The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-22


respondent : Nobody" who take to be some
disappointed printers devil turned away BY his
employer for drinking, or stealing types, and
who skulks behind an ominous name,+ has made
most gross. unf0undsd attack on the liberty
Of the press, the grand palladium of the freedom
OF speech, writing, action and every kind of
liberty, except that Of other people. As you
have thought proper to insert his letter, which
il tissue Of lies from beginning to end, in your
paper, claim the privilege of being heard in
behalf Of my innocent, inoffensive brethren, who
have been thus wantonly assaulted by Mr.. Morse,
and this Mr.. Nobody, whose filthy passages of
nonsense, absurdity, misrepresentation. and ca
lumny, could only proceed from head as hol.
low as quilts, and heart as black as printers
ink. TO prove that | am qualified to speak
from experience, beg leave to state, that have
in my time been editor of sixteen newspapers,
advocating rs many different parties, and fac-
tons of parties, and that can turn my hand to
anything, from an abolition thunderboIt to a
pledge that may be interpreted sixteen different
and by various transmigrations, have become
Free-soil Wing, that is to say, most devoted
friend Of the Union, Constitution or no Consti-
tuition. Thus you sec. Messrs. Editors, can
speak from experience.
| shall commence my defence of the freedom
of the press thus wantony assailed, first, by de-
filming tho liberty of the press secondly, the
rights and thirdly, the duties Of editors Of
newspapers. Liberty must Of necessity be with
out limit, for the moment it is placed un Ter re-
traint it ceases to be liberty. Hence it follows
that freedom of the press is freedom from all
kind Of restraint whatever. l am aware that
there are laws under which an editor may be
called to account for violation of the truth but
consider them as infamous restrictions, de-, Used
for the purpose of rendering public liberty sub
servient to private feelings. II has been sup
posed by writers, who took but superficial
view of the subject, that freedom of the press
was limited to telling the truth, and that every
editor was personally responsible for its viola
ton, or as Franklin said, that the liberty of the
press and the liberty of the cudgel ought to go
together" But it is sufficient answer to say,
that if this rule were strictly applied, at least
one-half our newspapers would be in state
of suspended animation. The liberty of the
press therefore, in its enlarged and liberal con-
struction, the liberty of publishing anything,
whether true or FALSE is a matter of no conse-
quence. The right of free discussion necessa-
rily involves the right Of personal as well as
political animadversion, and therefore personal
abuse is one of the most prominent and import
ant rights of the newspaper press. A mans
opinions are part and parcel of himself, and no
absurdity could equal that Of separating them
Hence it is impossible 10 run down one without
treadng on the other.
| The rights of editors naturally and inevitably
result from the right of free discussion 1t j.
impossible in the nature of things to discuss q
mans principles without making equally free
with his character and private conduct You
might as well attempt to knock him into the
mud without soiling his coat. Hence it is the
ioalienabfe right of the editor to abuse every
man whose principles don't correspond with
those he has adopted-for the time being. Nc
axiom is more incontrovertible than that meu
| II is therefore right which every editor enjoys
in common with the rest of fellow creatures, to
change his opinions whenever he deems it proper
| or expedient Thus, should he be admonished
| hy fbo of ,hsc he ,nrb
party, or the withdrawal Of executive patronage
that he has adopted erroneous opinions, it is only
avang himself of the lessons of experience
when he turns summerset and lights on his
right leg instead of his left. OF what use, ] ask
would it be to acquire wisdom and experience
if they did not bring with them opinions new
motives of action, and consequently influence
our subsequent conduct On these premises
assume that every editor has clear right to at
tack the person Of every man who does not agree
with him in opinion, and to change his prnci
Piles as often rs lie pleases
| The duties of an editor, however, depend in a
great measure on the position in which he is
placed. If he should by any miracle be the pro.
prietor Of his own paper, be may if he pleases
think and speak for himself always however
/ taking care not to offend any of his subscribers
whom it is his first duty TO keep in good humor
Should majority of these be farmers, he must
worship the pillow and never miss an opportu-
nifty of advocating an agricultural committee in
Congress, to instruct them in rural economy
If his swil-t1b is repenished from the offals OF
a trading community, he must talk about AMER
chant Princes" and carefully note the changes
Of the market. If his patrons are gentlemen OF
leisure, and consequently great news-mongers
he must take special care to supply their daily
aiment, eithN by giving the latest news, or il
there hnppens to be none getting up an insur.
rection, mob, or revolution, somewhere, OF
at least confidently predicting that it will happen
soon True, he may be obliged to contradict il
the next day, but that only doubles the pleasure
of his readers, who are first apreeably surprised