Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-07-05
From the North Carolina Standard
Sketches of the North Carolina Press.


From the North Carolina Standard
Sketches o the North Carolina Press.
2.
messenger of grief,
Perhaps 20 thousands, and Joy to some;
This folio of four pages happy work!
Which not crcscrcse, that holds inqusvc attention
What is it, but map of busy life,
Its fluctuations and its vast concerns ?''-CowPER.
In the first number on this subject, published some
short time SINCE the history of the Press was COLA
ted from its discovery in the 18th century down to
Revolution. The Press of our State, from
It's first introduction into the Province in 1749 by
James Davis, and the names and characters of the
different Editors stated.
From that period to the present much information
is collected yet much is needed to make its history
complete and satisfactory.
The ruling powers of England seemed, says Will
hanson, in his History of North Carolina, vol. l.
los. to have regarded knowledge dangerous plant
in the Provinces else they would not have instructed
Lord bingham, the Governor of Virginia, - not to
suffer the use of Printing Press any occasion
whatever" 1t was cause of gratitude, for which
Sir William Berkeley gave thanks to Heaven, that
there not Printing Office in any of the South
ern Provinces
Surely, if such subjects afforded his Lordship any
of Congratulations the early history of State
8 must have filed his loyal heart with happiness.
But, under the influence of free government, the
Press during the period which arc now consider
ing, has attained in our Government position and
power hitherto unknown in the history of our race
Typographical Anecdote informs us that the United
States had in 1884, with population of Is 100000
more newspapers than all Europe with population
of l00.000,000!
that realize the idea of Lockes perfection of Gov
eminent, where every man may think what he pleas
es and speak what he thinks
At the commencement of the Revolution of l776,
the only newspapers in our State were at Newbern,
Wilmington, Halifax, Edenton and IIillsborough.
In 1872 there newspapers printed at New
bern, Wilmington, Edenton, Tarborough Nurfrees-
borough, Fayetteville, Raleigh, and Warrenton.
1t is to be regretted that files extant of this
period, or within the control of the writer of this
sketch, which show the form and pressure of the
times,' the characters of the Editors.
We observe that the Legislature of Wisconsin, at
n recent session. has ordered that the County Court
Clerks of each County shall subscribe in the name
of the County, for copy of each paper printed in
the County, for reference, to be bound up and pre-
served.
1t would be worthy enactment of General
Assembly and further to direct the State Librarian
to procure copy of each paper printed in the State
to be preserved in like manner. Their value would
increase with their years, and be most useful and
reliable source of reference.
The Constitution, made at Halifax in 1776 was
printed as we'll as the Acts of the Legislature the
first that assembled under the Constitution, by James
Davis, at Newbern, in April, 1777.
James Davis was, as stated in a previous number
of these sketches Virginian by birth, and was ap-
pointed under the colonial IOSG
at NeWbern, by Benjamin Franklin, and also held
the commission of a magistrate, from Gov. Tryon-
the last but one of the Royal Governors.
The Private Acts of the General Assembly, from
Ills to 1870, printed at NeWbern, by Francois
X Martin, in 1904
aud Of Francois Xavier Martin
is full of interest
The lesson it teaches is full of encouragement to
the industrious prudent and persevering. He was
Frenchman by birth, as his name indicates without
Init hyT0 ir1Ho
rose to the highest ranks of society. In l79l, the
Legislature afforded him aid in publishing the stat
utes of England in force and use in this State In
1903 he was employed by the same to publish re-
vsa of the acts Of the Proprietary Royal and State
Governments. In 1909, he appointed by Mr.,
Madison to a judicial Office, first in Mississippi Ter
rltory, afterwards Orleans and when the latter be-
came State, Louisiana, he was appointed Judge
of the Supreme Court of that State, in which Office,
he recently died. full of years, wealth and honor In
1929, he published History of North Carolina, in
two volumes
Abraham Hodge, uncle of William Boylan, Esq,
of Raleigh, cotemporary, and was early an ex-
tensve printer in the State. OF his lfe character
and death, the writer is not informed.
The name of Joseph Gales appears in Tymperly's
Encyclopaedia the publisher of the Sheffield Regis
ter No. !, in England, in June, 1877. He fed to A
merca from the prosecutions of tyranny in 1894 and
settled in Raleigh, where in 1899 he established the
present Raleigh Register conducted by his grand
son, Seaton Gales, Esq. In 1901, the Office of the
Register, with all its appliances burned to the
ground but by the generous aid of friends with the
enterprise of the Editor it revived, and took
tive part for the country in it's perilous contest with
England in the war of 1872
An accurate account of his typographical labors,
by faithful and familiar hand, would fill the peri
cd now alluded to- and is most desirable to the
try. To those who have the material at hand, and
ability than the writer of this, this duty is
fded. By many now alive, lie is remembered with
pleasure His life was inofensive and full of gen.
teness and his talents and his virtues have left be-
hind character worthy of regard and emulation.
The Newspapers published in North Carroll
ma, are as follows
1. Aurora Wilmington, by Henry I. Tooe.
2. Abemare Bulletin, Edenton, by T; C. Manning.
3. Ashevillc Messenger Asheville, J. M. Edncy.
4. Buncombe Dollar News, Atkin and Sherwood.
5. Biblical Recorder, Raleigh, Thomas Meredith
7. Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, Bruner and James
8. Christian Sun, Peterborough, Com Chris Church.
g. Charlotte Journal, Charlotte, T J. Hoon
II. Deaf Mute, Raleigh, w. ID. Cooke.
II. Fayetteville Observer, Fayetteville E. J. Hale.
l3 GoIdsborough Patriot Goldsbcrough. w. Robinson.
H. Codsboro Telegraph Goldsboro, w. F. S. Aston.
l5 Granville Wing, Oxford, George Workman.
- Grsensbq5o Patriot reensboTo swa% Sherwood
Is. Hlsborough Recorded Dennis Heartt
10. HlsborOugh Democrat, John n. Bunting.
20. Hornets Nest, Charlotte, ]. L. Badger.
81. Lincoln Courier. LincOntou. Thomas J. Ecclcs
". Lincoln Republican, Lnconton, j. D Newson.
% Milton Chronicle, Milton, G. n B. Evans.
"a. Mountain Banner, Rutherfordton, Thos A. Hayden.
Is. North Carolina standard, Raleigh, W W Holden.
26. North Carolinian, Fayetteville, VIM. II. Bayne.
q. North Carolina Herald marlborough, R. H. Brown.
28. North Carolina Farmer, Raleigh, Thos. j. Lemay.
%. Newbernian Newbern, VIM. H Mayhem.
80. Newborn Republican, Newbern, VIM. B. Gulick.
81. North State Wing, Washington II. Dmmock
81. Old North State, Elizabeth City, S. D. Poole
80. Primitive Baptist Raleigh Burwel Temple.
3. plymouth Times Plymouth, VIM. Eborn.
81. Raleigh Register, Raleigh, Seaton Gales.
SO. Raleigh Star. Raleigh, Thomas ]. Lcmay s Son.