The Pearl River banner. (Monticello, Miss.) 1837-18??, 1838-05-12
From the Baltimore Monument.
THE AMERICAN PRESS.

Try q the American psopls, they sisw
| i - one IL shsir chief blessings, A. tn
strong support of their liberties aid the
powerful enemy Of their foes. II they
cherish high hopes Of future and induIgs
in brilliant visions Of approaching glory.
they rest them upon that liberty 81 con-
science, speech and seton, which the
freedom Of the press is 50 well calculs-
ted to secure. independently Of this,
such ! government as ours could aoI stand.
Other things, 10 doubt, tend TO promote
the psrpstuity Of our Institutions, but,
without this, they would be impstsOt. -
Il forms the cement, that antics the walls
Of our patriotic temple.
The value ofsintsllIgencs in such an
economy IS ours. cannot but be admitted.
Without intelligence, can the most ordi-
nary man IA The community, discharge
bis political duties, can he be prepared
10 choose suitabls Legislators ant msgis-
irates 81 be fitted 70 sanction Or eondemn
important measures. Without inlclli-
/ gsnce. can individuals be qualified Tor
their posts. 10 which, the voice Of their
fellow citizens may call them? Without
\ intsIiigence. can the law, our great bull
wsrk, b safely and scuadIy administered?
Danish from this land, it, inielligsscs aud
the walls, which surround us srs thrown
down, and the feet Of our spponents are
abs to trampls upon v.
IT. now, knowledge s. 80 necessary,
! how is Il 10 be diGused! How IS it to be
brought within the reach Of al? TO "a
uniettersd press, We must look Its pro
vince Is 10 make the people acquainted
! with their duty and 1t the sane time, BY
its motives. t. urge them to perform it,
III scatters the rays Of illumination far
snd wide. Its productions are borne by
9ths winds 10 tho four quarters d the cous-
TRY. blessing tho cottage and lhs mansion
and teaching all to preserve their rich
and csstIy heritage. Il exposes meai-
lme. ia their various lights. Systems
1 proposed for the good Of the land, are
! unicldsd and all questions growing out Of
National interests, are fully and perfectly
investigated, Are those in Office tempted
Ito corruption? They fear the prsss.--
II character as.ailed? The press is arp.
| psaied 10 Tor justice. And rho can tell
bio influence, which the voice OF free
press has, in calling out the obscure, in
stimulating the wavering and in reward
| ing the brave.
w. pIacs tho freedom II The press up.
on the sans foundation with the liberty
Of thought and speech. II man has
fright 70 bis opinion, has be not an equal
right 70 publish tito use al efforts %
disseminate i, ifhe see proper? Abridgs
the freedom Of the press end virtually,
you contract the liberty Of the mind. for
you affect one Of the chief instruments Of
lis operation. The Creator in giving Us
frcs minds, implicitly, At least also gave
US, the jurisdiction Of Whatever would
carry oui that freedom. Hence, whoever
letters The press. 10 like degree, infer.
Isrss with TIE natural. unobstructed wor
king 81 the intellect. These Two doc
Urine. are ccnnecte d establish the inhe
rant right Of the mind 70 think Tor itself.
and you also establish ito right TO the use
Ia The press q any other agent for ~ pur-
pose.
The press like all other blessings. scne
times becomes perverted. The passions
Of men prostitute il 10 the most unholy
snds, thus divert;ng il from III healthy
channel and making ii minister 81 avil
7 10 many. how much evil does il accom-
plish? Who can estimate the moral ruin, |
| il has effected, when in6deiity and lii
jcentiousnsss have governed III Let il be
under Ire control Of reason and rsv~la.
ton and II will shsd its rich fruit over the
land. Over the rough features Of the
landscape, il will throw } smils- peace
aud virtue viii brighten and happiness
will flourish beneath III fostering care.
But let il Be abused. lei il BE- made ave-
hicle for impurisy end vice and its effect
Twill Be seen and read 10 The debased
principles, wicked habits, and meurnluI
overthrow Of thousands.
HEALrH or WASHINGTON severe
pulmonic affection prevails at W sshing'
I ton as to partake Of the character oil an
epidemic. .Among the members pros !
| trats with il are Messss. Jenifer Of Mary
land, Bruyn Of New York, and Hunter Of
Ohio. Mr. Poinssit, Secretary cf War,