The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06

We apprehend this rule has suoJecteu us 10 the
imputation, in some quarters, of being "sefsh aud
exactingn
As to our exchanges, we have been so liberal
as TO suffer them TO run up to the number of
about six hundred, costing US between seven and
eight hundred dollars year At the beginning Of
this volume, finding our expenses greatly increas-
ing we determined to reduce the list, If possible.
As it is desirable that snti-slsvery and slavery
papers should cultivate better acquaintance we
stopped none Of our numerous exchanges IN the
South but the o Grafton Of reduction was con-
fined chiefly to Wing, Democratic, aud denomina-
tional papers Of the North, which, however valu-
able in themselves, could be best spared from our
table. We intended to continue our exchange with
all the Free Soil papers-snd If one here and there
was cut Oft it was by an oversight for some rea-
son which we do not now recollect. The Star is
under wrong impression, in supposing that we
demanded the publication Of our Prospectus as
condition to an exchange. We did not even ask
our exchanges to publish it, but simply stated
that, should any one choose to do SO, it would Of
course lay us under an obligation to exchange
Our friend Of the Star viii now acknowledge,
We are sure, that If the Era is prosperous, it is
also liberal in its expenditures and that, while
il feels obliged to reduce some Of its unnecessary
burdens, it is arfrom being selfish or exacting"
As to the style of the Era, we regret that We
have not been able to please the taste of our
friend Of the Star /; but the poguapcy of our sor-
row is mitigated by the consideration that, in
view of the unftness of our articles for transfer
to the columns Of the local press, he has really
lost nothing by the discontinuaDce of the ex-
change.
Our friend will allow us to correct an error
into which he has fallen concerning the Era's
position on the Postage Question. By reference
to our Prospectus he will see that it is fully up
to the wishes of the mass of the People" For
many years, we have steadily gone for uniform
rate Of two cents postage, on letters weighing not
than half an ounce for all distances, for re-
duction Of newspaper postage, and for the aboli-
tion Of the ranking privilege. This is the sub
stance of what the People demand.
few words on another point. The S0r says
alt Cthe Era is an individual cnterprse-one
which is probably building up a fortune for its
editor-but it disclaims being party organ, and
refuses to insert, as such, our national nominal
tions. 1t is merely the organ of the personal
%yrews d the editor-which views are at all times
sufficiently conservative"
Very well. The Era is an individual enterprise
Should it build up fortune for its editor, it
would certainly surprise him, but we do not
know that any one would have right to COM
plain We owe no man anything-we have re-
ceived gratuites from none-we give every sub
scriber to our paper a full equivalent for his
money-we are under obligations to none, except
to those who, from a too fattering kindness for
u.s. or out of pure devotion to anti-slavery princi
pies, have exerted themselves for the increase of
our circulation and the only way of showing our
gratitude to them is, by making the Era a con-
sstent advocate of those principles, and as good
paper in other respects as our means and abili-
ty will allow. The Era is certainly not party
organ, but it cordially sympathizes with, aud sus-
taips, the good and truem in and out Of existing
organic ,tions, who constitute the Party of Pro-
gress and Reform. Undoubtedly it is controlled
by its editor, as every other newspaper ought to
be and is an exponent of his views, for which no
Party, happily, can be held responsible, as he is
responsible for no party. But isis not merely an
exponent of his views for, he humbly Nusts that
he concurs in opinion with the great body OF
anti-slavery men, and his columns are always
open, when there is ROOM to expressions of dis
sent from any of his views.
There-we have done what is quite a new
thing for us-made a long defence against per-
sonal attack; and now, to show our friend Of the
Star that we harbor no resentment against him,
Notwithstanding his odorous comparisons we
Sh~n sand him the Era.