Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-10-21
Temper of the Press.
Under this head, the Pennsylvania Inquirer has
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the following article:

I'VE must permitted again 10 refer 10 the violence and
personality which characterize public journals
especially in the Southern and Western sections OF the
Union, and attribute the evil temper alluded to- many
OF the dgraceu duelS, strcotghts and murders which
have taken place within the last few years II select
10y way Of illustrations only the instances,
shall find that the press has been sadly fault The pro-
vOkng cause OF the death OF Dr. Hagan OF the Nckburg
Sentinel newspaper attack made upon the father Of
the individual who took the doctors life. We would not
Tor moment be considered spoogzing for the cupabe
system OF carrying deadly weapons. and avcngng nsus
ianced real by pistols knives; still the whole
Truth should be stated in of this kind Human ma.
Is human nsuro and while would punish fully and
adequately, the lnOnomnniacs VINO commit crime and shed
blood during paroxysms OF passion fits OF revcnge-we
would by hold guitlcs the provoke OF the mad
fever OF the hour the newspaper assaans, who fire.
queny the first There another class who
also deserve tins connection We aude TO the
pretended friends, vino magnify the insut talk Of honor
spirit and justice, and thus goad the already sufficiently
excited and iniuaed desperate deed OF crime
These persons aid and abct and thus participate the Of
fence.
The recent melancholy case at New O5loans in which
Mr.. Hueson, Of fine feelings and generous impulses
the head OF interesting family, the victim, may also
be referred to which grew out Of improper
the part OF the press In this instance, like that Of Dr.
Hagan article and admitted by the friends
VI the deceased have been OF very offensive character
was the immediate Of the duel Huestou published
the article in his paper, Mr. Labranc and assaulted
him furOusly public ROOM and then quite possible
ho particular kind friends inteered, talked Of woun.
ded honor and thus hasened the excited to his
death But mark in this case the newspaper article
the leading aud chief Of the difficulty 50 also
IA still IN Cecil county. Nd. news.
paper had been in progress time, attack had
been threaed by Mr. FOrward-Mr. Ricketts, the editor
prepared himself with armsthc parties met, both dread
fully excited no doubt and Forward was hurried into eern
y Here again. IN this third instance, newspaper con.
iroyersy, carried on in bad spirit, preceded the
death struggle. j. II not time for the conduc-
tors Of the press look these things calmly end with
view 10 reform There must be error somewhere Men
opt risk their lives for trivial causes and indv
duals whose business u is write Tor the public journals
should remember That they have privilege assault pr
character madden and iBame the minds Of pOit
cal or personal antagonists. They should reco.ect that
however lightly editors may regard newspaper squbs there
~ society other individuals less ussd this description
Of warfare, and far sensitive. comparatively trh
ing matter may render these persons niurated for time
and II s while abOng under this condition Of mind that
many outrnges committed. better feeling should
be incucatfd. Public abuses may be ndvored 70 with
force and spirit without ASSUMING private character Men
will tolerate attacks upon themselves from day day.
and with mpuny. We repent that Editors should guard
against all unjust charges, n exciting and unioundod
ssuons, II, all arc liable error, false statement
should find its way into their columns. they should be ready
% make the ampest aoncment. For Il Is and
ardly in editor To be constantly dwelling his battery
sgainst individual not editor, who has similar
of defence. The liberty Of the press one thing
but its lcendousness Is another The former should be
upheld end nantained every hazard while the latter
should be scmpuousy guarded against
No man can be more opposed to the system Of
violence above alluded to, than we but in great
many cases. what is an Editor to dol He is look.
on by some, NJ little better than an outlaw whose
feelings are fair game for any one that may choose
to hurt them. In addition to this. he stands in the
position Of apublic Waterman, whose duty it is, to
alarm the neighborhood, when any improper trans.
action is going on. An allegation of notorious
fact, in the mildest possible TERMS and without the
use Of an ePithet will frequently put the person