Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-05-25
To the Public,

~ tuC uDiAOt
Il is scarcely necessary that should add any
thing to the foregoing. IL my former connec-
lion with the Free Press, as editor, has failed TO
dcniate my course, surely could nolexPect'o
beunderstood from aughl might say now. II ad'
herence 10 right, 10 JUSTICE TO principle, has low
cred me in the estimate Of any one, would not
be reins.a,ed. lf following the dictates of judg.
meni, Of conscience, Of what conceived 10 be
duty, has caused others 10 meet me with less
friendship than formerly, would not that they
should change their feelings. With such, !
have no sympathies, and can have none.
TO those who have stood by me in storm as
in sunshine-in impenerable darkness as in
noonday lghl;-who have ever been ready 10
excuse my numerous omissions, and cover my
more palpabe errors with the veil Of charity,
return my sincere thanks. The grand objec'
Of my future course will be 10 merit their con-
fdence and esteem.
Pas. experience has taught me that an editors
life is not a continual round Of sunshlne,-
that there are storms at one point, breakers al
another, and unseen dangers every where. 10
weather these, an editor must be beconslanlly on the
walch,-must ever remain al his post, expecting
difficulties and prepared 10 meet them; or he
must suffer his bark 10 glide with the currenI,-
pay,hing for The waves. The former will
meet obstacles, be bufTeIted by waves, perhaps,
wrecked, but will at length reach the promised
goal. The latter will, for a time, make rapid
headway, sail with the breeze, until The current
changes, when he finds himself surrounded BY
breakers on either hand, from which he cannot
exmicute himsel;-each surge drives him fur.
iher into the siraiIs,-until, amidst the jeers oI
summer friends, he is engulphed in the deep.
As an editor is alone held responsible for the
productions which appear in his columns, he
should consult an enlightened judgment as to
what those productions should be;-he should
winnow the wheat from The chatf as carefully
as the enlghled farmer prepares his seed for the
Rrouna' ne eulOt is teaCHeI' Oh au eA'eHu'
ed scale, and should practice as pious regard
for the morals and future well.bUing Of his rea
,ders, as the school teacher does for his pupils
the divine for Pensioners, or the parent for his
children. An immoral, depraved, or licentious
article, read from the columns Of a newspaper
frequently sows the germs of vice in the youth
full mind, which years Of pious training canno
wholIy eradicate.
With these views of an editors duty and re
sponsibilily fully impressed upon my mind
appear before The public, as caterer TO its taste
conscious that will frequently err in judgmen
-,be mistaken in lacts-misled by erroneous
statemens-and, at all times, stand in need o
commisseration and charity.
So far us the present administration comport:
with justice, with equality, with human rights
so far as Wing principles are its landmarks
LshaIl lend it my feeble aid; but should it fail
in any particular, | will speak of its shortcom
ings with the utmost freedom.
With these views, hastily expressed, | enter
upon my duty, asking only fair trial, before an
unprecedented jury. JOHN PORTER.