We would have cheeriuy declined it, if
we could-lt is one we close with pleasure
1.-The Areopogica speech for Liberty uniccnsd Print
,Sg to tho Parliament Of England Most Of the of
quenco worthy OF the best flights Of hm who Paradise