Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-02-22
PUBLICATION OF THE LAWS IN
NEWSPAPERS,

NEWSPAPERS.
The Legislative enactment of last
session, providing for the publication Of
oil the laws Of the State, in at least two
newspapers in each county, is under.
going revision. Some Of the amend.
tmenss proposed are well enough in
themselves. though injurious in their
effects; whilst Others are unworthy Of
the dignity which in our minds is gcncr.
ally attached to the law making power.
The publication OF local laws in To-.
cali,ics that they do not affect is un.
necessary, yet the amount that is paid
for their publication is public bcnc.
faction. The small pittance that is me-
ted out to the publisher Of country
newspaper, is not the shadow Of q COM
pensaton for the labor he performs by
day and by night, taxing the utmost en-
ergies Of soul and body. in his continu.
Gus effort to lay beforc.his readers such
information as shall he productive Of
the greatest benefit to all. With the
present facilities for the publication OF
newspapers on an extended plan, there
is an inducement to engage in their pub.
lication in our principal cities, where
large subscriptions can be obtained, and
large amounts Of advertising procured
but the publisher Of country ncwspa
per, with the fact staring him in tho face
shat with the utmost success that can at
tend his efforts, he cannot possibly Sc
cure any more than bare competence
he must necessarily possess philanlhro
pic spirit to engage in the business
And yet, he is as necessary to the heal
thy Development Of the body polite, as
are. food and exercise to that of the ply.
sical body. What but the press coull
have brought the people of this happy
republic to the prominent, envious, and
powerful position they occupy in the
short space of three four,hs Of a century!
By what other means can the same q.
mount Of useful and wholeso ne, scicn
ti6c, political and moral influences be
brought 10 bear upon the minds of the
mass Of mankind? We pause in vain
Tor reply. We challenge those wise
heads that by dint Of scavenging for
popularity. are under pretence Of eceno.
my, taking the bread from the mouths
OF those who made them, to point out
any other source from which flows so
many public benefits, as that of the
newspaper press. And still further,
honorable sirs, We challenge you to
point out any system proposed for the
public benefit, whether real or chimeri.
cal, that has hitherto received les. OF
your material fostering aid, than the
press; while, in comparison to this, all
others sink into insignfcance. Ii is
unnecessary to multiply words upon q
subject so palpably plain to all discern.
ing minds. We simply say, that in view
Of the facts as they..exist-ttat the news.
paper is the peoples sehoolmastcr-
shat the dollar laid out for a family
Newspaper, is not only the safest, but in
hnitely the most profitable investment
; that man can make-that the power.
full competition Of the city press com
pels the country publisher to work oil
most for nothing; that the efforts now
making to reduce the price Of publica.
ton oft laws, thereby rendering null
and void this isolated act, that was
pecuniary benefit. ITO limited extent
Is true.) to the country press, is not only
small. but it is niggardly.
Honorable Gentlemen commenc.
their business at nine or ten o'clock in
the morning, and lounge and dispute
and dispute and lounge, for three o.
for hours in day, and vote themselves
such wages as they please, while by the
strict asions Of economy they woult
Withhold from the tru: public benefactor
~Ho tells early and late to sustain vir
tuous and heaithy circulation ofthe so
'cisl, political. and moral life blood o
community, the very mems by whicl
ne il ensblcd thus to dssste his time.
We'had hoped that our LegisIatur
had clear conceptions Of justice, an,
noynd views 'as to tho true pslicy npe,
Hhis subject. Then we would knd then
fostering fhs most prolific source ofpub
&c good. instead Of grinding it down t,
I asaxs Axisisnce. Then wc would no
only hs~s the senssal laws univsrsall,
published without whys or whsvsfore's
(and local laws In sbe rsrticdar local.