Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-08-14

and its blasting reDuKe causes 'ie'P'eL' et7Po'-
ism TO perish IN the bud.
Such being its influence the political md
moral destinIes of the country, how important 1t
il that The Press should be free! The PEOPLE
CAM aad should keep hSo. Nothing Is more easy
than Tor an Editor slide along, smoothly, If he
is only willing TO betray the high trust committed
10 his charge, by an lndiscrimna'e enforcement
Of all the acts Of his party, fulsome Panegyr-
ic OF the aspiring demagogues who thrust 'heih-
selves ahead Of The People. NhiIe All euitof
bends to the lead Of the feu0, he IS very cIe'e[
fellow: but the moment he d>aounces the Fehai
,ntrguers, who aim TO dictdte 10 the many, ho -
a shining mark for their vengeance. inese men
know that an independent editor IS always
sIeepless sentinel between them and their Inten-
ded victim for the moment the public press Is Iul
led into inactivity, that moment the PEOPLE are
nj The mercy Of the corrupt and dishonest. En-
,USD BURKE, of the most eloquent and im-
FASHIONED orators of Liberty, IN speaking OF the
value of honest agents, who never fear the ven
peance Of the few, has this passage: I'VE must
not be peevlsh with those who serve the people
For none will serve us whilst there Is n court to
serve, but those who are OF a nice and jealous
honor. They who think every thing, IN c9mPar'
son of that honor. TO be dust and ashes, wall not
bear to have soilcd and impaired by those for
whose sake they make thousand sacrifices to
preserve 1t immaculate and whole. we shall Ell
Their drive such men from the public stage, or we
shall send them to the court oil protection: Wnefe,
f ihey must sacrifice their reputation, they will
at least secure their interest. Depend upon 1t,
that the lovers of freedom will be free. None
will violate their conscience TO please IN ORDER
afterwards to discharge that conscience, which.
they have violated by doing us faithful and afiac
tomato service. Ii We degrade and depraye their
minds by servIiity, it vii! be absurd to expect,
that they who creeping and abb ect towards Us,
will over be bold and Incorruptibo asserters OF
freedom, against the mos, sedncing aud the
most formidable of all powers. No Human ma
ture is not formed nor shall we improve the
faculties or better the morals Of public men, by
our possession of the most intalibe receipt III the
world for making cheats and hypocritcs."
Tho words OF BURKE were uttered IN his ccle-
bratcd speech to the Electors oil Bristol. That
speech appeal to freemen warning them
against the usurpations of tho crown, and invo-
king, that faithful and Independent public agents
should not be abandoned while they zcaIousiy
labored for the People, In all Nations having
free forms of Government, an indeDcndent Press
is the palladium and conservator of public lbcr-
~ and will, II Is sustained or abau doned,
have Il lasting influence for good or evil. In
these free States, i, is promptly felt, as every
political contest unquestionaby proves IL gives
strength and resolution 10 tho public viii, by
uniting men In general effort, and by laying
open II The puplic gaze, the corruptions of Ma
tonai and State rulers 1t is used in unmaskIng
demacogues, IN correcting fasehood, in exposing
corruption, and in enforcing those pure princ
pies OF Ropublicansm which individual ambi-
ton is but too prone to overstep. Ia the per
formance of those sacred duties, is il all strange
that the unpriuoip pied fer el.oul1 endoe
awe and destroy tho influence of independent
Editors ?-What moro ready war to steal INTO the
camp of freedom than by shooting down the SEN
tinol set to guard and protect it? In England,
where the press is free, the vengeance of cor
rupt Aristocracy, or tho frowns of the Govern
mcnt, comparatively harmless, because the
PEOPLE come its aid, by cheering its fear
less conductors The same may be said Of the
French Press, though the remark has not such
general applicaton.--Tho result is that rulers,
IN both Governments, are, to great extent, sub
lect 20 public opinion, which Is never the case in
countries where the Press ia not made an auxil-
Iary in examination of public affairs.
In the United States, where theoretical and
practical freedom exists, the Press should be
guarded as the chiefreIiancc OF the people. Men,
matter how exalted by the confidence of the
People require sleepiess watching, for the errors
of our naturo will allow acknowledged cx-
emp;ion from political guilt Every days expe-
ricnce brings TO evidence that the snrest
safeguard of liberty is vigilance. and what more
bold and faithful sentinel can be set up than a
free press? "Lct it be impressed upon your
minds-,le, il be ins,il!ed into your children
ali civil, POLITICAL and religious rights of am a
mcrIcan citizen. 1t will be Your friend in the
hour of tral-your safe add true defence from
the oppression of tyrants aud the corruptions
prncticed by the dishonest, who often seek con-
fidcnce only to botray it.
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