Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-23

tain and is forever rolling back upon him. He is toll.
ing day and night. He is literally prisoner in his own
castle. Exercise and fresh air frequently denied
to hlm You, who know The secrets OF your prison
house, can only know what exerlions it requires and
what privations II imposes upon you You know for you
only have seen aud ie it, 10 what both Of body aud
mind he is subjected-how tedious are his vigiIs how
anxously he sits by his solitary fire. in the depth of The
night, listening for the returning footsteps of the pour
Devil who is bringing him The proofs of the manuscript,
which with the SPIDER ingenuity, lie had been compel.
led To spin out of his brain
"Aud where is the compensation which he reaps for so
many sacrifices and sevces-fn severe and laboous
an exercise OF 50 important a professions? You mus,
have been more Fortunate gentlemen, than have been
If you have acquired The treasures of Cresus, the
purse OF fortunalus. have served us long appren
ticeshlp as any of you; but lay claim to no such
acquisition. We are rich only in Our Ledgers. We ne.
yer are-'hut always 10 be blessed" We are the mar.
tyrs TO that expanded system Of indscrminate credit
which has overspeud countrybut other class OF
Society has suffered as much by it we have. Our
Cornucopas are filled but not with gold and silver, NOT
even with bank notes, but with subscriber sbls-l
Is time Tor US to change the system and correct the evil
This is one OF the present objects, tor which we have
convened here 10 day We must adopt some mea
surrs to prevent the multiplication or promote The
collection of the debts with which our Offices have
been sorey taxed. We must do that justice 10 our
selves which many others refuse to US. We have
not met here, gentlemen, TO combine against SocIe
y BY raising wages but TO compare our respective ST.
tuatons TO examine the evils under which we are all la
boring to devise measures OF reet 70 ADVISE each
other and come to some arrangements for the coec
ton Of our debts
"Bu this is not ALL gentemen-nor is it the most i'm
portant duty which we have 10 perform. The press is
not ouy useful TO society," but should De profitable 10 lis
conduc,ors-and may not add, that it should be honora
BILE TO its conductors 1t should be both Of fortune
and of distinction Its so in Europe. In Paris, whose
Journals canpot compare with own, either in dnen
aoCk nr
pal journalists are among The highest dignlares Of the
Government. The Press is indeed passport to Power
"The profession rising in England, not only in emo
lument, but in dignity. One Of The most distinguished
journals in the world is 'lhe Examiner" Of London. and
you may recol!ect in the last July No. of the Edn
burg Review, that the high character Of its Editor, Mr.
Fonblanque, has obtained for him the honor OF long
and complimentary article in the first Periodical Of the
The Reviewer pr0nounces this style 10 be clear rs
Swifls and sometimes graceful Addison Iwhils
it is fgura,ive in expression, and much richer in
anecdote and alusion ""
"And why is it, gentlemen that our profession does
occupy that station in society to which ii is entitled
Let US not disguise the fact 1t is our own fault Nc
maxim is more true, than that he who would have the
respect Of Others, must show that he respects himself
We have descended 10 abuse each other in manner
that has lost the respect Of The world. We msrepre
sent each others moves-we heap opprobrous epItlIe
upon each other headS-we do not recoect that VIC
lence is not energy and that Vruence is any thing bu
dignity. How can we expect TO be treated as gentle
men, If do conduct ourselves as gentlemen =
Each says indeed, that It is not his fault lie trle:
TO Justify himself by pleading seldeence. But whose
soever be the fault, the effect is undenable that IN TINS
eternal warfare Of attack and Of recrimnalion, the press
has lost much Of lis dignity, and much OF that mora
influence which 1t would have right TO claim, anc
would unqueslinnably command, in free and enlight
ened country. The mischief does not stop here. The
RIGHTEOUSNESS Of the press nsensiby lowers The tone Of
private manners and niects the character of public
councils. In this respect therefore, the interests of so
O Is conductors demand
thorough reform.
"1his is gentlemen. another of The great objects FOL
which we have convened togeher-and am sure there
is no wereg mind in this assembly which will
heartily cooperate in all the which may be ne
cessary improve and elevate the tone Of the press
'You will probably have other subjects before you
Be assured, gentlemen that will spare no effort TO taci
litae the business OF the Convention. trust sincerely
that shall part in the same harmony in which W.
have met"
On calling the names Of the Editors Of the State, th
following gentlemen were found 10 be in attendance
Thomas Richie, Richmond Enquirer.
Alexander Moseley, Richmond Wing.
y Wm 4 A. Iowa G0Ta''''' Richmond Compiler.
Z. Mead, Southern Churchman.
VIM. A. Smith, Conference Journal.
VIM. Sands, Religious Herald.
Thomas W. White s. l.. Messenger.
John S. Ga,laher, Charestown Free Press.
Edmund Ruifin, Petersburg Farmers Register.
Edgar Snowden, Alexandra Gazette.
Richard II. lOler, LYnchourg fHEinlan-
Alexander J. Marshall, Warrenton Times
Robert Ricketts,, Warrenlon Jeffersonian.
Z. Z. Hunter, Marnsburg Gazette.
VIM NJ. BackTord, Fredericksburg P"litica! Arena
Mr. HIT, Editor of the Wilmington IN. c. Adver
tser, being present. was invited to take seat IN IN
Convention
On motion Of Mr. RUFFIN,
Resoired That the relations between the publishers Of
and subscribers TO- newspapers and other periodicals,
referred 10 committee with instructions ~ consider
he aYisi q
as may seem most proper and etectuul
On motion Of Mr. SANDS,
Resolped That The subject Of adopting uniform seal
of prices for Book and Job Printing and Advertising
far as the same is practicable and also for the regulation
of the relations between employers, ourneymen and ap
pren,ices be referred 10 seec, committee 10 report
morrow.
On motion of Mr.. SSowpES,
Resoiecd That the subject of the proper tone and
ner Of conducting the Newspaper Press Of Virginia,
referred a select committee, TO report TO morrow.
The CHAIR appointed under the first Resolution, til
following gentlemen to constitute the Committee:
Messrs. Rutiiu, White, Tuler, MoseleY, Hunter an
Alexander.
Under the second Resolution:
Messrs Sands, White, Walker, Marshall Davis, Rick
| etts, and Mead.
| Under the third
Nessls Snuwden, Gallaher, Blackfurd, Toler, Ruiir
Hunter, CoWardn and Smith.
| On motion, Mr. Richie was added 10 the Commte
! under the third resolution.
The Convention then I'D ourDed, 10 meet at D coc
tomorrow evening.
Thursday E1ening, January 18Th, 5 P. A.
The Convention met pursuant 10 adjournment.
Mr. ALEXANDER, Editor Of the Charlottesville Jeffer
soniau Republican, and Mr.. }. c. WALKER, of Rich
| mond, appeared and took their seats:
Several communications addressed 10 the Convention
| were read and for the presen, laid on the table.
On motion of Mr.. GALLAHER,
Resoloed That such members Of the Legislature, an
other gentlemen, have been heretofore connected viii
the press be invited seats this Convention homo
rary Members.
MIR. RurFrs from the Committee appointed yeser
day. under the Isl Resolution, presented Report an
Resolutions, which alter some debate and amendment
were adopted in the following FORM
The Committee to whom referred the subject O
iI,a snha