The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-08-14
MONDAY, August 9, 1861.
ValedistoTy.

iS0uthern Fress ceases
The main cause of this result is the delin
quency OF its subscribers. There are now owe
forty thousand dollars due the paper for sub
scriptions, and this is only the beginning OF it,
third year. And if this sum were now all pait
in hand, it would not indemnify the proprietor
and senior editor for his pecuniary advances
liabilities and services in the undertaking. But
by the stoppage the receipts and liabilities
not, however, we believe, ever seriously ex
pected that subscriptions alone would sustain
such paper. No paper has been attempted here
on such basis. And as this paper could not ex-
pect share even of the business advertising OF
the place, or of the government printing; and as
it's subscriptions must proceed from one section
of the Union only and that the less popuous,
and in fact from portion only OF that, de-
pendence on subscriptions alone, WAS out OF the
question. 1t was accordingly suggested and
supposed, that fund would be provided, but
that was never done. But it was urged on the
senior editor to assume the responsibility OF the
publication, with an assurance that whatever
funds might be found necessary, would be forth
coming. But when such funds were wanted
they were not to be had, except that about the
close of the first year, or beginning of the Sc
cond, some seven thousand dollars were con-
tributed by few gentlemen in South Carolina,
the greater part of which was obtained by the
personal solicitation of his colleague, Mr.. De
LEON part of it as an advance for future sub
scriptions.
The senior editor deems statement of these
facts an act of justice to himself, because he has
been reproached, not so much in the North as
by the minions of Submission in the South, as
hireling, or mercenary, who assumed the con-
duct of this paper for speculation or FOR pay
whereas neither his habits, circumstances, nor
opinions could have induced him to seek to make
money out of a newspaper. He has always looked
on an investment of capital, skill or labor in
q newspaper, as the most desperate of all the
yames of hazard-more so than lottery. Still
he admits thy.a.he thought such paper as
the Southern Press might support itself, and
might even pay. He saw that was the case with
the Abolition paper here, and did not dream
thata Southern paper would be inferior to that
in support-although no probable amount OF
such support could have been any temptation to
him.
But six months had not elapsed after the first
number was issued, before il was apparent not
only that the paper would not pay, but that il
would not support itself. The South was d.
vided, and large majority sgreed TO rejoice, &c
submit, or to acquiesce, in measures which we
regarded and still regard with adherence, and
hence our position became one Of sntagonisu
70 the majority Of the Southern States and
people. Ii was then evident that this paper
would have to be sustained in part BY the extrH
aid of those in favor Of the position it had sted
lastly maintained from the beginning. And il
was soon equally apparent that this aid was IN
certain and inadequate. The senior editor re-
solved then that be would contribute TO sustain
the enierpnze TO as great an amount asany mar
in the Soutb-although there are many there
Of much greater wealth than himself, and who
had besides, what he had not, direct interest ir
slave property. That resolution he has more
than fulfilled. He has now contributed, mol
merely Of time, or Of labor, but Of money, not
only more than any other man in the South, Sc
far as he is informed, but more than all the men
and all the States Of the South put together
for the common cause of the South. Nay more
than any person did in the revolution OF which
he has read, certainly more than Gen. WASH
mGToN did, in the same time. II is true thai
the senior editor had a personal interest, and
personal pride in this particular undertaking, be
yond others-snd hence has been led TO q
further than perhaps he would have done other
wise Bot il Is also due to himself 10 say tina
for the last eight years he has been deeply i'm
pressed with the danger 10 his native land, re
sulting from the progress Of abolition IN th'
North, and hence resolved that in any strugg
for its rights and safety, he would perform In
whole duty shch deyoyed on a son Of tb
Soutb-so that he would feel entirely absolye
from all responsibility for her fate.
The Southern people are divided from IN
Northern by distinct geographical line-b
difference Of institutions, manners, climate, put
suits, literature, and politics The two section
do not agree in the meaning Of the compact
which they are united. But above, all they ar
divided in opinion--in moral sentiment, on
question, in which the existence Of the Who'll
Southern system Of society, and the safety q
its hearths, It, wives and daughters an
children, is involved And the North has IN
majority, and This has become a majority gov
eminent In such a state Of things a conflict
as inevitable as destiny. But the conflict migl
be moralione exclusively, and certainly woul
be at first In such conflict the newspaper
the great engine Of the struggle And new
paper at the seat Of the common governmeu
TO make the defence Of tbe South against the Il
cesssnt assaults Of the Northern press and