Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-08-27
ProSp' ctus Of the
Southern Literary Messenger.
T. W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

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l. chiefly to Literature, but occasionally
finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope of Science and not protesting ar
entire disdan 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
sions inliterature or in moral science, other
wise unobjectionable, as to gain admit ance
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 threelold tenden-
| cy-to convey IN a 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
read, add to warn HIM against wasting tine
and money upon that large number, which
merit only to be burned. In this ace, of publ
cations that by Their variety and multitude dis
| tract and overwhelm every und:scriminating
student, impartial criticisil governed b. the
views aforementioned, is on, Of the most inesti-
| mable and indispensable of aIXiLaries, 70 him
vino does wish TO discriminate.
Essays, and Fales, having in view utility OF
amusement, or both-Hstoricel Sketches
and "reminiscences OF too minute for H,s'ory,
vet calculating il and heightening is inter-
est,-may be regarded as forming the staple
of the work And of Indigenous Poetry,
enough is Observation-Disclosures Of 10 mean
strain-to manifest and to cultivate the grow
ing poetry taste and talents Of our coun-
try.
The time appears. for several reasons, 70
demand such work: and not one alone, but
many. The public mind is fever;sh and irrita-
ted stil', from recent political striteS. The
soft assuasiye influence of lite ature Is needed,
to allay that fever and smoo,he that irritation.
Vice and folly are rioting abroad: they should
be driven by indignant rebuke, or laShed By
ridicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorane7
lords 1t over an immense proportion OF our pc
pie. Every spring should be set In motion, to
arouse the enlightened, and to increase their
number; so that the great enemy Of poTular
government may no longer brood, Ike a por-
tentous cloud over the destnes of our country.
And to accomplish al these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than a peri
odical, on the plan of the Messenger; il that
plan be but carried out in practice!
The South peculiarly requires such an agent.
In ali he Union, south of Washington. there
are but two literary periodicals.! Northward
of that city, there probably are at least TWEEN
ty-five or thirty Is this contrast justified bv
the wealth, the leisure. the native talent. or the
actual literary taste, Of the Southern people.
compared with those of the Northern! No /:
for in wealth, talents and taste, we nav Justly
claim at least an equality with cur brethren T:
and domestic institution exclusively our own.
beyond all doubt, affords Us, if we choose, twice
the leisure for reading and writing which they
enjoy.
ltwas from deep sense of this local want
that the word Southern was engraftcd on this
periodical; and not with any design to nour-
lsh local prejndices; or 10 advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought, it
IS the EDITORS fervent wish to see tie North
and South bound endearingly together forever,
IN the silken bands of mutual kindness and af-
lection. Ear from meditatng hostility to the
North, he has already drawn, and he hooes
therefore to draw much of his choicest matter
thence: and happr indeed viii he deem him.
sell, should hrs pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in aDv es-
sental degree to dispel 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 18th No of the third volnme.
how far has acted out the ideas here uttered.
IS not for the editor to say. He believes, how
ever, that 1t falls not further short of them. than
human weakness usually makes Practice ran
short of Theory.
CONDITIONS.
!. The Southern Literary Messenger is
pubhshedin monthly numbers, of 81 large 81.
perroyal octave pages each, on the best of pa
per, and neatly covered, at 50 a year, PAYABLE
IN advance.
= Or i've new subscribers by sending their
names and twenty dollars at one time to the
editor, viii receive their copies for one year,
Tor that sum, or at dollars for each.
.. The risk oflo of payments for subscrip-
tons, which have been properly committed to
the mail; or the hands of postmaster, is as
sumed by the editor.
4. II subscription is not directed to be dis
continued before the first number of the next
volume has been published, it viii be taken as
continuance for another year. Subscriptions
must commence with the beginning of the
volume, and viii not be taken for less than a
years publication.
5. The mutual obligations of the publisher
and subscriber, for the year, are fully incurred
as soon as the first number of the volume is
issued and after that time, no discontinnance
of a subscription win be permitted. Nor VIII
subscription be discontinued for any earlier
notice, while any thing thereon remains due,
unless at the option of the editor.