Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-04-02
To rue EpIroRs OF TILE Muro-


ihe Press has been designated the Palladium NJ
Loerty; nothing which concerns its mana emen, can
| therefore De matter OF indifference to society Thar
ine ,nnuence OF the Press is most potent no one can
uouoii u IS an engine Of unparalleled power, and
| may be devoted 10 good or evil, as il suits The
inclination or COMFORTS with the interest of its rom
unciors. On the judlcious exercise of its power de-
pends IN an eminent degree, the welfare of society.
| -Ns rishuuI exercise mplrts confidence and secu-
rlty, It's abuse begetS suspicion and engen5ers ,
heenuous ana reckless spirit. Hence the indications
oil the temper and disposition of the Press must ey
rpe regarded with intense solictude by all who
are Interested IN the peace order and preservation
VI society these reflections have been suggested
oy the matter and spirit of several communicotions
"nich nave recently appeared in your paper on the
SUBJECT OF the appointment of City Postmaster and
| .ne elecuon OF CITY Delegate Ii may be my msfor.
tune, Messrs. Editors, that cannot appreciate tbo,
species OF ambition which finds its chefdesh in con-
Cocung Tor the press, articles which have No bs,,.
| claims TO public notice than that they iIus,r,,.
the TACT that the most vavd intellect and ycious nro
pensitieS are no disqualification for the honor or
| appearing IN print. No one will understand me as
charging you' Messrs. Editors, with the design OF
willingly aiding and abetIins such Characters in IN.
| exercise of their mischieylous propensties br,
10 hIege that you have been too ndulgent 10 those
| VINO, presumins on your Scrupulous regard for The
freedom OF tue press, have not hesated To abuse the
pI'Iese aIo"eo, and TO confound the lcence Of the
press win the Characteristic courtesy of lis conduc
tors TOUR hberahty TO those who could moi anne
ea'e your principles and motives, has BETRAYED Won
| INTO The seeming inconsistency of ADMITTING inc
| your columns illusions whose only force is a con-
ceniration OF malignty, whose ONLY excellence an
| independence which disdains alike the ,e.,r,;,s
OF grammar and the ncumbrance of tbonrb,
some oil these illusions have both irritated and
amused me. have been amused tn see n,uren,
VANITY soliciting the qualification, the highest of
which Il is susceptible, Of seeing itself reflected from
the columns OF newspaper; and irritated, ave.
rendered indignant, by perceiving nisome OF these
ehus'ohs, indications OF that Northern Agrarian
spirit, which, until this time, was unknown anony
US az, "ha'' MeSsrs. Editors, are to understan nd
| by SSell Headsl" and "Anti Swell heads1, Js !,
not synonymous with "the Richr and "the poo,7,,
AGAIN, we hear of ''the mercantile interest. IN he
| represented IN the House OF Delegates; and then
again, we hear oil ''the mechanck interest, 10 he
as u these were really certain distinct
anu uNSioe interests, TO be consulted and alone re-
presented. Is there no other class of interests r.
10 he protected by legisation2 Are there am. H.
''nct efclpSl interests known in our commHni,y
and which are entitled this special and n,rtcnIo
eohsideralont is the position Of the merchant such
as 10 make HIM entirely indie pendent oC the ma
Chanekl or Is the condition OF the latter moi ..sen
| uaiIy affected by whatever materially promotes mr.
seriously impairs the welfare Of the former1 Il No,
the preservation of society secured by the mutual
dependence and reciprocal protection of each onJ
every one OF It's members2 But those who t,Ik
about Representative OF "the mercantilesfnte
resi- and OF "thc mechanic interest," are Ignorant
u would seem, Of this fundamental prineipIe. n,
SHOWING and understanding it, would yet en-
danger the welfare of the community Gor tLo
purpose of elevatiHg To the Office of Penre
sentative, some demagosue who shall ndvnca,e
this idea of distinct divisible interests To he 20
presented IN the formation OF laws which are We,
TO operate equally on all classes Of the communi,v
Every one Will agree, That it merchant or nnecbo
nick, who qualified, can be procured that il yoId
be more desirable TO have such representative than
lawyer or any orher possessed of no higher mali
hcatons-for the simple reason, that such n man
wouo concliate the prsJudices, and necessarily en-
| Joy the confidence of tie whole community
ask in seriousness, is there an bonest man =;
thIS community, who docs not feel indignant at these
attempts TO establish lnydiouS Distinction. and IN
arraisn one class of society against another To
etcite th6 ich against the poor-to say one class
oil society, the lndigent see the rich man how he
mocks at you suffering, he disdains your eomn,n,,
he hates and would have you be his slave and moi
his equal Is so revolving 10 honest heart nd moe
I nuous mind that we deem II almost an imposs;bity
ana YET theroar here indications Of this bellish dis.
position, and ere long II may stalk abroad In ds6
ance oi all restraint, and shall be aroused from
our apathy, 10 behold society convused to it centr
Does II not, Then, become every right thinking man
IN THIS community to expose aud thwart the design
OF lhose who would disseminate this doctrine1 Yes
u IS a christian duty demanded by every cons;,Ie,
alton worthy Of man, and by the dearest in,e,e.,s
OF society. And now, MeSsrs Editors, permit me
| TO remark, that have heard expressed much sur
PRISE OF your countenaneing, or your seeming In
countenance, this misehlevous, despicable spirit
or, perhaps II were more just TO say surprised
at your not tiscounIenlncing it, There are ma
| ny who recolect your Justly indignant and tr,
| ~ eloquent remuneration, some time since Of This
spirit as esnced in some of the northern cities and
hence your silence on this subject noto, that il IS
i attempted 10 be introduced here is thougbt 49,
more surprising and remarkable. The disposition
to arTagn one class Of society against another he
rich against the poor, has ever been faVoutite de
vice Of Demagogues-nOne other is capable OF In
| duiging such disposition. Il therefore becomes
me GUY OF me Press TO stife as Il may, this fend
I ish spirit, and shall. / hope, be excused. when
say,I had supposed that there were none more rea-
/ dy 70 do tls SERVICE 10 society tho yourselves
have been accustomed 10 regard you, Messrs Ed.
tors, as eonserta,ors Of the public n6rals and pos
sesslng the intellectual power and moral indepen.
dence TO make effective your opposition 10 tbis ami.
social and disorganizng spirit, which has recently
dae5 show itself among us. had not deemed Il
possible that you could have been silent under sucb
crcum'aqess. The right Judging and well dis.
posed, feel that they have Slain 70 the aid OF the
political press, 70 expose the designing aud reckless
whose object IS 10 speculate on the Ignorance and
miseries Of society.
! zig TIgEs OF sTRiFE rae HEAHEsT MAJ EHyRrE
TO HoHoE," - the Dayim Of the characters alluded
70, and II directs and governs her every measure.
] Is not your duty, Messrs. Editors, not ODly TO
dlscountenance and rebuke this disposition OF
| which have been speaking, but to expose to the
contempt and juyt eNecrations Of the world, those
who would hus disturb tbe peqce and cndangor the
/ Welfare Of society," J do moi presume to dec.d.,
u Messfs. Editors, what is your duty, but will with
out offence hope, say that this Office is certainly
not Incompatible with your position, nor inconsisi-
| ent with your Obligations 10 society.-Is IL not de,
| Windod by that paramount law which asceftains
mans dUly 70 be- commensurate with his power for
the prevention of evil and the promotion Of good7
DO not ask you TO stae the Yoice Of the press be.
cause lts effect upon society may not always BE-
agreeable but do ask, and ! feel that you will
eheeGully respond as would have You Do. that
this agfanaB and aDarchjeal spirit shall be indie.
nantly repu,sed vhethor u appear under the spe.
clous guise Of Repubicanism, or the Ratb OF Rel
gion protesting pence, bot feeling the ire Of hell
LEI Il not Eeducs you from your allegiance 70 soce-
", by soliciting from your sympalh.es a recognition
Of its seeming righteous iDteDti0us. in conclusion,
4 would add, that what have written has been dc
lated by belief that i % the interest Of the poor
20 contomn ADD despise oil attempts TO excite in
their minds feelings Of envy and resentment agsins,
the rich-Hs bels human nature, who asserts tina,
there Is Inherent in society an enmty between u e
rich and the poori Il is only among the ignoranl
aud the vicious that this feeling 10 foun1 and II
will always be ascerained TO have been engendsr
: ed by some miserable demagogue, who, with the
spirit Of an Eratosuaus, would resolve society into
is original elements 10 have his consequences known
though u shall only be in the record Of infamy.
ONE OF THE POOR.