The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-27
STATISTICS OF NEWSPAPERS IN THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.

The New York Courier and Enquirer has a
correspondent in this place, who has furnished
it with the following statistics of Washington
newspapers;
The National Intelligencer crculates 2,OSS
daily papers, 1920 tri-weekly 1922 weekly
| total, 5000.
The Union, 900 daily, 1880 tri-weekly
4, 800 weekly-total, 1850
The Republic, $50 daily, 1000 tri-weckly
1900 weekly-total, 1850
The Southern Press, 2l2 daily, 2,142, tr-
weekly and semi-weekly, 5,7S2, weekly-total
8,l36
The National Era, ID, 500 weekly.
The truth-loving correspondent aforesaid,
mysti6es the natter by multiplying the num-
Der of copies of the daiies and tri.weeklies and
semi-weeklies, severally, by 6, 3, and 2, adding
the results to the amount of the weekly circu-
laton, and setting down the whole as so many
papers issued per week Thus he multplies
the Intelligencsr's daily circulation of 2,OSS, by
6, and its tri-weekly of 1920 by g. making
26, ass, and then adds this to the 1892 week
lies, making 2S,7lO, as the amount of the
weekly circulation of that paper, evidently de-
string to convey the impression that it has just 50
many subscribers; when he knows, and the
figures show, that it has precisely 5000 sub
scribers To make the matter worse, after be
has marked down the circulation of the Intel
ltgsneer as "being 2s,7lo papers per week
L A. IL. Al q 4
papers per week" emitting to state in his sta
tistics, that the Era has weekly circulation
alone; so that the figures which represent its
circulation, exactly represent the number of its
subscribers
Suppose, in representing the circulation OF
the Era, we should multiply its weekly issues
by the number of weeks there is in a month
and say its circulation is about $4,000, what
would be thought of our veracity?
The fact is now known and acknowledged
on all hands, that the Era has far larger
number of subscribers than any paper in the
District of Columbia-5,5OO more than the In
tehigencer which has existed here for half
century, and is an organ of one of the large
parties of the nation; 1000 more than the
Union, the central organ of the National De-
mocracy; $500 more than the Southern Press,
the central organ of the Southern Secessionists;
and $500 more than the Republic, the organ
of the Administration.
1t has been extending its circulation steadily
from the time it was started, averaging each
year larger list than the preceding one 1t
has grown, without any effort to fall in with
the current of popular opinion, or any attempt
to shape its course according to the dctation
of party. 1t has never enjoyed the benefit of
official patronage; never been favored with
profitable jobs from Congress; never been
aided by the exertons of Administration OH
cials; never yielded to the opportunities OF
some of its friends to adopt the credit system,
so as to augment its list. 1t has rigidly adj
hered to the rule of payments in advance, ow-
ing no man anything and suffering its patrons
to owe it nothing.
Of course, we are gratifed with its success
though not vain of it; for it furnishes no eSi-
dence of peculiar tact or ability, but simply oil
the fact, that in the judgment Of a large por-
ton of the American people, Of oil parties, an
independent, literary and political newspaper,
an active opponent Of slavery and an advocate
of Human Rights in their broadcast application,
ought to be, and must be maintained at the
seat Of Government
Whether its claim to the printing OF the
Executive Departments shall be Recognised
or not, concerns the character OF the Admins
tration more than it does our interests. o''
circulation clearly entities US to the pr,"'s'
The opinion of the Attorney Ge"''.1
Crittenden, if respected by the Drp'' ~
decides the question in our favor no nu'','"
stration claims as its Distinguishing l"0'', '""'
it stands prepared TO enforce INC '""' WIZ"
and South. without regard TO consequences
We sbal, soon see whether it is equally pre-
pared to obev the law, without regard to con-
a,..o. iet 4 set IN example of the virtue
,,r;.h !. demands from the People. For one
month our claim has been before it and re-
mains vet undecided Does it tolerate the
..,,e delay of obedience to law on the part oil
the citizen
Tho correspondent Of the New York Cou'1r
and Enquirer would adopt summary mode OIL
disposing of the subject for he holds that "the
continued publication Of the Nationai E'a
and Southern Press in this District "the seA'
and child Of Union, lays them open to Prsss"'a-
tion by the Grand Jury Of the county, as r0S-
Lie NUIsANcEsn
John Quincy Adams was once '"s".' ~.
by General Waddy Thompson, with an ino'0s