Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-06
NUMBER 81.

tus aris,ocratic factions remain but they M o,.
M u.sloe the country between them Tbere s..
up a third element tho public - Which
Win mem nor OF them, but which has beeop,.
more powerful than either IL 4 for tb.t nnni;
- u'nor writes it is to that public that the state,-
bonss y. i s from that public alone that the pre-
i,iimr reNaru or fears censurc. If society and NO
itcai life In general have outvroun tbs ,.mu s1a Po
&c party, now much the press vbich ~ IN -
and coms ou, seel system has the most rspd
IT, ue'eiopmentp newspaper such a. IN.
te' Is IN the position rather TO confer th,, ; -
s,r ~ uer 70 ACT rs the umpire than the tool or In
mept 70 m,tt Is not in the power of any Govern
L; nsAt OF mar the prosperity Of such an under,
winch rests on foundations infinitely more .onS ,h
=. "'our or party support. IL ha, besn orr n,
son 10 sunno.a ,s.. governments aud no res-
close. How, then should that which Il In is 49,. Us
nahen submit itself to the control of that hih y !, T.
and n.,;co J, ana prostitute the high duties Of truth
ne 'o 70 support the objects OF party doomed to
- away sooner or later. and make room tor shs,
opinion ' next pnase OF public
we believe that the position occpn;sd hx -.
ana independent portion Of the press IA bs
s;zzs'iS5 CO tSeIS %serss, fss Pede
:,, eu. Inc vocation of Government Is so pur.iy
.nat does not satisfy all that the public mind
requires IN the conduct of affairs Mankind nad .
only to know what Is done but 10 he renidJ % , no'
oed as 70 the principles aud objects with which \.
.>o' only do we need executors of the public lii
cs Of ,h o, the popular understandings and snEshrep
Jn, 80 I peope eonscience. This was the one prest
uu.y performed by the Church In the middle @ s..as 60
ei, Win all It's faults and superstitons iairly sn,i;,
70 70, DC numbered among the beneiactors of m,nIinS
Whatever iawless force might overbear or sph,,a go
oNe.reacn IN the Church there was always v;tns.s r.
justice and morality, mankind then understood ,he ~
cneeS against the abuse Of power and monor .,,i.,
.ne wees oi 6arbarous and peridious age By hecon
ng ssh pocical power the Church abd,cated tbs oN
and the reaction against its ecclesiastical abnses
overthrew its pretensions to act as the incorno
@ ra.su conscience of Europe. Ages of intellectual
ana SOCIAL anarchy have attested the v,nt -
modern civilization of some such agent wh;.h
entirely removed from the interests and i,,r;nua,
OF politics, might testify for truth and in.,iss
reference to the ezpediency of parties or tho
OF monarchs, neither imperiously leading NOR h;ndv
iohowing public opinion but supporting its power on bs
and intangible foundations Of reason and ,h
w are lar IRON saying that or any portion of ,ha
OF tnls country adequately discharge the mission iib
we oeeve we are intrusted but we are AT Ieas. s
iar tue 70 IT, that we ought be treated AZ The
o' any political party prosttuting our infu
III 'neir interest," because the views which wa mn,
,orth on public affairs happen coincide with bers o
we lend them that support to which tho ;n,,c
H tner PRINCIPLES and the ability Of their
eutI'e nem Let statemen and publieists learn 10
each other better. The poweis OF the pres snd r
'ne Minister are coordinate and co.extensive 90 =;
ho'ted the field of speculation to the other that ~
uoh 10 the one the search after truth to the o,b.r t,
e.Peuiehcy Both are necessary to the well being of a.
ana the agreement between the practical no.;.
ana pubic writer ought more to be matter os 70
Po1 'nah their dissension should be one of surprise