Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-04-12
PATRONAGE OF THE PRESS.

We fear the Cabinet of Gen. TAYLOR is aiming
an insidious blow at the liberties of the people by
corruptng the press. We have not seen any no.
tee taken OF this monstrous attempt by the Loco
foco journals, and in their want of topics of com
ought to be grateful to US for giving them hint
Can any one doubt that every Democratic Jour
nal IN the land would scorn to insert an adver-
tisement, proceeding from an Administration
which it is in the habit of denouncing as stepped
in Federalism and A5oltionism We are sure
our neighbors Of the Republican would not suffer
their columns to be defled by any notice, pro
ceeding from Departments presided over by such
arrant Abotionists as Preston Clayton, Ewing,
Collamer, Crawford and Meredith They would
resent it as an attempt to buy them up-to stihe
their zeal in defence ofthe rights of the South
and to modify their feelings Of adherence Of
men who do not support the monocratc preroga-
tive Of the Executive.
What are the Indications the reader NAV ask.
of this conspiracy against the independence of
the press We refer him to very long adver-
tsement, respecting claims for horses and other
property lost or destroyed during the late war,
which be will find in the National Intelligencer
and Union, signed by the Secretary at War and
which, by another notice Of Peter Hagner, Sd
Auditor, is desired to be copied, once week for
four weeks, by one paper designated in every
State of the Union. The atrocious design is ap-
parent in this, that every single one of the papers
thus specified, is decidedly Democratic. Was
there ever any thing like this heard of under
Locotoco administration Who can charge Jack
son, Van Buren,, or Polk, with ever diverting one
lota OF Government patronage from the Democrat
lc press to lavish it upon editors 'whose lifts en-
ployments and whose leisure's charm consisted
IN abuse OF these patriots and Sages Van Bu-
rens earliest mission was the Improvement of
the Press but his notion Of improvement was
grand and simple. 1t consisted in Withholding Gov
eminent patronage from the Wing press and civ
ing 1t entirely to the Democratic press. Inex
ecutlon Of this, we have said grand and SIM
pie scheme no Government advertisement was
sent to any but Government paper The ad-
vertlsement Of dead letters, in every village Of
the land, was taken from the Wing journal and
gwen to its rival if the village was blest with an
organ ofeach party. Our old readers NAV re-
member, such was the regard shown for the
purity OF the press, that about twenty year since,
the Post Office advertising, amounting to AT
least Is dollars and Is cents, per anuum. was,
under instructions from Major Barry, then Post
Master General, withdrawn from the Virginian.
Mr.. Van Buren'S motives were, doubtless, mis-
aPpTehended. 1t was not to pamper the presses
which sustained Democratic men and measures
that he gave them all the treasury pap at the
disposal OF the Government. There was no fear
that they would slacken their zeal. They stood
in no need Of such stimulants. Moths concern
was for the purity and consistency Of opposition
editors lie believed that a Government adverti-
Sement IN their columns would unconscientiousv
perhaps, induce prepoSseSson for the source
of the patronage, and thus interfere with the
free and manly expression of opinion upon pub
lie affairs. He deemed it best, therefore, to re-
move the temptation. 1t was true that in most
instances the transfer was made from paper Of
large circulation, in which the advertisement was
seen by multltudes, to one which never trans
crossed the limits of its county or district. But
the answer to such an objection was Obvious
The circulation and prosperity Of the one afford
ed conclusive evidence that the withdrawal Of
patronage would not iniure it, while the rickettv
condition of the other manifested the neces-
sity of patronage to keep it alive The I'm
provement Of the Press" thus began bv Mr.. Van
Buren,, has never been lost sight of by Democrat
lc Administrations. Their btterest enemies cam
not accuse them of tempting the virtue of Wing
editors by giving them dollars worth Of adver
Using, fit could be avoided 1t is true tha,
NEEDING Congress, few years since, directed
that all advertisements of general character and
the laws OF the United States should be published
in the National Intelligencer and Union and one
other paper of the city, to be selected bv the
President. Congress also prescribed that the
Post Office advertising should be given to the
paper OF largest circulation. These restrictions
upon the Executive interfered little with carry
ing out MIR. Van Buren's generous design of
keeping the Wing press above suspicion.
In view Of the past therefore, can any one
doubt the object ofthe present Secretary of War
in directing: contrary to the precedents oftwen-
ty years, many Of the opposition papers to pub
lish his notice about dead horses Is it not ap-
parent that he is covertly aiming TO sap Their
virtue That this is but the foretaste of whit |
he intends to give them, ifsome modifcationoft
their bitterness be observed We call upon he |
Democracy to be vigilant. Let them keep
sharp look out upon their leading journals, which
are thus iampercd with. We would SpeaI, in