Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-02-08

continuing credits, that no one pubIishe
could acopt different and proper course
without giving offence tn, and Losing the
support OF many subscribers who are both
honorable in conduct, and responsible in es.
tate. And as no single publisher has dared
Ia commence reformation OF the general
bad usage, all have aided 10 establish, by
their excess OF indulgence, mnde of carry,
! ing on their business which oil deemed in.
furious TO their interests, and which every
! considerable subscriber would admit 10 be
| proper and excusable, in every point Il
vIew,-to remedy these evils, IN some mea
sure, the following regulations are proposed
l.. All subscriptions shall hereafter he con
sidered as incurred and due in advance, and
| Tor years publication, unless specially or
dered for shorter time, and pait! for in adj,
vhnce for that shorter time, when so ordered
z. No publication shall be sent TO the or
der OF any new and unknown subscriber, un
less paid for in advance, or satisfactory re.
tcrIence be made 10 some known and aces
sibie person in regard TO the subscriber or
his payment. But, in case of an order for a
publication, without payment, from a new
subscriber no is unacquainied with The con :
! ditions, single number may he sent, con
tanning, or accompanied 10y, copy of this
! regulation.
-
bility 10 pay may be unknown To the pub
Usher, and who may remain indebted on open
| account at the end OF two years, from the
time when the advanced payment was due.
shall be erased from the list OF subscribers.
MIR. SANDS, from the Committee appoint
| ed IN like manner, under the I'd Resolution
presented Report and Resolutions, which
we're for the present laid on the table.
MIR. SNowDEN, from the Committee un-
der the Sd Resolution of yesterday, present
| ed the following Report and Resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted:
he Committee 10 which was referred the
3fd Resolution OF the Convention, relative
10 the conduct Of the press of Virginia, have
had the same under consideration. and beg
leave 10 report:
So important has the newspaper press be-
come, not only as disseminator Of inteli-
gence and the ordinary news Of the dav, but
| as eXerting an Influence upon the moral as
well as the political relations OF society, that
ell must lake an interest in seeing its tone
and character elevated and sustained. and IFS
energies directed 10 the best and most useful
| ends II free press he the palladium oil our
Liberties, pure one is absolutely necessary
to preserve our relish for our liberties, and fit
us Tor proper enjoyment Of them.
The public, therefore, is concerned, and
Ills interests deeply involved, in the correct
management OF The press, and in the char
| acter OF lac newspapers of our country. What
is designed for our intellectual repas, around
the family fireside, Of which all are TO par
| lake, cannot be a matter Of Indifference 10
| any virtuous citizen. AS much, however, as
! The public is interested, the editors and con.
duciors OF the press themselves, must feel a
still deeper solicitude. When men devote
their energies 10 any labor, they are anx-
ious 10 see that labor applied TO its legitimate
purposes, and produce lis proper results. We
are all daily and hourly employing our time
! and our minds in laborious task, and are
constantly occupied in profession in which
we seldom, as things are at present, reap
Proht, and often meet with Encouragement.
! II is therefore, rs much q matter of interest
as OF duly, with US, TO unite IN an attempt TO
! increase The usefulness and advance the re-
speciability OF Tie press, and !hus make it
more worthy the countenance and generous
support of the public.
10 make particular rules applicable 10 all
cases, IN iurtherance Of This desirable object,
would he found impracticable. We all a.
gree that the general conduct Of The news
| paper press ought to be inproved-ts tone
! changed, and its manner polished Ii is,
however inthe hands of responsbIe and indie
pendent individuals, vs. hose opinions and judg>
| menis are as various as their establishments
are separate and distinct. II is Obvious then
| that much must be left to the sound d,scre.
ton OF The editors themselves we can do
| nothing more than 10 recognise certain gen
erai principles which ought TO regulate the
! press, and recommend TO our brethren
! throughout the Commonw ealth 10 act upon
them, aid apply them as they may see pro.
! per, so as never, however circumstances
may vary, TO violate their spirit, or interrupt
| their harmony and symmetry. These, at
last, resolve themselves into the general doc
trine, of making the press pure as well az free,
| d'gnJIed ms well as independent, respectable
| as we'll as interesting. II these were ac-
comPlished, the situation of an editor would
! be rendered more pleasant, and even more
honorable than ii now is. live respect our
selves, the public will respect u.s. Along
with the habit, which has now grown TO be a
part OF our nature, OF looking al our Dewspa =
pers for information on all the topics of the
| day, would grow up confidence in the rec
Ntude OF our intentions and The excellence Of
our motives, which would make newspapers
even more than they now are, a necesss ~
part Of The literature ofour country, and give
| increased value To our labors We would
then De thought worthy of full and ample
remuneration, for works. on which all could
rely, and TO which all could turn with profit
and pleasure.
No where could The experiment we are
new about TO make, oil ele1ating the char
acteT OF The press, be more advanlageousiy
| commenced, and with fairer prospecl of
SUCCESS than i'm the State nf VrUinia The