Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-27
ALEXANDRIA, Cd. CO.
SATURDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 27. 1882.

SsTLRD5Y MORNING, OCTOBER II, 1882.
A cordial and sincere union of all the elements
Of opposition is, at this time, most earnestly TO
be desired and sought after, in preference to the
advancement of any particular party object or
design. If men are not content to bury tor
season minor differences, and unite in common
effort to effect common good. they cannot ex'
pect to be able hereafter to make Roadway against
power which their defeat will but strengthen
and confirm. The main end now to be attained
is the expulsion of Jackson. Let that object be
secured first: lie, that be resolved on first, and
without calculating after chances We will
answer for it, that no great body Of the people
will be displeased at whoever may be put in his
place-Clay, or Writ, or any other American
Statesman who is honest, capable, and faithful to
the Constitution. When JacksoniSn was in the
chrs sails state, it was announced that the con-
binatlons'' were in progress and nearly complet-
ed 1t was not thought wrong then to COMBINE.
Why should it now? 1t is not denied, we be.
| Iieve. that the friends of Mr.. Clay prefer Mr..
Mr.. Writ have the same feeling towards Mr..
Clas. Personally, they desire the success OF
their avorite candidate; but the preference is not
mingled with single unkind feeling. The cleo.
ton Of either would be perfectly acceptable
We regard Mr. Writ as an accomplished. able
and honest statesman. We should he entirely
willing to see him the President Of the United
States. We do not consider him so great man
as Mr. Clay: we do not think his claims upon his
country equal those of Mr.. Clay's;-yet still We
think him every way worthy Of her honors. We
mention this to show the sort of feeling that ex-
lists, with regard to the matter, amongst the
friends of MIR. CIa., who have always gone,
81 not for the glory Of Cesar, but the welfare Of
Rome"
Complaint has been repeatedly made BY the
opposition party that editors have been rewarded
by this administration. The administration par
~ Oh the other hand always commended that ed.
tors had as much right to the Offices OF govern
ment as other individuals and that they ought
not to be prescribed. Both sides have erred in
two indiscriminate censure and Appreciation
Mr. Webster states the case fairly. plainly and
unanswerabIy. We maintain the do'trlne he
laws down. |, is certainly the correct AMI prop
err one The conductors OF the press ny making
common cause and taking the same stand would
add 10 their honor and secure their independence:
Certainly. Sir, the editors Of public journals
are not be di,franchi.sd. Certainly. they are
fair candidates either for popular elections, or
Joint participation in office. Certainty. they
reckon, IN their number, some of the first geiiu-
seS, the best scholars. and the most honest and
we'll principIed men, IN the country. But the
complaint is against the system. against the prac
fice. against the undisgused attempt to secure
the favor of the press, by means addressed to its
pecuniary interest. And these means. too.
drawn from the public treasury: being no other
official duties Sir, the press itself should
resen, this Its own character for purity and in.
tependence is at stake. 1t should resist a con-
nexion rendering it obnoxious to so many impu.
tations. We should point to It's honorable demo
mination, in our Constitutions OF Government,
and it should maintain the character there ascrib
ed to 1t, of a. freep press
There can, Sir, BIZ no objection to the appoint
ment of an editor to office, 1t he the tttest man
There can be no objection to considering the
services. which, in that, any other capacity,
he may have rendered his country. He may
have done much to maintain her rights against
foreign aggression, and her character against
insult He may have honored, as we'll as deien.
ded her; ard may, therefore, be justly regarded
and selected. in the choice Of faithful public !
agents But the ground of complaint Is. that
tie aiding, by the press, oftne election Of an IN.
diriduui, Is rsparded. by that same individual,
,viih the gift of monisd offices. Men are turn
ed out of office, and others put in, aud receive
salaries from the public treasury, on the ground,
either openly avuwed, or falsely denied, that
they had rendered service in the election Of the
very iud,vllual-who makes this removal, and
makes this appointment. Every man, Sir. must
see. that this is vital stab at the purity Of the
press.
The two Quarerly's. the North American and
the American. pursue the even tenor OF their ways
with much ability, and in very commendabIe !
spirit. These periodicals are, perhaps, quite
4 fth