The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-07-03
From the North Carolina Standard.
Sketches Of the North Carolina Press
No. q

ANus %
aMessenger Of grief
Perhaps to thousands and Joy to some;
This folio Of four pages. h sppy work.
Which not cen critics crticise, that hojs inqui-
sitivc attention.
What Is IT, but map Of busy life,
It's fluctuations and is vast coHcems'
CowrKn.
In the first number on this subject, pub
lished some short time since. the history
Of the Press was collaled from it's discoye-
ry in the 18th century. down to our Re-
voluiion. The Press Of our Stale, from
its FRS! introduction into the Province in
l749, by James Davis. and the names
and characters OF the different Editors.
were stated.
From that period to the present much
information is collected, YET much is need
ed TO make i.s history complete and satis-
factory. ~
The ruling powers OF England seemed,
says williamson, in his History Of North
Carolina, vol. l., les, TO have regarded
knowledge as dangerous plant in the
Provinces, else they would not have in
siructed Lord Efiinghsm, the Governor Of
Virginia, "noi TO suffer the use OF Print
ing Press on any occasion whatever"
II was cause Of gratitude, for which Sir
William Berkeley gave thanks 10 Heaven,
+" there was no. Printing Office in any
Of the Southern Provinces"
Surely, if such subjects afforded his
Lordship any cause OF congratulation,
the early history Of our State must have
filled his loyal hear, with happiness.
But, under the influence Of free govern
ment, the Press, dufing the period which
we are now considering, has attained in
our Government position and power
hitherto unknown in the history Of our
race.
Tymperly, in his Encyclopedias Of Lii
tsrary and Typographical Anecdotes, in
forms Us that The United States had in
1884, with population Of l3 900. 900.
more newspapers than all Europe with a
population OF 100. 100000!
Such are consequences Of Institutions
and Laws that realize the idea of Locke's
perfection Of Government, where every
man may think what he pleases and speak
what he thinks.
AT the commencement of the Revolu.
ton, OF l776, the only newspapers in our
State, were in Newbern, Wilmington,
Halifax, Edenton, and Hillsborough.
In 1912, there were newspapers printed
at Newbern, Wilmington, Edenton, Tar
borough, Murfrsesborough, Fayetteville,
Raleigh, and Warrenion.
Il is 10 be regretted that no files are ex-
ianl Of this period, or within the control
Of the writer Of this sketch, which show
:" the form and pressure Of the times" OF
the characters of the Editors.
We observe that the Legislature ol
Wisconsin, at a. recent session, has order
, ed that the County Court Clerks Of each
County, shall subscribe in the name of the
County, for a-copy Of each paper printed
in the County, for reference, 10 be bound
up and preserved.
1t would be a worthy enactment ol
our General Assembly !; and further, tt
direct the State Librarian to procure :
copy OF each paper printed in the State
to De preserved in like manner. Theil
value would increase with their years
and be a mostuseful and reliable source
Of reference.
!. The Constitution, made at Halifax
lin l7-6, was printed, as well as ths