Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-23
rue LIFE AND DEATH OF AN EDITOR.

betde the man. who does not properly check the "hery
steed!' The very liberty Of the press induces lis IL
cenousness. II is an engine potent for good-but IS
too often fruitful of evil It Editors were TO assume
the mighty responsibilities Of their calling with pro-
per sense of their duty themselves and their coun
trv-if they always looked upn one another in an
oe,a and not personal characer-or, IN the apt Ian
guage of the Pennsylvania f they were to "contend
with the newspaper and not the man-then our jour
nails would he ehcen, instruments for the diffusion OF
intelligence and moral good. The animated contests OF
mind would give spirit and zest to their eusions-pury
the political atmosphere, and preserve intact their own
independence. But the other haad the conductors
of the press soop to personal attacks upon each others
individual reations-if, instead of ccnning their agu-
ments to fair and open discussion of principles and
public conduct, they take upon themselves, in the
strong expression of the Charleston Mercury 10 be-
come "the administrators of the criminal Law, and IN
after disregard OF public opinion aud OF their own
dignity and usefulness, WELD random the weapons
oil violence and abuse-theY become moral nusances,
and the community had better be rid OF them and con-
tlnue IN darkness and ignorance than witness the
chickering's and strfe-nay, bloodshed and death, that
must surely ensue upon their frantic course.
These reflections have been called up by the late
violent death Of Doctor James Hagan, Editor of the
Vicksburg Sentinel, the details of which we recorded
in our last We, Qhat is, one Of the Editors) knew
him welland though, in his paper, he did gross mus
tce to othe Editors of this paper and to many pure
and distinguished citizens of this city and Stae-n his
furious opposition to all banks charging upon Them
the worst motives-we are perfectly wiling 10 bury oil
unknd feelings "with the dead"-and regret his sudden
and awful summons to another world He was man
of fine talents, bold and vigorous writer and of warm
and imprisoned feelings. native of Ireland, he
emigrated to Phiadephi,, where he resided some tme
and had many friends among her best and most distn
guished citizens He removed TO the county of Essex
in this State, where he practlsed medicine and was
much esteemed. He then became coEdor of the
Telegraph with Gen Duff Green, and finally removed
TO vcksburg, and established the Sentinel He com
menced his assaults on the bloated brood of banking
institutions in Mississippi He the first TO expose
many Of their deep corrupons, though in doing So he
often attacked, Unfortunately and with violence the
good and the bad, and thus became involved in fierce
and deadly struggles.
His mild and peaceable character while in Ph,ladel-
phia, was, by mngIIng in the boiling chaldron of
Mississippi politics, State and Federal changed to heat
and violence. He walked the streets, always prepared
for attacks and his passions every day grew stronger
He was truly brave. We have him twice on the
field EXHIBIT the coolest courage-and, moreover, For.
tune seemed to have covered him with her shield
for until this last and fatal afray, he in every instance
wounded his antagonist.
fe was a monomaniac the subject of Banks,
4 whether well or i'll conducted. He once boosted,
that as he had put end to the Banks of
Mississippi, he should set up a paper IN Bank rid
/ den Virginia, 10 overturn her corporations. But a
new question started in Mississippi and prevented
hi, crusade against the Banks Of Virginia 1t was he that
first raised the standard of reputation in the South,
and carried it through triumphanty in his State
With great ingenuity, he twisted some expressions OF
Mr.. Jefferson and John Taylor of Caroline, into a
justification Of the odious doctrines he advocated
Every other question merged in the great issue o
reputation, under the pleasing guse of "no taxation
and The State swep. by those opposed TO paying the
Union Bank bonds. Not content with thus defeat
ing the payment Of these bonds alone, Doctor Hagan
and his party went step further and advoca
ted the refusal to pay the Planters Bank bonds,
which at first had not been impeached. In this way
matters stood, when this champion of reputation me
with his untimely death Time will show, whether hi,
doctrines will survive hm-whelher the bolt, launched
by his strong and vigorous arm, will still travel in ITS
sweeping course, though that arm be paralyzed By
Death
Al the last session OF Legislature, when the II.
of Delegates had under discussion, and finally adopted
the proposition to pay the interest on the hanawha
bonds guaranteed by the State, Dr. Hagan was in
Richmond and in The lobby OF the Capitol He saw
how the matter was be decided, and used this
phatic expression: "There is not man in Virginia, who
has the moral courage 10 repudate This, Of ITSELF
will shew 10 readers, how far the powerful mind Of
this unfortunate had been warped by prejudice and
passion On the subject of banks and State and othe
stocks, he had been rou:ed to species of insanity We
doubt not, that he honestly convinced of the JUS
tce and policy of his course which, cs he thought
could alone eradicate the evil he warning against
and to this conviction, and TO other motives, we
have ascribed the reckless actionwhch led to his
unnatural end.
In addition to his strength and sarcasm political
NOR. We shall merely cite the "Mammo,h Hum.
bug" in which Shocco Jones of North Carolina flou
rshcd in all his ingenious tricks. This humorous
picture OF Of the most extraordinary quis-es o.
the age was drawn to the life 1t took up the history
of ssShoc" from his humbug duel in the Dsna
Swamp and brought it down to his successful scheme
. Of tnrning out all the Directors of the Columbus
(hlss) Bank, and putting in his own friends and re
atioss the alleged promise OF loan to said BanE
of 100000 funds of the U. S. Government whose
ba yh Statp hel In he
In every part of the Union the story was read with
delight.
Doctor Hagan had many warm friends and bitter
enemies. He true lrshman a Jealous Democrat
of warm and generous impulses, and opposed 10 oo
presson in every shape BY the force Of his talents he
did much good and nigh. have done much more, but
latery HE evil seemed TO be in the ascendant, and
the scenes Of strife and passion terminated by
death OF violence. Peace to hig ashes
The following is the article published in the Vcks
burg Sentinel which led to the fracas, in which Dr.
Hagan lost his life
"MoRE THIEvIsG AT JAcKsoS.-Our Eriel has fur
nshed US with another spirited dialogue The scene
laid in The east room the Governors Mansion. The
fpurantes are Governor Tucker Samuel Butter
worth Father Matthews, and Solicitor Adams
One of the most startling Developments since the rob-
bery and runaway of Graves, and the $4,000 more go
lcation letter Of Freeman, his friend, he dear Co.
lonel the fact, that Gov Tucker has paid George
Adams Freeman's fatber-in.law, $500 out of the
specie which ought TO be in the Treasury !! II
is not vet ascertained for what services this sum
has been distracted from the public Treasury BY
The Governors order, and put in Mr.. Adams pocket
Itis the duty of Mr. Freeman TO discharge the law bu-
sness of the State and if his fahern law is TO be paid
for it. the son had better resign We hope the Mssis
sippan and Southron will publish the particulars OF
this foul transaction We said long ago that Tucker
Co, had their reasons for not arresting Graves We
believe they worse than he
j Geo Adams here alluded to, is the father of d
w. Adams who unfortunately killed DR.. II. Mr..
r D. w A. was about to establish Democratic paper
in Jackson, Mi ssissippl.
m, We have before us Elder Fl. Keeling's Virginia
Baptist Preacher for june which contains sermon on
Moral Heroism, delivered by Rev. f. L. Magoon in the
2nd BAPTIST Church in this City, the Sunday after
the 22i February last, at the request of many mem
hers of Tie enislainre Of Yirginla The text Ia