Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-11-11

that by their variety and multitude distract
and overwhelm every Understanding
student, impartial criticism, governed by
the views just mentioned, is one OF the
most inestimable and indispensable of aux
iliaries, to him who does irish TO 6iscrimi-
nate.
Essays, and Tales, hlving in view uiil-
ity or amusement. or both-Historical
Sketches-and "reminiscences Of events
too minute for History, yet Calculating it.
and frightening its Interestingly BIO re-
garded as forming the staple of the work.
And of indigenous Poetr. enough is pub
lished-sometime of no mean strain-.to
manifest and to cultivate the growing po-
etical taste and talents Of 0RnunkEY.
The times appear, for sons,
to demand such w one
alone, but many. The is fe-
verish and irritated still, ht poll
tical strifes The soft, ds9ellMye infiu-
ence of Literature is needed, to allay that
fever, and soohe that irritation. Vice and
folly are rioting abroad:-They should be
driven by indignant rebuke, or lashed by
ridicule, into their fitting haunts. lgno-
rance lords il over an immense proportion
of our people:-Every spring should be
set in motion, to arouse the enlightened,
and to increase their number; so that The
great enemy of popular government ma
no longer brood, like portentous cloud
over the destipies ot our country. And 10
accou,,llsn oil these ends, what more pow
erlul agent can be employed, than peri
odical, on the plan of the Messenger; il
that plan he but carried out in practice?
The SOUTH peculiarly requires such an
agent. In all the Union, south of Wash
ington, there are but two Literary period
cals, Northward of that city, there are
probably at least twenty five or thirty! Is
this contrast justified by the wealth, the
leisure, the native talent, or the actual lit
erary taste, of the Southern people, COM
pared with those Of the Northern? No:
for in wealth, talcnls, and taste, we may
Justly claim at least an eqality with our
brethren; and domestic institution exclu-
siyely our own, berond all doubt affords
US, if we choose, twice the leisure for
reading and writing, which they enjoy.
1t was from q deep sense of this local
want, that the word SOUTHERN was engrait-
ed on the name Of this periodical: and not
with any design to nourish local prejudl-
ccs, or TO advocate supposed local interests.
Far from any such thought, il is The Ed
tors erven, wish, to see the North and
South bound endcaringly together forever.
in the .iIken bands of mutual kindness and
affection. Far from meditaling hostility
to The north, he has already drawn, and he
hopes hereafter TO draw, much of his choi-
cest matter thence: and happy indeed will
he deem himself, should his pages, by ma
king each region know the other better.
contribute in any essential degree to dis
pei forever the lowering clouds thatso
lately threatened the peace of both, and
10 brighten and strengthen the sacred ties
of fraternal love.
The Southern Literary Messenger has
now nearly completed its NINTH VOLUME,
and NINTH TEAR. How far it has acted
out the IDEAS here uttered, is not FOR the
Editor to say. He believes, however, that
it falls not further shott Of them, than hu-
man weakness usually makes Practice fall
short of Theory.