Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-09-24
Prospectus. Of the
Southern Literary Messenger.


4 chiefly to Literature, but occasionally
finding room also for articles that fail within
the scope of Science and not protesting an
entire disdan 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 jealously excluded.
They are sometimes so blended with discus
slons lnlIterature or IN moral science, other
wise unobjectonable, 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 1t 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 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
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 undiscriminating
student, impartial criticism governed by the
mabfe and indispensable of auxiiaries, to him
who does wish to discriminate.
Essays, and Tales, having IN view utility or
amusement, or both-Hstoricel Sketches
| and "reminiscences of too minute for History,
yet calculating it and frightening Its inter-
est,-may 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-
ltry.
The time appears, for several reasons, to
demand such work andnot one alone, but
many. The public mind is feverish and irrita-
ted still, from recent political strifes. The
soft assuasive 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 dashed by
ridicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance
| lords it over an immense proportion of our peo-
pie. Every spring should be set in motion, to
arouse the enlightened, and to increase then
number; so that the great enemy of popular
government may no longer brood, Ike a 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. Northward
of that city, there probably are at least TWEEN
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.
twas from deep sense of this local want
that the word Southern was engrafted on this
periodical; and not with any design to nour-
| lsh local preludices or to advocate supposed
local interests. Far from any such thought, II
is the editors fervent wish to see the North
and South bound endearinglv together forever
in the silken bands of mutual kindness and aft.
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 happy indeed will he deem him.
sell, should his pages, by making each region
know the other better, contribute In any es.
sentiaI degree to dispel the lowering cloud:
that now threaten the peace of both, and te
brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fra.
lternal love.
| The Southern Literary Messenger has nov
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. thar
human weakness usually makes Practice fal
short Of Theory.
CONDITIONS.
l. The Southern Literary Messenger il
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= Or tVe new subscribers by sending theI
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3. The risk ofloss of payments for subscrip
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sumed by the editor.
4. If subscription is not directed to beds
continued before the first number Of the mex
volume has been published, It will be taken a
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must commence with the beginning of thu
volume. and viii not be taken for less than ;
years publication.
3. The mutual obligations of the publishes
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as soon as the first number Of the volume i
issued; and after that time; no discontinuanct
OF subscription vii be permitted. Nor WI
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