Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-09-17
froSP ctas Of the
SOuIilcrn Literary NcN<cafg =
T. W. WHITE. EDIT R AND PRoPR EroR


FNHTS is a monthly Magazine, devoted
4 chiefly TO literature, but occasona IL
finding room also for artic es that fail wl-hn
the scope of Science and no. protesting an
entire dlsdafn of tas eiu selections, thorgh It's
r2atter has been as it will continue to be, IN
the main original.
Party Politics and controversial Theology,
as far as possible, are jealously excluded.
They are sometimes SO blended with Discus
sons in literature or IN moral science, other
wise unobjectionable, as to gain admit; ance
for the sake of the more valuable matter to
which they adhere: bat whenever that hap
pens, they are incidental only not primary.
| they are dross tolera ed only because it can
Lot well be severed from the sterling ore where
with 1t is incorporated.
Review and Critical Notices occupy their
due space in the work ; and It IS the editors
ann that they should have a threefo!d tenden-
cy-to convey in condensed form, such valu-
| able truths or interesting incidents as are en-
bodiedln the works reviewed, Ito direct the
readers attention TO books that deserve to be
reaG,-add to warn hun against wasting time
and money upon that large number, which
! merit only TO be burned. In this age, of publ
cations that by Their yarie'y and multitude dis
tract and overwhelm every ind scr m mating
student, impartial Criticism governed BY the
views justment;onet, S one of the most nest
nabe and indispensable of anxilaries, 10 him
who does wish to discriminate.
Essays, and Fales, having in view utility or
amusement, or bot!l--HistoriceI Sketches
and "reminiscences of too minute for HIS ofv
yet calculating it and heightening It's inter-
est,-may be regarded as forming the stap,e
of the work. And of Indigenous Poetry,
strain-,o manifest and To cultivate the grow |
ing poetry taste and talents Of our coun- |
try.
The time appears, for several reasons, 10 (
demand such work: andnot one alone, bui |
many. Tie, public mind is feyersh and rita
ted still, from recent political strifes. The |
soft assuasye influence OF lite allure is needed, |
20 alay that fever aud smoohe that irritation
Vice and folly are rlo;ing abroad they should
be driven by indignant rebuke, or lasted by |
rldcue, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
lords 1t over an immense proportion of our peo-
pie. Every spring should be set IN motion, 70
arouse the enlightened, and to increase their
number; so that the great enemy of poT ular
governments may no longer brood, Ike a por-
tentous cloud over the dcstines of our country.
And to accomplish al these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than aper-
cd cal, on the plan of tie Messenger; if that
plan he but carried out IN practice!
The South peculiarly requires such an agent.
In all he Union, south of Wash ugton. there
are but two literary period Gals Northward
of that city, there probably are at least twen-
ty-fiye or thirty! Is tbs Contrast justified by
the wealth, the leisure he native talent, or the
&c ual literary taste, of tie Southern people,
compared with those of the Northern No /: |
for in wealth, talents and taste, we may justly !
c ann at least an equal ty with our brethren;
and domestic institution exclusively our own, /
beyond all doubt. affords Us, If we choose. twice
the leisure for reading and wl.s'ng which they |
enjoy.
TWAS from deep sense of this iocai want |
taat the word Southern was engrafted on thu !
periodical; and not with any design to nour- /
lsh local pre]Gd.ces; or to advocate supposed /
local interests. Far from any such tsloug :, il |
IS the EDITORS fervent w.sh to see tie North
and South bond endearinaly to. ether forever. /
IN the silken bands of mutual kindness and ar |
lection. Far from. med sating hostility to the
North, he has already d-awr, and ne hopes
therefore to draw much of his choiccst matter |
thence: and HAPPY indeed will he deem him.
SELF should his pages, by mixing each region
know the other better, contribute IN any es. |
sental degree to d'spel the lowering clondsi
that now threaten the peace of both, and to |
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fra-l
ternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the 18th No of the third volume. |
How FART has acted out the ideas here uttered. |
Is not for the editor to say. He believes. how
ever, that It falls not further short of them than
human weakness usually makes Practice fall
CONDITIONS.
!. The Southern Literary Messenger is
pubiishedin monthly numbers, of Ga large SUI
perroyal octave pages each, on the best of pa-
per, and neatly covered, at 50 ayear, payable |
in advance.
Or I'VE new subscribers by sending their
names and twenty dollars at one time 10 the |
editor, VIII receive their copies for one wear. |
for that sum, or at dollars FIR each.
3. The risk ofloss of payments for subscrp-
llons. which have been properly committed to |
the mail; OF the hands of postmaster. is as
sumed by the edtar
4. II subscription is not directed to be dis |
continued before the first n2mber of the next
volume has been published. it viii be taken as
a continuance for another year. Subscriptions
must commence with the beginning of the |
volume, and viii not be taken for less than a /
years publication
3. The mutual obligations of the publisher
and subscriber, for the year, are fully incurred
Is soon as the first number Of the volume IS.
ssued and after that time, no fiscontinnance
q subscription win be permitted. Nor win /