True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-03-18
To the Patrons of the True
Democrat.

Ciples by which we shall be governed and the
policy by which we shall be controlled.
Although the editorial chair is an old friend
of ours on whose unressting arms we have
often rested while penning many hasy lu-
cubration, we acknowledge degree of diff.
dence, resulting from full consciousness of
the responsibilities incurred by him who as
sumes to discharge the functions of an editor
He suggests and propagates novel opinions
his mind controls, in a degree plurality of
minds, and his views, with all their imperfec-
tioDs, are communicated to hundreds by the
electrical power of the press. A man,-par-
ticularly young man-placed in such posi-
tion, may well feel the weight of responsible
ty, and confess to the necessity of thought be.
fore aetion-offrmaess without temerity.
In our political principles we are essentially,
uncompromisingly DEMOCRATIC The poll.
ty which JEFFERSON and MADISON so
memorably illustrated, which has made JACK
SONS tomb Mecca, TO which the devoees of
liberty shall go as pilgrims to venerate his
ashes, and which has melted twenty millions
to sing requiems 10 his memory, no American
citizen need blush TO own. To claim unanimi.
ty of sentiment with such spirits is, in itself. a
privilege; to become their apostles is a sub.
lime mission. But however firm we may be
IN adherence to our political ith,-however
strongly we may reprobae apostacy from its
tene's, we hold that prescription, for opiaion's
sake, is no part of Democracy-s hostile to
Its genius and character Were all men una.
nlm0us, Truth would desert our world, and
mankind would degenerate TO idiocy From
the attrition of thought, the clash of opinion
emanate the sparks Of truth; and though pre-
JUDGE, or misconception, may reject it for
awhile, its triumph is ultimate and it becomes
grafted on rirUSv established NNd acknowledged
convictions which we term principles; and in !
the language Of a true democrat the present
Chief Justice WOODBURY., of New Hampshire,
"men may change-principles are eternal"
They are eternal, truly, for in one grand iea.
ture they assimilate TO Coo, -they arc immu.
table
To our opponents in opinion we shall main
tain that dignifed courtesy, without which
newspapers are but the suices of scurrlity and
blackguardism. Abuse has never gained a
proselyte to any cause; a courteous persuasion
wins and then converts, while it wounds not
the most acute sensibilily The press should
not so forth, clothed in influence, among the
people, with billingsgate lexicon in its hand,
to insult instead of to teaeh-to acerate the al.
ready bruised feelings instead of healing the
wounds which jars and contentious have in.
fcted Such course shall not be ours hav- /
ing neither enmities to crafty nor wrongs to I
avenge. In our new position we Of course /
have eur personal prosperity in view, but we
trust that we as sincerely regard the true inter.
nsts Of the public.
To us, private character shall be sacred
rom rude innovation. What has The press
o do with the characters of private Individuals
Nothing, and in arrogating the privilege
IF laying bare its defects. or exposing its mfr
mites to the scorn Of a world, it goes beyond
Is vocation and becomes dangerous TO the peace
" a community. To no man, or cabal Of
men, shall we give The shadow Of a cause for
lssailmont We flaller ou1self that with eve.
y citizen Of the East, so far as our acquaini-
inee extends, we are on terms Of friendship.
And should difference Of opinion require Us
o break a lance with any Of our eonlempora-
ies, we hope to do it with due attention 10
he amenities Of life, apart from rancOr, and
cruPulously free from that vulgar ribaldry
4 language which ineenses TO anger, Is not ar
-ument, and never carries conviction We
rc not Of that unique class who
Prove their doctrines orthodox
BY apostolic blows and knOeKs"
The knockdown argument" although IN
Oubiedly a very f0resfui one, belongs 10 a So
li-barbarous age and is not 10 Be coun,enanccd
y the enlightened generation Of the present
az
But promises before performance are too
5mmon On the tongues Of sycophanis and pa
Isite& Our beu issue may Be- considered
'ocimon number, indicating ihs rhsnaer
hich the paper will sustain, although i will
{ inslUds ell The Improvements contemris- q
1 provided ire friends and patrons or an indr- a