Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-10-22
Prospt ctus Of the
Southern Literary Messenger.
T. W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR

| SOuthCAM AAtcE0Ay uAcSScEtfsSE.
T. W. WHITE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
TNHIS is a monthly Magazine, devote,
= chiefly to Literature, but occasiona Il
finding room also for articles that fall within
the scope of Science; and not protesting al
entire disdaln Of tasteful selections, Though it
matter has been as it will continue to be, /,
the main original.
Party Politics and controversial Theology
as far as possible, are jealousy excluded
| They are sometimes so blended with discus
sions in literature or in moral science, other
wise unobjechonable, 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 orc where
with it is Incorporated.
| Review and Critical Notices occupy their
due space in the work; and 1t is the editors
aim that they should have threefold tenden.
cy-to convey in condensed form, such valu-
able truths or interesting incidents as are en-
| bodied in the works revieWcc,-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 publ
cations that by their variety and multitude dis
tract and overwhelm every Understanding
student, impartial criticism governed by the
views justmentioned, is one of the most inesti-
mable and indispensable of auxiliaries, TO him
who does wish to discriminate.
Essays, and Tales, having in view utility OF
amusement, or both-IIistoricel Sketches
and "reminiscences of too minute for H!sorv,
yet calculating it and heightening IFS inter-
est,-may be regarded as forming the staple
of the work. And of Indigenous Poetry,
enough is publshed-somet:mes 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 awork: andnot one alone, but
many. The public mind is feversh and irrita-
ted still, from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasive influence of literature is needed,
to allay that fever and smooihe that irritation.
Vice and folly are riotng abroad they should
be driven by indignant rebuke, or lasEed by
ridicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
lords If over an immense proportion of our peo
pie. Every spring should be set IN motion, TO
arouse the enlightened, and to increase their
number; so that the great enemy of popular
government may no longer brood, like Dor
v.
And to accomplish all these ends, what more
powerful agent can be employed, than peri
odicai, on the plan of the Messenger; If that
plan be but carried out In practice!
The South peculiarly requires such an aren't.
In all the Union, south of Washington. there
are but two literary periodicals! Northward
OF that city. there probably are at least twen-
ty-five or thirty. Is this contrast justified by
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 our brethren:
and domestic institution exclusively our own,
beyond all doubt, affords us, if we choose. twice
the leisure for reading and writing which they
enjoy.
1t was from a deep sense of this local want
that the word Southern was engrafted on this
periodical; and not with any design to nour-
ish local preJudlces or to advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought. II
Is the editors fervent wish to see the North
and South bound endearingly together forever,
IN The sllken bands of mutual kindness and af-
lection. Far from meditating hostility to the
North, he has already drawn, and he hopes
therefore to draw much of his choicest matter
thence: and happr indeed will he deem him.
SELF should his pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute in any es
sential 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 volume.
How farit 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
short of Theory.
CONDITIONS.
l. The Southern Literary Messenger is
published IN monthly numbers, of 81 LARGE an
perroyal octave pages each, on the best 81. ma.
per, and neatly covered, at So year, PAYABLE
in advance. - :
z. Or i've new subscribers by sending their
names and twenty dollars at one time to the
editor, Will receive their copies for one wear.
for that sum, or at 4 dollars for each.
Q. The risk of loss of payments for subscrip-
IONS, winch have been properly committed to
the mail; or the hands Of postmaster. is as
sumed by the editor.
z. subscription is not directed to be dis
continued before the first number of the next
volume has been published. It win be taken as
continuance for anotheryear. 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 az the first number of the volume IS
issued and after that time, no discontinuance
OF subscription win be permitted Nor viii
subscriptions be discontinued for any earlier
notice, while any thing thereon remains due,
unless at the option of the editor.