The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-09-19
Athens. FRIDAY, SEPT. 10, 1851.

ATHENS, FRIDAY, sEFI. lo' 1000
fr3e The present number closes the third
volu,ne of the "Athens Post" and we must
avail ourselr of.ihe occasion to make the
proper acknowledgements to the public Tor
the liberal patronage the paper has received
We commenced its publication under rather
unfavorable auspices, in a section where
the majority was of adverse politics. w''h'
out dollar of capital, without promises OF
aid from any direction, and with nothing 10
rely upon but our own industry and tie l'o'
srali,y and indulgence of generous people,
All the papers established here betore had
literally starved to death, and our friends
had but little confidence that we could sue
coed. The first year Ief. US in debt-'he
second was little better, and now. at ny
close of the third volume, the paper has
respec,abe circulation, and n very fa'r 40
ver,ising and Job patronage. In conduct
ing this paper we have no. always bee" oo'e
TO give that attention to il which we cou'c
have desired, md which was necessary 10
make It entirely worthy The support it has
received. But. all things considered, we
have, perhaps. done as we'll as was expected
of US, and we have every reason to believe
that our readers generally arc pleased win
the course the pnper has pursued. 1t is true
warm par,isuns have sometimes censured
us for not taking more vindlctIve course
in politics. Such policy might have suit
cd their views, tastes and inclinations. bu'
as it did not ours, We adopted the other.-
There is another. though very small class
who think because they take paper
that it should not contain any thing
which does not jump with their conc'u-
sions, or that may seem TO conflict with
their views or interests forgetting The
important fact that the greater number have
the 50 me rights with themselves. and thai
the legitimate functions Of The press is not
the promotion of individual interests, but
the promotion Of the public good-to
gather up the news of the day, TO dissem'-
nate intelligence among the people, and TO
assis. in shaping, giving tone 10, and re-
fleeing q sound and wholesome public SEN
,iment. These are the privileges and du-
ties of the press, and whenever its con-
duc,ors lose sight of these as the controlling
feature of their Iabors. their efforts become
hurtful, and the people owe i. to themselves
to withdraw their support. But we are hap
nv TO know that the class alluded to ore
small, and ore more TO be pitied than b'am'
ed, We never knew o man to make con-
verts TO his faith by abuse Of those enter
tanning different opinions, and we believe
more in ,he efficacy of candid ard honest
persuasion ,hun of force and abuse. The
latter, however, is more congenlal to some
natures, as some wearing the human shape
approach nearer than others liz their IN
s,iuc:s and chronological conformation to
the lower orders Of creation.
We have, too, occasionally given offence
bv refusing articles sent us for publication.
We always regret the necessity for dong
50, but in this respect. too, we ore conhden'
we have pursued the proper course. Itao
we inserted every communication intended
for our paper. we SHOULD have made rare
sheet of it, indeed! II not unfrequen,'y hnp-
pens that q n individual becomes greatly ex
cited at some particular thing or subject.
and forthwith seizes his pen aud rattles OH
a half dozen pages Of foolscap without STOP
ming TO take breath. He reads it over. IS
greatly delighted with the result Of his Ia.
bors, folds it up. sends it to the printer. and
waits with feverish anxiety for publication
day. A. length it arrives. he sna'ches up
the paper, glauces hurricdly over its co'-
umns, and, 10, his bantling is not ther!-
Poor fellow! he was deeply interested in its
publication, and thought that everybody
else would be-w hen in ioct not more Than
one in o thousand would huve read il had 1t
been there. Life, however, is tumble Of
pleasing hopes and painful disOppointments'
~ scrISblcr must bear his