Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-11-12
I'rosP. ct,ts Of the
Southern Literary Messenger.

SOUdhcRkA Literary messenger.
t. w. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
KHHIS is a monthly Magazine, devoted
4 chiefly to literaSre, but occasionally
finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope of Science /; and not protesting an
entire disdain of tasteful selections, though its
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
s;ons inhterature or IN moral science, other
wise unobiectionable, 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 ere where
with 1t IS incorporated.
Review and Critical Notices occupy then
| due space III The work and it is the editor.
aim that they should have a threefold tenden
cY-to convey IN condensed form, such va2u
abe truths or interesting incidents as are EN-
bodied in the works revIeWed,-to direct th,
readers attention TO books that deserve to bC
reaG,-add to warn HIM against wasting tiHas
and money upon that large number, wlIicl
merit only 10 be burned. in his age, of aubE-
cations that by Their variety and multitude dis
tract and overwhelIn every undscr;ninatinq
student. impartial criticism governed By the
viesvs justmeationed, is one of the most NEST
mable AID Indispensable of anxil4Fics, 70 hiIa
who does wish to discriminate.
Essays, and Tales, having IN view. Utility o!
amusement, or botsl--IIistor.cel Sketches
and "reminiscences of too minute for H,s,orv
ret calculating it and frightening ITS inter
est,-may be regarded as forming The staple
of the work. And of indigenous Poetry,
enough is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF no mean
siran-:o manifest and to cultivate the grow
ing poetry taste and talents of Cur coun-
try.
The time appears, for several reascne, to
demand such awork and not one alone, but
many. The public mind is fever;sh and irrita-
ted still, from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasive influence of lite:a allure is needed,
to allay that fever and smooihe that irritation.
Vice and folly are rioting abroad: they should
be driven by indignant rebuke, or lasked BY
ridicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
lords it over an immense proportion of our peo-
pie. Every spring should 6e set in motion, to
arouse the enlightened, and to increase their
number; so that the great enemy of popular
tentous cloud over the destines of our country.
And to accomplish all these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than q peri
odcal, 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 Int two literary periodicals.! Northward
of that city, there probably are at least twen-
fefI !
the wealth. the leisure. the native talent. or the
actual literary taste, of the Southern people,
compared with tlr1se of the Northern? No !:
form wealth, talents and taste, we may Justly
claim at least an equality with cur brethren :;
and a domestic Institution exclusively or own,
beyond al doubt, affords US, if we choose. twice
the leisure for reading and writing which they
enjoy.
twas from deep sense of this local want
that the word Southern was engraftcd on this
periodical and not with any design to nouT-
ISL local prejud.ces; or to advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought, It
is the editors fervent wish to see the North
and South bound endearngly together forever,
IN the silken bands of mutual kindness and az
lection. Far from medtating hostility to the
North, he las already drawn, and he hopes
therefore to draw much of his choicest matter
thence: and happr indeed viii he deem him
self should his pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in any es-
sent:al degree to d:spel the lowering clouds
that now threaten the peace of both, and to
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties Of fra
ternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has now
reached the llth No of the third volume.
How farithas atied out the ideas here uttered,
is not for The editor 70 say. lie behey.s, how
ever, that 1t falls not further short Of them,t
human weakness usually makes Practice fab
short of Theory.
CONDITIONS.
|. The Southern Literary Messenger IS
pubishedin monthly numbers, of 4laree su-
perreyal octave pages each, on the best of pa
per, andneatly covered, at IS year, payable
IN advance.
2 Or five new subscribers BY sending their
names and twenty dollars at one tine 10 the
editor, VIII receive their copies for one wear.
for atsuIn, or at 4 dollars for each.
3. The risk of loss of payments for subscrip-
tons, which have been properly committed to
the mail; orthe hands of postmaster, is as
stunned by the editcr.
4. If subscription is not directed to be Dis
continued before the first number ofthe reyt
volume has been published, it viii be taken as
a continuance for another year. Subscriptions
must commence wits the. beginniSg of Tie
volume. and WI rotbe taken for less than a
years publication.
.. The mutual obligations Of the publisher
and suoseri5ers 81 tie yeaf, ore fully Incurred
IS soon as the first Eambar Of tie volume Is
lssslEd: and after that tinsc no xco,sin,.a,,ess
Of subscrlpnon VIII be permitted. Nor win
subscription be discontinued for any earlier
notice, while any thing thei.on remains due,
unless at the option Of the editor.