Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-10-11
CHARACTER OF THE PARTY.

CHARACTERIZE OF TILE iANIh.
The following spirited extract from
the Utica Convention Address shows
up some of the gross Inconsistencies Of
the men who rule
They came into power upon their
complaints that the expenditures oi the
gov ernment had been excessive ana
unnec essary; and yet under their ad-
mnistraton those expences nave Deen
increased annually, thrceiold. lhcy
complained of the increased patronage
of the government, and yet they nave
constantly added to it. They complain
ed of the dangerous exercise OF that
patronage particularly upon the mem
bers of Congress, and yet for the last
nine years there have been more mem
bcrs of Congress appointed to office
than during the whole preceding period
Of our national existence. They com
planned that the press was subsidized
by the employment of editors and pub
fishers of newspapers in Offices of the
government, and yet you have but t.
cast your eyes around you to see every
newspaper devoted to the support OF
tho party, sustained or aided directly
by the general or state government
employing its publisher, or indirectly
by bcstowing office on its editor.
II is indeed one Of The most alarming
signs orMe times, 10 behold such a pha-
Ianr, eriend;ng from he seat Of gorern-
meni 10 The remolest borders Of NE From
tier, bound by obligations ofthc strong
est personal interest, by the fear ol
losing the bread that satisfies the hun
ger Of their families, to sustain any and
every measure of those at whose will
that bread is dispensed, and to vindi-
cate them in all cases and under all
circumstances. Call to mind if you
can, the solitary instan in which these
pensioncd presses have whispered {
doubt OF the wisdom of a measure avow
cd as that of the administration, or tho
propl'iety Of a single act done by it
| We speak not of the loathsomc floods
of calumny which they pour upon all
without discrimination, who dare to
exercise the birthright Of frccmen, ant
to think different from tho temporary
leaders Of the day; such prolligacy ant
prescription. have found their reward ii
the disgust of all honorable men, and ii
the Just degradation Of those vehicles o.
slandcr, to such pitch Of iniamy tha
they can no longer injurc. 1t is true
that the present administration has much
to answer for in continuing to sustain
as its organ the foul mouthed ruflian n
the seat of government, whose example
stamps deep stain on our nationa
character, and whose pcstilcrous inhu-
cnce has been so banelnl i'm the corrup-
ton of the press. But there is deeper
and more enduring evil; the fountains
of information to the great mass of our
fellow citizens arc poisoned at their
sources, and those who taste of them
are deliled and corrupted No sort OF
correct information is to be found in
the columns ofthcse pcnsioncd journals
| Open and public transactions in public
bodies to which thousands are witness
es, are systematically misreprcsented
whenever it can suit the purpose of ad
vancing the views Of the administration
or O. assailing the character, conduc
or motives of its opponents. And 70
this we insist that their employers ar
responsible, for it is the immediate re
suit Of the system for subsidizing tn
press. Unless this enormous evil is era
dicated, we shall be in condition worse
than that of those who lived before tn,
discovery of printing. Although theil
means Of information were limited, We,
there were occasions when the truth
could be ascertained. But in the total
degcneracy Of the press, no man will
be able to tell whether any thing he
hears be true or false.