Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-03-29
(NO. XVIII.
FLoGGING AN EDITOR.

not murder is to be had for love or
money.-Even shocking accidents"
and awful catastrophies" are as scarce
as warming pans in the West Indies,
and there has not been mob, or a
highway robbery worth fig, for long
time. What is TO be done9 What
can we poor editors, do to keep our
readers IN good humor?-Some con-
tive to I'LL up their columns with their
own private concerns, and what's worse
yet' with their personal quarrels. Bot
tins is an example we do not intend to
follow: Patrons, when they pay a
publisher for his paper, do not expect
HIM to devote il to his own private af-
fairs. A clergyman would probably
give offence ifhe were TO keep the fod-
der tor his horse in the gallery of the
church, or hang up his winters stock
OF bacon and sausages around the pull
PIT. And yet this would not be more
Palpably appropriation to private use,
what belongs to the public than for
editor to fill his paper with his own
personal affairs.
Well, as we are not disposed to oc-
cuPy our columns with personal abuse
we will try something else, and relate
an incident, for the truth of which we
can vouch.
About twenty-five years ago, when
a certain Western State (which we
shall not name) was a territory and with
a few inhabitants, young lawyer from
one oil the old States emigrated thith-
er, and settled in the town of X
-. He succeeded admirably in
his profession, and rose rapidly iii pop.
ular favor. He had been there nearly
two years, when he induced a printer
10 come on and print for him a weekly
paper, ofwhich he was editor and pro-
Prletor. squire s. was much pleased
tor while, with editing a paper He
| was man very low stature, but he
used the editorial GIVE" as frequen
as II there were dozen of him, anG
each as big as Daniel Lambert, or the
} Kentucky Giant.
Strange TO say, there were at thai
! time, men in office who were not q
particle more honest than they should
. be; thing which probably never hap.
5 pened before and never will again.
, Squire S. felt all the patriotism ofa son
OF '76, and poured ont grape shot and
= canister against public abuse. This
: soon stirred hornets nest about his
: ears; but as there was no other paper
: in the territory, there was no reply, and
: he enjoyed his warlike propensities il
security.
} AT length he published an article
) more severe and cutting, against NAL.
) ieasance II office, than any that had
, proceeded it. In fact, though pointed
/ at no one individual in particular, il
was "scOrcher."
: Some three or four days afterwards, he
r was sitting alone in his editorial office,
, which was about quarter mile from
t the printing establishment, his pen was
). busy with paragl aph when his dool
: was opened without much ceremony
: and in stalked man foil six feet il
d his stockings. lie asked, "are you s.
the editor Of this paper?' Thinking
IS he had found new patron, the it'll
It man, with one Of his blandest smiles
i answered in the affirmative. Tn
d stranger deliberately drew the last mum
m Der of the paper from his pockeI, AM
,e pointing to the article against rogue
in in Office, told the afrighted editor tia
r. it was intended for 'him.' 1t was i
re vain that S. protested he had neve
70 heard Of him before. The wrath {
to the visiter rose to fever heat, and fror
d being SO long restrained, boiled owe
in with double fury. He gave the editc
IS. his choice, either to publish humble
in Uery humble recantation or take a tLoe
o. cling on the spot, Either ALTERNATIVE
v. was worm-wood, but what could b
he do The enraged office holder W;
e: twice his size, and at one blow coul
er qualify him for an obituary motto
e. He agreed to retract, aud as his visit
insisted upon writing it himselfhe s.
down TO the task. Squire S. made {
excuse to walk to the printing ofic
with a promise that he would beiback
Y. season TO sign it, as soon as it was Fl
ay ished.
lie, is. had gone hardly Fifty rods when
IS encountered a man who enquire
he where Squire SIS. office was, and if
nd was at home. Suspecting that he, to
;ay was on the same errand as the 9th
Ip- visiter, he pointed to the office, a
Its told him he would find the editor wit
led lin, writing a most abusive artit
ate against oficeholders. This was enoug
He rushed into the Office and assa
wn ed the stranger with the epithets, g
BUR ar" "scoundrdl," ''coward;'' and tc
him he would teach him what to wri
ter. The gentleman suppostng it v
ted some bully sent there by the edit
'ed, sprsng to, his feet, and fight ensu
lter kthat beat the Kilkenny cats al hollc
The table was upset and smashed
;ou, to kindling wood-the contents oil
'S4' I.o 80: of :rl, ~,ooJ - ,1lloz