Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-02-01
EDITORIAL CONVENTION,

( - '"S AI'h SdnudI(, 1000 HOMA
RIrcuIH, Esq, was called TO the Chair an
VIM. NJ. ELAcKroRD appointed Secretary
On calling the names of the Editors OF th
slate, the following gentlemen were found I
be in attendance
Thomas Richie, Richmond Enquirer.
Alexander Moseley, Richmond WING.
; Wm u a. n I"WaFd'n' Richmond Compiler
4 Mead, Southern Churchman.
VIM. A. Smith, Conference Journal.
VIM. Sands, Religious Herald
Thomas w. White, S. l.. Messenger.
John ). Ga!laher, Charlestown Free Press
Edmund Ruilin, Petersburg Farmers Hes
lister.
Edgar Snowden, Alexandria Gazette.
Richard IL. Toler, Lynchburg Yirginian.
Alexander j. Marshall, Warrenton Times.
Robert Rickets, Warrenton Jeffersoniau.
Il: Z. Hunter, Martinsburg Gazette.
WIN. NJ. Blackiord, Frederick burg Poli,i-
cal Arena.
MIR. H;LL, Editor of the Wilmington On
Co. Advertiser, being present, was invited
10 take seat IN the Convention.
MIR. kITCHIE, on taking the Chair, ADJ
dressed the meeting as follows:
Gentlemen-l thank you for the honor you
have done me /; though am mol vain enoug h
10 asCriSe this distinction 10 any thing else
than my years. have long passed Tor the
| veteran" and by courtesy, for the "vener.
able, Editor OF The Enquirer-and although
The epithet might have been given 10 Inc
long before deserved il, yet am sensible
'hat years are giving Inc some title TO il , and
That every day Is only calculated 10 confirm
IL. am sure, that none of you, gentlemen,
| VIII envy me either the advantage OF nv
years, or The professions they may give he
10 the honOrs OF this Chair.
But with all my experience, have acuuir-
ed but little knowledge of Parliamentary
law. Fortunately, shall have but little oc.
casion for it. Our Convention is too small,
10 encourage the vehemeuce Of Debate. No
long or violent discussions are likely 10 dis
turb the order Of our proceedings-an may
safely trust TO that spirit OF harmony, for
which, you knotc, our caste has been 40 long
and so justly celebrated, Tor our protection
against disorder.
We have assembled here, gentlemen, TN
der the hope OF improving the character and
condition OF The important Profession of which
we are members. The Press is indeed tho
Great Magician OF the age. Wherever
II is established, ii is difusing ligh, all around
II. 1t is promoting the progress ofevery art.
IL Is extending The sphere o: every science
La our own country, ii is necessary agent
and ii properly conducted, it would be an
inestimable instrument How can free
Government he wisely administered without
II! How can free People acquire The
knowledge of facts and of characters, which
is so necessary 10 the proper selection of their
agents? A Republican Government pre-.
supposes, indeed, lhal the People can govern
themselves-and how can People continue
Tree, unless they are enlightened (: The
Press is the great instrument OF information
II 10 an essential part OF the composition of a
Tree society, which is scattered over su ex-
tensive territory as that OF the q. S. The
TACT veriiies The theory. Scarcely do We
settle village i'll The "far' vest" scarcely
have we erected an inn, blacksmith shop,
anu store, before our inquislive country
men begin to think OF a Press. Ii las been
pronounced, 1.-The art pTeServalire 81 all
arts. 80 familiar are we with lis value
That we almost wonder how the anCienis
could have got along without il.
But, SIrs, The Press is generally of more
dement, TO others, than 1t is 10 its own conduc-
tors. No Profession is more irksome or la
oorIous. None imposes such serious sacrif.
ces, as this does, upon the conscientious Cd
tier. His iabors are "siill beginning, new
er ending" lie is Consistently rolling the
stone OF Slsyrhus up the mountain and j, j,
forever rolling back upoa him. lie ia toll.
ing day and night He is literally d prison
er in his own castle. Exercise and fresh = If
are too frequently denied to him. You. ho
Know 1.-The secrets OF your prison house :" Can
only Know what eXertions il requires, ami
what privations il imposes upon you You
Know, for you only have seeu aCd fei; it, to
what Cares beth Of body and mind he is sub
Jected-how tedious are us yigils; how ssx-
Iousiy he sits by his solitary FIRE in the deyth
OF the night, listening for the returning foot.
steps OF Ihe poor Devil who is bringing him
back the proofs ol the manuscript, which,
with the SPIDERS ingenuity, he had been
compelled TO spin out OF bis own brain.
Add whore is the compensation which he
reaps for so many sacrifices and service
Tor so severe and aborI0us an exercise cl 81
imporIan! II profession You must have
been more fortunate, gentlemen, than have
been, If you have acquired the treasures OF
CTosus, or tbs purse Of Eortunatus. have
served as long an apprenticeship as any Of
you; but can lay claim 70 no such scoUjSi,
ton. We are rich only in our Lsrers.
We never ore-"but always TO be blessed y
We are the martyrs TO that expanded system
OF indIscriminaie credit, which has over.
spread our Country-but 70 other class Of
Society has suffered as much by il as we
have. Our CornuCopias are filled but no,
with gold and silver, nor even With bank
notes, bat with our subscribers bills. II i,
Time Tor US 10 change the system, and correct
The EVIL. This is one Ct the great OF iecls. fol
which we have convened here 10 day. w,
must edopI some measures 10 prevent The
multiplication, or promote the collection, Of