The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-09
4 FREE PRESS.

None but those who have been aided by eX-
perience, can imagine how difficult it is to
sustain, in this country, a free press. None
but those who have reflected deeply upon the
subject can realize its importance. None but
those who have witnessed its power, can ina
CINE how much party controls the judgment
and political action of the people of the United
States. None but those who have been its VIC
Tins, can believe the extent of its intolerance.
None but those who have witnessed the man.
ner in which public opinion is manufactured,
and the greediness with which any principle,
bearing the party stamp, is adopted, however
much it may be in conflict with previously ex-
pressed opinions, can realize the force of the
machinery b. which it is accomplished The
love ofpower is the same in all men. The will
of the majority is as absolute as that of indi-
viduals, with this difference: that it is often
more difficult TO determine the one than the
other. But, as in governments like ours, the
majority is constituted of individuals, who, upon
incidental questions, must necessarily have va
rious and conflicting opinions, the principle of
prescription and intolerance is often exercised
under the influence of considerations arising
out of mere personal preferences. The knowl-
edge OF this, which is brought home by very
little experience, to any editor, is one of the
most common impediments to a free press
We feel unwilling to offend the feelings of those
acting with US in the same cause, by express
ing opinions either of men or things, which
may be offensive, and hence it very often hap
pens, that the power to do good is lost, and the
press fails to speak as it should, when public
duty most requires it to do so. This condition
of the press is 10 the public men of the country,
precisely what want of candor and faithful
ness in the pastor of a congregation is TO them
It's as necessary that he, who is delegated to
preach the gospel, should speak of the sinful
ness OF our nature, as that he should proclaim
the mercies of the Redeemer. So is a faithful
and free press bound to speak truly of public
men, andi is the duty of the public,in charity,
to attribute the proper motives to an editor,
who, in the face of his own private interests,
has the independence to speak with candsr Of
the errors of the prominent men of his own
party, or who shall properly resist unauthoriz-
ed attempts to control his individual judgment.
For without this, there is no freedom of the
press, and it is in vain that we speak of the
press as the palladium of public liberty, If it is
made the instrument of faction, and controlled
by those who assume to be the leaders of party.
These remarks are made, not only in refer
ence to the attempt to prescribe this press by
| open denunciation, but to the undeIcurrent,
which is busily at work to misrepresent the
motives of our remarks in relation to MIR. Web
ster's late visit to Virginia, and which would
find beneath them some sinister purpose. Our
purpose is simply to state fact, and in justice
to ourselves to explain that state ofpublic sem
timent in relation to Mr.. Webster, which per-
vades the Southern States, and made it.impo-
lite on the part of the Southern friends of
General Harrison, to give him much prom
inence in the canvass. The question at |
issue before the country was not whether Mr. ]