Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-10-29
OBJ StanOaO
RALEIGH, SATURDAY, ocT. %. 1855.
MR- YENARIELrHE PRESS. &C..

to make the TACT known 10 InOfe--tLaG MI 'en"oie1
though he has received ardent support and many Ia
vors from the Editorial profession of the country, is
nevertheless in the habit of speaking in unkind and
disrespectfu terms of the press and of boastng OF
the trumphs which he has achieved over it. While
in Congress he assailed both Mr.. Richie and MIR.
Donelson of the Union, as good and sound Demo
Gratis as he was to say the east and he takes pecu
liar pride in declaring that he bearded these gentle
men and brought them to terms We said Mr.. Richie
is as sound Democrat as Mr.. Venable Cas; but this
is weak language when applied to Thomas Richie.
He is the Nestor not only of Editors but of Demo,
Gratis and when his epitaph is written, the world
may well exclam, 1--WE neer shall look upon his like
again"
Indeed, Mr.. Venable appears somehow or other to
act upon the idea that it is his mission to go up and
down the land demolishing Editors and newspapers.
During his late campaign he not only freely denounc
ed such Democrats as Asa Biggs, but he character
lied in the btterest terms every Democratic press in
the State which dared to question the correctness
propriety of his course as public man. The Edi-
tor of this journal incurred of course large share
of his denunciations, and this too believe, before
we had taken ground against him. He said he
not to be controlled dictated to, put down by
sheets of paper smeared with ink by type-stickers
ink-daubers &c-as if any had sought to die
tate to put him down and this too when the very
presses opposed to him had taken their reluc
family and only last resort. Our course in the
late campaign adopted under strong convictions
of duty. We had no alternative, when Wing came
out but to go for that Democrat who stood upon the
State and Baltimore platforms. We had warned the
party solemny of the danger they mourning by
not holding a Convention; and no Convention being
held, we were compelled, under the circumstances
oil 9th cid that
date the strongest man who agreed with the par
ty organization, the Cuban and land questions
and not Mr.. Venable, who had spoken with contempt
of Conventions of the party, ard who substan-
tally with the Wings both the questions just
erred to- If we had remained silent we should have
proved ourselves unworthy sentinel if we had
gone for the candidate not upon the platforms we
should have shown little respect for party by
Stunning that such a candidate was the strongest in
District which cast over two thousand Demo-
cratic majority. Is not this so? No man regretted
more than did this condition of things, but we
felt and still feel not responsible for it, If
Mr.. Venable had advocated Convention with half
the ardor with which he sought to secure his own !
election without one, Convention would have !
been held, and the District would not now be mis-
by Wing. But no-Ae not to be |
disposed of by bobtailed lawyers broken down |
constables, and cross-road politicians -he had met
Richie and Donelson and put them to the wall and
he not to be called to account by type-stckers,
nk-daubers and the like. We take leave to inform |
the gentleman that the profession of the Editor is
quite respectable as that of the law; and we ad-
vertise him of the fact that of any party can
in this country habitualy underrate and abuse the
Editorial profession and live politically. We tell
him. furthermore, that neither envy him his for
now. We repel with scorn and indignation his re-
Elections upon profession, and we declare at the
same time that had rather be the humblest of Ed
tors governed by principle and regard for truth,
than fret under political dsappointments justly in
Cured and be known politician untrue alike to
platforms, to party, and to friends.
Mr. Cantwell alludes in handsome terms in his
prospectus of the "North Carolina Statesman" co
the profession of the Editor-"a profession he
says, cat once dignifed and elevated where the
highest intellectual gifts may find full employment,
and the purest patriotism make contribution to the
public veal" Surely he could not have been appriz-
ed, when he penned the foregoing, of the estimate
placed by Mr.. Venable on the public press-surely
he could not have known of the contemptuous terms
Of type-sticker ink-dauber &C.. freely used by that
gentleman whenever he speaks of those Editors who
have the boldness to crcise his conduct condemn
his votes. We know Mr.. Venable much better than
Mr. CantweI does; and we may venture to inform
him in advance that so long he shall go Gas we
cannot believe he wilD for Mr.. Venable right or
wrong he will be excellent and most clever Can't
we'll but the moment when, from considerations of
duty regard for party obligations, he shall speak
put in condemnation of Mr.. Venable, he will at
incur his displeasure his opposition, and his abuse.
We speak from experience, and we cannot be mis-
taken in what we say. +
1t is unnecessary, trust, that we should remind
he people that the public press is after ALL their most
7igant and disnterested sentinel and their surest
eliance in times of trial It has its faults it is true
put then it can have fewer motives than polt-
,ans to deceive the people mslead them in public
affairs. Presses properly conducted are the organs
y, the people, for they seek not much to dictate
md lead to speak for and inform. Editors of
,erience and possessed of even ordinary knowledge
If human nature know that efforts to influence the
people against their interests and in favor of
themselves of particular men, are always unpopu-
ar and frequently abortive; and dictation whenever
" however attempted is to meet it deserves
With popular rebuke. In addition to this the Editor
Who studies his duties and is devoted to them is in
,etter condition than politician to take calm
nd general survey of things; he receives his nfor
nation daily from all uuarters-he turns it over in