The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-09-30
From the Baltimore American,

RESPONSIBILITY OF AN EDITOR CORRECTLY
DEFINED. We have already published sever
nj tel graphic notices Of the rather hostile
correspondence that has taken place between
cx Senator Cooper, President of the Sunbury
and Erie Railroad and Morton McMichacl
Esp, editor of the Philadelphia North Amer
lean. in which Mr.. Cooper sought personal
satisfaction for language used by Mr.. McMi
chael in discussing the affairs Of that road
Mr.. M''Mchacl very properly declined to be
catcchis,d by Mr.. Cooper as to whether the
language he had nscd was intended to apply
tn hun, whcrc,pon Mr.. Connolly. as the friend
of Mr. Copper. invited Mr.. M.Michacl to ac-
onpany item to ncighboring Sia'c. where
the correspondence coul'l be continued with
out RI ndcrng them liable to the penal code Of
the State on the subject of lriclling.
Mr.. McMichacl desiring to satisfy all the
requirements Of the occasion, on Thursday
morning placed Mr.. Connolly's letter, with
the correspondence. in the hands Of Mr.. vii
liam +. Lewis and Mr.. Charles Henry Fisher,
assuring them that he should be governed,
in any future action on the subject, entirely
by their direction. On the afternoon of that
day, Mr.. Lewis aud Mr.. Fisher informed hi m
that they had determined -a '.
LIST. That the paragraph referred to in Mr..
Coopc, s letter and the subsequent corrcspo
l"n"c lid not furnish any ground for the pro
position contained in Mr.. Connolly's letter,
and that he must decline it's acceptance.
ID That to admit the personal response
blity of the conductor Of a public Journal for
his structures OIL public affairs would, in their
Judgment. be detrimental to the interests of
the community, and divcst the press Of its
most important prcrcgativc.
These views Mr.. McMichacl embodied in
the following letter:
PHILADELPHIA Sept. 81. 1854.
Dear Sir AS the application madcin your
noe of yesterday involves principles. which
in their consequences, affect the integrity of
the public press, have given to it the most
careful consideration.
While recognize to the fullest extent all
my responsibility for whatever appears in
the columns Of the North American, and an,
ready on all proper occasions to meet them
i'll what,v,r form they may be presented ]
am unable 10 perceive that Mr.. Cooper has
any right. under existing circumstances, to
invite me to receive from him hostile mes.
sage As sta ell in reply to his commune
cation Of the 18Th inst, the article to which
he referred "waS Of Il public nature, it con-
ccrn'd public events and its comments had
public bearing. In the parts of it to which
nc called my attention it asserted in general
terms, what nncontradictrd public statements
had, elsewhere. particularly set forth, but il,
made no alluSion to any individual"
If the conductors Of public journals should
permit themselves to be held personally re-
SponSiblc for their structures on public affairs
there would he at once an end to all indcpcn-
dcncc cf the Press, and wrong and outrage
might 60 UNPUBLISHED and unrcbukcd. lean
not consent by my example to sanction such
a course. pretend to no privilege of inter
ference with the private affairs of any. and
should the Journal control offend in this
way. | shall hold myself justly amcnablc'
but do claim, and will exercise. the right of
commenting frankly and freely on all matters
Of public concern, and upon the conduct of
all who stand in public relations towards
them. Very res! cctfnlly, yours &c.
MORTON MCNICHAEL.
To Harry Connolly, Z q.