Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-02-07

tablish, by their excess Of indulgence,
a mode of carrying on their business
which oil deemed injurious to their in.
tcresss, and winch every considefats
subscriber would admit to be improper
and inexcusable, in every point Of view.
To remedy these evils in some measure,
the following regulations are proposed.
l. All subscriptions, hereafter, shall
be considered as incurred and due in
advance, and for years publication,
unless specially ordered for a shorter
time, and paid for in advance for that
shorter time, when so ordered.
2. No publication shall be sent TO
the order Of any new and unknown
subscriber, unless paid for in advance.
OF satisfactory reference is made to
some known and accessible person in
regard to the subscriber or his pay.
ment. But in case OF an order for =
publication, without payment, from 4
new subscriber, who is unacquainted
with the conditions, q single number
may be sent, containing, or accompa.
MED by, copy Of this regulation.
3. The names Of all subsc ribers
whose ability to pay may be unknown
to the publisher, and who may remain
indebted on open account at the end
Of two years, from the time when the
advance payment was due, shall be .
rased from the list Of subscribers.
Mr.. SANDS, from the committee APP
pointed in like manner, under the sec.
ond resolution, presented a Report and
Resolutions, which were for the pres.
ent laid on the table.
Mr.. SNowpES, from the committee
under the third resolution Of yesterday,
presented the following Report and
Resolutions which were unanimously
adopted -
The committee 10 which was refer.
red the third resolution Of the Conven-
ton, relative TO the conduct Of the press
IN Virginia, have had the same under
consideration, and beg leave to repor,
So important has the newspap per
press become, not only as dissemina.
tor OF intelligence. and the ordinary
news Of the day, but as exerting an in
f1ut nee upon the moral as vol as the
political relations Of society, that all
must take an interest in seeing its tone
and character elevated and sustained
and its energies directed to the besl
and most useful ends. liza FREE press
be the palladium Of our liberties, .
PURE one is absolutely necessary to
preserve our relish for our liberties,
and fit US for proper enjoyment Of
them.
The public, therefore, is concerned,
and its interests deeply involved in the
correct management Of the press, and
in the character OF the newspapers OF
our country. Whit is designed for
our intellectual repast around the fam.
lily freside, Of which all are to partake,
cannot be matter Of Indifference to
any virtuous citizen. As much, how
ever, as the public is interested, the
editors and conductors Of tho press
themselves, must feel a still deeper 30.
licitude. When men devote their en-.
ergies to any labor, they are anxious
to see that labor applied to its legiti.
mate purposes, and produce i,s proper
results. We are oil daily and hourly
employing our time and minds in la.
borious task, and are constantly occu
pied in u profession, in which we sci.
dom, as things are at present., reap
profit, and often meet with discourage
ment. II is, therefore, as much mat
ter of interest, a. Of duty, with US, 10
unite in the attempt to increase the
usefulness and advance tho respecta-
bility Of the press, and thus mako il
moro worthy the countenance and &c.
nervous support Of the public.
70 make particular rules applicable
to al cases, in furtherance ofthis desira.
bio object, would be found impractical.
Bile. We all agree that the general
conduct Of the newspaper press ought
to be improved--i,s tone changed and
its manner polished. Ii is, however,
In the hands Of responsible and indie.
pendent individuals, whose opinions
and judgments are as various as their
establishments are separate and dis
tinct. 1t is obvious then, that much
must be left to the sound discretion Of
the editors themselves. We can do
nothing more than to recognize certain
general principles which ought to reg
ulate the press, and recommend to our
brethrenI throughoutthe Commonwealth
to &C, upon them, and apply them as
they may see proper, 90 ss never, how.
ever circumstances may vary, to vio-
late their spirit, or interrupt theirlhar.
mony and symmetry. These, at last,
resolve themselves into the general
doctrine, Of making the press pure as
well as free, dignifsd, a. well a. indie
pendent, respectable, as we'll ~ intsres.
ing. IL this were accomplished, the