Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-11-21


10 The following article, on the "rreedom
Of Opinion" we copy from the Baltimore Clip.
per. Neoatains spms homely tssths, plainly
spoken. We commend it to the esrefsl psrusal
Of our neishbors efshs Gazette W M
"FREEpon or OPINION. 1T has been truly
aid, that liberty y otiin, danger where the
itscdoa, of the press pr6vsils;' and IL 10 certain
that nothing tends more 10 restrain rulers with.
10 the legitimate sphere Of their duties, than
manly Independence in the poblic press. This
10 more particularly the case in a republican
system Of govemssens, whore the people, being
the source Of all power. are entitled to have the
transactions Of their rulers freely and fully csn.
vassed. But il unfortunately occurs, even un.
der this free government, that some editors a.
dopt servile, sycophaniic course. Al war with
their duty to the people. and repugnant to the
principles Of common honesty. or such presses
il cannot be said, ,k,.i.t 2,j,,te,z
Here shall the press the peoples rights maintain,
Unawd by influence, and unbribed By gain
No-the cole object Of their editorial labors
is TO fatter those in authority, that they msy
put money in their purse They have no o.
pinions upon public matters. excepting those
which ere dictated 'by authority and Tor the
publication Of which. they are pad compensa.
,fiou. The editor who has not mind enough to
form On opinion. il On sss--he who, having the
mind, fuppresses the homes: expression ot hie
sentimeais for gain, Ia . knave, whom Il would
be anssfe for any one to trust. And yet there
are men. who neither zee with their own eyes
nor speak with their own tongues; not because
they ere deprived ot these faculties, bot becsuse
they srs bribed 10 deny their exercise. Such
men hsys noorieinsli,y Of thought indepen.
dence oR spirit. They have bu, one theme
upon which TO write, sod that p. the praise oi
thrir employefsL They are blind to ell faul,s--
inaepsible to al the promp,ings Of patriotism |;
and callous TO oil events which tend not TO de.
prive them Of their stipend. When such men
prate Of public concerns, We think that We can
see their hands extended for the reward. When
they undertake 10 give advice, they never fail
to impress upon their readers the duty OF n,b.
mission. Our armies may fight and conquer,
or Be sscri6ced-they still continue to exclaim.
'slrs we'll And 10 prcss thus mesnly snd
misersbly Conducted, 10 guide pnblic sentiment,
and TO have sn :nAueoce upon the affairs Of the
eoan'ry! We would % soon trust to the ho.
nesty Of the thiet, tsken with The stolen good.
in hsnd. - to the patvin,ism otthe editor whoi
guided, in the management of his paper, BY M
higher NJ more honossbla consideration thar
thst of dollars end eenss-wko 10 the mere scht
al those in auihorisy--who can 'chsnes shape.
with the chameleon provided he be paid fol
every change. Il would Be % consistent fw Z
hwd to lecture upon chastity, - fnt such o.
editor 10 write upon patriotism. And yet ,her,
'sre such sdi.oss, whose venal propensi,ies couit
not he more notorious, were they to place 10
hire upon their signs." ,se9iai bas 100
% A One Term Meeting was lately held !,
the district represented in the late Constitutions
Convention by the Hon. CHARLEs BRows. Mr.
B.. II will be recollec'ed, ably urged the engraf
ting Of the one fern tenure into our present con
/