Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-03-29
The Country Press.

habit of rejecting seriously on the moral, So
cial aud political influences exercised by the
conductors of the country press. They are
aware it is true, that almost every village and
hamlet within the extended borders of our free
and happy country has within itself one of
those political levers, and generally under the
guidance of Il single individual, who is often
impelled to the performance of his duties more
by The regard he cntertains for his profession
than by the encouragement and the rewards
that arc bestowed. But they do not always
fairly appreciate the control which that single
individual holds over the opinions and over the
passions and the prejudiccs q whole communi-
ties. They do not at all times fully recognize
the importance of those rays Of light and intel
ligence which emanate even from the most
unpretending Of the co-workers ana laborers in
the wide fed eff letters, because it is not in
their power to trace out, at one view, their eff
fects upon the minds of numerous persons.
When however, they look abroad, and contrast
the intellectual, social, moral, and religious
conditions Of the citizens of this entire repuh-
lie, with the enslavcd, ignorant, and degraded
conditions Of the people of almost every oAhcr
country on the face of the globe, they will not
they cannot hesitate to do justice to those
who, by their efforts, have done so much in
preserving within the bosom flour people the
pure spirit Of liberty, and in establishing and
maintaining that regard for individual rights,
and that implicit obedience to the laws, which
form the true foundations of our national SUI.
perstructure.
1t is in this view, if We would estimate them
at all, that we must consider the potent inlu-
enecs of the press. And, thus estimated, who
that has an interest in the progress of intelli-
gence, and in the preservation of constitutional
liberty, will deny to the press in their imme-
date circle, that support which can alone en-
hance its influences for good? How frequent
" are We panied and mortified by the perusal of
appeals made through the columns ofprudently
and ably conducted papers, for the means of
arduous labors which have for years been al
most gratuitously performed for the benefit of
the public! 1t is sad indeed, to see men of
genius, and men of industry and perseverance,
in such a dilemma as this-tEeir pride of pro-
fession subdued-their Intellectual energies
yielding under the pressure of neglcct-their
generous hopes, and their warm ambition to be
useful and honorable, destroyed by political
malice or s~ectarian prejudice! Such wrongs
we fear, are too often inflicted upon the con-
ductors ofthe country press, notwithstanding
the professions of l~iberality we hear on every
hand, notwithstanding the universally acknowl-
edged Importance of sustaining, in the midst
Of every community, a we'll conducted news
paper.
AS however, nearly all the country papers
that. come under our misunderstanding from
every quarter Of the Union-are conducted
with a view to thu. instruction and advance
ment of the family circle in morality, Iliera-
and science, and at the same time, pre-.
sent a 5synopsis of the stirring events of the
times in which we live, we cannot imagine how
any judicious parent can withhold his support
rom such publications., struggling in his own
and at the same time, bestow his pa
.ronage on papers from a distant state, or city.
+ 1t is true, that charity begins at home, our ;
'ountry friends are bound to support their
country press first, and then according to their t
means, and the generosity of their dispositions, {
0 extend theircharity abroad, and render it as 1
ifucivo NJ ooec;Ijo l. l.
In conclusion, we do not believe, that any a
'ell conducted %aeastern publication entertains s
ny other opinions, or would suggest any ad-
ice. that would not fully concur with the sen. I
ments here expressed. n
AppRA1sEMESr LAw.-Considera- !
diversity ofopinion exists Says the N. o. Pea 4
tneJ as TO the construction of the new appraise-
ent law. 1t has been contended on one side as we :
I'VE prevlously mentioned, that the rates Of duty "
I'VE been virtually raised by the mode of >
ton prescribed in the new act. 1t declares that 3
the Inc actual market at the date of shipment. shall
added, all costs and charges, except insurance,
q including. IN every case, a charge for commits
'ns at the usual rates, as the true value At the b,
ut where the same may be entered" and that 10
e duties shall be assessedon this too. g
lhe question raised upon this is, whether freight.
inc cost OF transporting goods from the place Of 81
'fcnase TO the port of entry, is part of the ':ccosts y
g charges to be added to&the foreign market v
Hue, to make the true value at the port where
9 same may be entered upon which duties are q q
H. n -L&l1 49, 49, - NJ AN(e IN