The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-03-08
From the Baltimore Sun
EDITORIAL REPUTATION.

| There are, we believe, but few editors in the
United States, who advocate State reputation either
| absolute conditional; on the contrary so abhor-
rent is the newborn heresy" TO the sense of ho-
nesty inherent in the general heart of the country,
that the reckless in the ranks of the en-
thrallcd and dependent portion Of the press could
dare TO venture upon the hard task of its advocacy
II has received the universal condemnation of the in
dependent press free as IL is 10 speak its mind all
subjects Of public interest; and those who have
repudatcd their individual debts are found will
ling TO sustain to the extent of their ability and by
the fruits Of their labor, State faith credit and honor
In view Of this general disposition be honest when
even bankrupt editors, whltewashed by a national
enactment, battling in the ranks of State
faith and honor, to find editor regulating
his professional obligations to his subscribers, is
only matter Of regret but of Just Indignation the
part Of the editorial fraternity. What shall # be
permitted TO editor 10 deliver daily lectures to his
own aud other States to the nation and its govern
ment purity, honesty and good conduct generally
and the heresy Of State reputation in particular
ard then TO reduce the opposite doctrines TO practice
by cheating his subscribers, TO the disgrace and inju
| nv Of the profession
Shall this be done, and the offender 90 "unwhipt
| Of justicen by his professional brethren BY no
means and because Of this negative, We expect to
see the present editor Of the Richmond Wing in the
receipt Of castigaton by the conductors Of the
newspaper press, as general as il is well deserved
But 1t may be asked-what has he done to deserve
such treatment at the hands of his professional breth-
| REM Why this in brief-he, that is, Mr. John r.
Peasants, in the exercise of undoubted right
started newspaper at Washington, which he called
the Independent for the avowed purpose Of opposing
the present Administration of the General Govern
ment OF the spirit in which this purpose was car
rcd out during the brief existence of the paper il
may suffice TO say, that it Of utter and up-
qualified yndicyeness. The editorial ESSAYS gene
rally charactised by evidences Of similar ability both
! in conception and execution, thought and language
were splendid specimens Of eloquent magnily-
There were, II Is true, occasional dcscens to the re-
gioDs of yulgarsm and low scurr,y; but these were
designs not accidents, the results Of a want Of
talent taste. The paper died, however in short
time, from no matter what cause and Mr. PlcasaIts
fell back upon his old Journal, the Richmond Wing
Some of the subscribers to the " Independent
who had paid for It in advance, have since il
appears, applied TO him TO send them the Wing
in its stead, to complete the year. This reason
able demand IS met by fiat refusal on the part Of
MIR. Peasants, who a card to the public repudia-
ting his obligations to such subscribers thus rebukes
the vndictive partisan spirit, which moved them TO
aid in the establishment Of his now defonct paper.
on moi The custom Of the country 10 refund in such
cases Ipremme there is instance Of Il. The sub
scrbcr knows that the establishment Of a new paper
Is an experiment, and he must be supposed TO paw his
subscription in advance TO give il The chance for sue
cess which he wishes II and il his contribution il
faithfully directed to that end he has no claim of
restitution IL the experiment fails. LAWYERS nsrer
refund, and editors plead much stronger reasons for
the Indulgence"
/ This IS oe tainly an admirable specimen Of cool
impotence, in which the doctrine Of reputation is
fully recognized and distinguished instance OF vo-
luntary editorial reimbursement Is offered for the con-
siderati0n Of the country II is perhaps needless to
add, that Mr.. y Is altogether wrong touching edto-
rial custom, which Is 10 refund in such cases and
we apprehend that all honorable conductors Of the
press throughout the country will rcpudlae the re-
pudiation Of the Richmond Wing