Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-10-28
Editorial Responsibilities.

We might say great deal under this head, but in
the present case we design connng our thoughts to
but one or two general views Of the subject.
Editors are always responsible matter of course,
for whatever appears under the editorial head pupor
ting to be SUCH Editors are also directly responsible
for the communications of correspondents where there
any personality involved or the sentiments therein
contained are called into question: or consequences OF
an unpleasant character result therefrom. How I'M
porant that those who have the conduct of the press
in their hands, should act from principle and motives
higher than those of selfish aggrandizement-that in
every case, n communication involving serious ques-
tion should be read carefully and thoroughly consld-
cred before it is suffered to go forth to the world Al
So that in every case he should with punctll-
ousness require the rule to be observed of respon-
sble name accompanying such communications. An
adherence to these rules would obvate many Of the
difficulties into which Editors sometimes fall; and do
away with the humiating necessity of either apology
zng or settling in accordance with the mode Which
the false and to say the least of it. unchrstian notions
of the world calls the anende honorable 1t IS easier
to get into difficulty sometimes than to get out OF IL;
there are two alternatives usually prcsented-to light
out or back out-bu the best have seen is to
keep out 1t is like forming acquantances and friend
ships. this thing of editing paper. He was about
right who said
Judge before friendship, then confde till death.
Well, for thy friend; but ncbler far for thee"
In moment of excitement thought may be uttered
which lifetime could scarce eface from the mind Of
him who is aggreved. That which is easily done may
scarcely require an elIort-when once done may never
be recalled.
"a friend is worth all hazards we can run"
There is another kind of responsibility which Editors
are compelled to assume and to sensitive mind it is
the unkndest of all Wemean the discrepancies which
sometimes occur in the miscellaneous department oi
the paper in spite it may be Of care and particularly,
amounting to overscrupulosity in the eyes OF some
will happen occasionally that where matter is selected
by more than one that in the hurry the caption OF an
article is only read and the Objectionable phrase OF
paragraph is discovered too late to be remedied.
We should be exceedingly sorry and mortified lift
was supposed by any one whose good opinion we re-
spec and desire to RETAIN that every thing published
received our sanction and approval. We lack much
being perfect We know that human character, al
best, is very faulty Let him who is without fault
cast the first stone We relish as little as the nex
one the low rbady and jest suitable only for the pes
terous atmosphere Of the Talb and dsgraceu to the
columns of any newspaper in our day and time. VIZ
repudiate such ideas sincerely as any one; and
source ofsincere regret to mind when by chanc
or otherwise these abominabe perversions OF the En-
glish language find their way into our columns. w
never will pander to the vtatcd and depraved taste
for the purpose Of being considered funny mani W
have no desire for notoriety upon these terms.