Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-03-19
Western Bank Note Conn lslily
W@@DRgl ~ Tg s. CO.
Prospectus Of he
Southern Literary IEessem ger.

Southern Literary Messenger.
w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
TyHIS is a monthly Magazine, devoted
4 chiefly to Literature, bat occasionally
finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope of Science and not protesting an
entire disdain of tasteful selections, thoughts
matter has been as it will continue to be, IN
the main original.
Party Politics and controversial Theology,
as far as possible, are jealousy excluded
They are sometimes SO blended with discus
sions inliterature or IN moral science, other
wise understandable, as to gain admittance
for the sake of the more valuable matter to
which they adhere: but whenever that hap
| pens, they are incidental only not primary.
They are dross tolerated only because it can
not well be severed from the sterling ore where
with it is incorporated.
| Review and Critical Notices occupy their
/ due space IN the work and it is the editors
aim that they should have a threefold tenden-
| cy--to convey IN condensed form, such valu-
able truths or interesting incidents as are EN-.
bodied in the works reVieWed,-to direct the
readers attention to books that deserve to be
reaG, add to warn him against wasting time
and money upon that large number, which
merit only to be burned. In this age, of publi-
catious that by their variety and multitude dis
/ tract and overwhelm every undiscriminating
student, impartial criticism governed by the
views iustmentioned, is one of the most inesti-
mable and indispensable of auxiharies, tohim
who does wish to discriminate.
Essays, and Tales, having IN view utility OF
amusement, or both-Historicel Sketches
and "reminiscences of too minute for History,
yet calculating it and heightening ITS inter-
est,-n1ay be regarded as forming the staple
of the work. And of Indigenous Poetry,
enough is published sometimes of no mean
strain-to manifest and to cultivate the grow
ing poetry taste and talents of our coun-
try.
The time appears, for several reasons, to.
demand such a work andnot one alone, but
many. The public mind is feverish dinita-
ted still. from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasiYe influence Of literature is needed,
to allay that fever and smoothe that irritation.
Vice and folly are rioting abroad: they should
be driven by indignant rebuke, or lashed by
rldicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
lords It over an immense proportion of our peo-
pie. Every spring should be set in notion to
arouse the enlightened, and to increase their
number so that the great enemy of popular
government may no longer brood, Ike por-
tentous cloud over the destines of our country
And to accomplish all these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than peri
odical, on the plan of the Messenger; if that
plan be but carried out IN practice?
The South peculiarly requires such an agent.
In all the Union, south Of Washington, there
are but two literary periodicals.! Woodward
Of that city, there probably are at least twen-
ty-fiYe Or thirty! Is this contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent, or the
A.
compared with those of the Northern! No
for IN wealth, talents and taste, we may Justly
clam at least an equality with our brethren:
and domestic institution exclusively our svpI.
beyond al doubt, affords Is, L ne cheese, twice
TIE ieiSure lsess reading and writing which they
enjoy.
twas from deep sense Of this local want
that the word Southern was engrafted on this
periodical and not with any design to nour-
ISL local prejudices orto advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought. # |
is the editor ferVent wish to see the North
and South bound endearingly together forever,
IN the silken bands Of mutual kindness and al /
lection. Far from meditatino hostility Is tie
North, he has already drawn, and ne homes
therefore to draw much Of his choicest matter
thence and happy indeed VIII he deem him.
sell, should his pages, By making each reoion
know the other better, contribute IA any So
sent;al degree to dispel the lowering clouds
that now threaten the peace oI both. ana "a
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of Ea-
ternal love
be Southern Literary "a essenQer has now
reached the 18th No 81 the thaG volume
HOW ia1 & has aeted out the ideas here uttered.
e not for the editor @ say lie believes how
ever lslat Z aus not ilFl1ef saoli o them |sn