Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-06-26
DArON GE.
SATURDAY, June %, lS4l.

leans take our country compeers uhuoF Iheif
pro,ectjon and correction. Each one Oh them
seems to have an eye single to the glory OF
some particular little h~antling, that 1t fosters
IN the country mir, and to which II administers
advice and %rcproot, es TO an inexperienced or
waywardthill.
II may be remarked, however, Of these
city councillors, that il is by no means certain
they poBsoas a greater competency TO give
snge advice, than scope 10 improve their pro-
pcr worth, by attending more fully and asBi-
duously to their own business. They arc
severe critics upon tho small sins OF country
papers, and tell how 10 do and what to dc, Of
the propricty Of this and the error OF that, n
the most compliment manner imaginable hut
the large sinB Of city notwithstanding
even. at home--arc not seen, or II seen, com
nivod al. They arc very bold, when there IN
no danger very wise, when their wisdom IL
not needed, and very honeat, when their
honesty can have but little effect. They ara
laudably eircumppect in consuming private
Characterization the blacknesB Of that cha
ractcr ia gildcd over with gold, or mantled in
bank notes while the poor. nncoatcd wight,
who pliers a loaf of bread or piece Of cheese,
tinds no shelter from tho storfne Of their yir-
tlous wrath
Such II, in verify, tho character Of there
NIso counsellors and when they undertake
to bring us, Of the country, to Judgment, 1t IN
Welt that we examine the authority under
which they cry. "thns far, and no farthor!"
That authority capnot be valid, unless it
proceed, either from superior Intelligence, or
superior probity, or from both. AS to the In
,clligcure of the New Orleans editors. gene
rally, and Of some in particular, tho less said
the bot,er--for them. Respecting their pro-
hity, Cas- w%riters), no very lattering colnpli-
mentr ran be paid them. II 10 possible they
would, with one voice, cry ont against kna-
very or cold hearted villiany, if practlsed before
their cveF, and tho eyes Of IN entire commit
nity in open day that is, unless it were "a
Shi0aabic for great, or wealthy men, (the same
thing with them) TO play the knaye and william.
But IL il not their custom 10 screen, or 10 re-
main silent upon the rascality OF a certain
class Of thor citizens +! and il that class tho
poor and powcrless 7 Did not those papers let
alp Of late, with scarcely 4 passing notice,
m act Of s~windling by n commission house in
their city, which should have sent all engaged
III it to the pcnitcntinry ! an net that was fully
exposed by tho country press, and of the truth
Of which there could be no doubt.
But it is, not the duty Of the city editors to
establish an inquisition over the business
transactions of their fellow citizens"
We have not seen any country paper III
which it was minated that such was the duty
OF an editor. But we have always esteemed
it one of his duties, and we have been SO
taught by our seniors in years and in wisdom,
to oppose wrong and defend right--to expose
fraud and shield innocence, as well in private
as in the most public circles. No one is au-
thorizea in scrutinizing the private life of his
ncighbor, unless he believes that life one Of
crime and violation Of law and then any man
is not only authorised, but as 4 good citizen. a
friend 10 law and order, is bound to investigate
the conduct, even Of his own brother. Much
more is the press. 1t is the guardian of the
the laws, and Of private as well as public
rights, 1t so proclaims, and so has ever pro-
claimed itself; and public sentiment, and our
institutions maintain it in its claim. What
then shall we think of the press which, when
the most vile transactions are laid at the doors
OF its neighbors, turns away and says, "Oh,
its not our duty to establish an inquisition
over the business transactions of our fellow
Down with such needless, COW
ardly, guardians Of the peoples rights! They
are besc traitors to their trust they shut their
eyes TO the vices of the lordly and the proud,
and shl ink from the defence of innocence, in
jured by the hand Of power.
Instead OF complaining of wholesale de-
nunciations on the part of the country press,
and demonstrating against its course, why do
city editors bring forward facts to show
that the current allegations against their com-
merchants are false! Are they in
possession of such facts /! Can they procure
Do they know said allegations to be
Ii they know them to be false, why
lot show US their evidence? The people will
answer these question, if New Orleans editors
do not and unless the latter answer them
properly, the verdict Of the people viii be, that
said editors are in a bad dilemma; that they
are either dumb dogs and cannotbark, or fear
TO raise their voices lest they lose the fee
paid them as husA-money BY a vile gang Of
5wlndicrs.
VILLAGE ScANDAL-There is nc one thing
IN earth more mean and desPjcable than village
No man can indulge in it without
~ntlicting a wound upon his own character,
WHICH, il he be sensible to the dictates of