The Arkansas banner., 1844-01-30
ROS PIE CTUS
OF THE Southern Literary Messenger.

FENflIS is a monthly Magasin,, q vot d chiefly to K LITERATURE, but occasionally finding room also for articles that fall within the scope of Ser NcE; and protesting no disdain of tasteful selections, toug it's matter has been, as it will continue to be- in the main, original.
 Party Politics and controversial Theology, as far possible, ealously excluded. They sre some times so blended with discussions in literature or in moral science, otherwise unobjectionabe, to gain admittance for the sake of the valuable matter to which they adiere: but whenever that happens, they are incidental, only; not primary. They are dross, tolerated only because they cannot well b. severed from the sterling ore wherewith 1t is ncor- porated.
 Reviews, and Critical Notices occupy their due space in tine work. and it is the Editors aim that they should have three fold tendency-to convey, a condensed form, such valuable truths incl dents as are embodied in the works reviewed,-t direct the readers attention to books that deserve to be read-and to warn him against wasting time and money upon that large number, which merits only to be burned In this age of publications that by their variety and multitude distract and over whelm every undiscriminating student, IMPARTIAL CRITICISM, governed by the views just mentioned, is one of the most inesiimabe and Indispensable of auxiliaries, to him who WISH to discriminate.
 Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or amusement, or both-iIstorica Sketches and Re- minisc of events too minute for History, yet elicidating it. and heightening its nterests,--nay be regarded as forming the staple of the work. And of ndigenious Poetry, enough is published-some- times of no mean strain-to manifest and to culti- vate the growing taste and talents of the colnry.
 The times appear for several reasons, to demand such worlS-and not one alone, but many. The public mind is cverished and iritated still, from cent political strifes the sot assuasiye influence o Literature is needed to allay that fsver and soothe that irritation. Vice and folly are Tioting abroad =: they should be driven by indignant rebuke, or lash ed by rdieule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance lords its over an immense proportion of our people every spring should be set in motion to arouse the enlightened. and to increase their numbers 50 that the great enemy of popular government may no longer brood like portentous cloud. over the destl nies of our country. And to accomplish all these ends what more powerful agent can be employed than periodical on the plan of the Messenger: | fiir,ltt- -T1fa7f b- --aEried out in praciice
 The SouTH peculiarly requires such an a5ent.- In all the Union, south of N ashington, there arc but two Literary periodicals, Northward of tha city, there are probably at e,.s; twenty-five or thir ty Is this contrast justified by the wealth, the eis ure, the native talent or the actual literary taste the Southern people, compared with those of tht Northern' No; for inwealth, talents and taste, WI may justly claim at least an EQUALITY with ou brethren; and domestic institution exclusively ou own, beyond all doubt afford us, if we choose twc, the leisure for reading and writing which they enjoy
 IL was from deep sense oi this LOCAL want, tha the word SOUTHERN was engrafted on the name o this periodical; and not with any design to nouris local prendiees, to advocate supposed local inter ess. Far from any such thought, it is the Editor fervent wish, to see the North and South bound en dearingly together forever, in the silken bands c mutual kindness and affection. Far from meditatin HOSTILITY to the north he has already drawn, an he hopes hereafter to draw, much of his choices matter thence; and happy indeed will he deem him self, should his pages, by making each region kno' the other better, contribute in any essential degre to dspe forever the lowering clouds that so latel threatened the peace of both, and to brighten an strengthen the sacred ties of fraternal love.
 The Southern literary Messengar has now col menced its ntnth rolume, and ninth year. How far has acted out the ideas here uttered IS not for tn Editor to say. He believes, however, that II faii not further short of them, than human weaYnes usually makes PRAcTIcE fall short of THEORY.
 Richmond, Va. October, l543.