The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-02-01

OF Lee Co.
THE EXPONENT OF PRIVATE FEEL
lNGS AS CON TRADISTlNGUISHED
FROM THE EXPONENT OF PUBLIC
OPINION.
Among the varied pursuits Of life, there is
perhaps none, which requires closer and more
constant watching, to keep in the true sphere of
duty, than the pursuit Of an editor
He must be constantly on his guard, lest he
becomes the partisan Of an individual in place
OF community OF individuals; the exponent
Of private grief, in place Of public sentiment J;
the ambitious advocate of his own preferment,
in place of conforming to the public desire; the
impotent partisan Of himself, his desires, pass
ions, prejudices and follies, instead Of the in
telIigent and rational defender Of views calcu-
lated to challenge public appreciation and ad-
vance public interest. Many seem 10 mistake
the true line of duty which an editor is called
upon to pursue, or if they do not mistake it, at
least exhibit a reluctance to adopt it.; and it
to the course and policy of such, that we are
indebted for much of the division and distrac-
ton, chickering's and heart burnings OF parties
in the country and Of the personal, local, malig
nant and disgraceful warfare carried on among
editors This is to be deeply regretted; for, to
the intelligence and integrity of the press which
noulds and preserves wholesome public opin-
ion, mus, the government and society look in a
great measure, for their prosperity and perpetu
ity A press prostituted to one purpose, or an
other, in the hands of skilifuI engineer, can
do an infinite amount of mischief ltcirculates
in the rural districts Of the county, where, if
they do not lack intelligence and ability Of a
high order, they at leas, are deprived, from their
locality and occupation in life, from acquiring
that experience and knowledge, requisite TO
guard them against the Vaccinations, tricks and
receptions of designing men and politicians !;
and being constantly exposed TO their impose
TONS are the more liable to be draw into errors
both of the head and heart Such editors we
have in abundance in the couatry-we have one
in this City-and We had almost said an other
in City south of US, although We dislike to
give him such position. However, an article
in bis paper Of recent date, partakes strongly
Of the character, we have attempted in our
feeble way to delniate.
The Burlington Telegraph of the oath inst,
compliments an article OF ours upon the Bill
proposing to confer thettle of Lieutenant Gen.
eral, on Gen. Scott, as sssensible and severe."-
We wish we could reciprocate by similar exc
preston of favor, in behalf Of the following ar
,icle from that journal, but We cannot:
Coon DEMOCRACY rs. STARS AND CARRIERS
We are glad to hear democrats, as we do ev
cry day. at street corners and else where express
themselves in such decided terms against the
aristocratic and monarchical proposition to con-
fer upon Gen. Scott the additional title Of Lieu
tenant General. The whole scheme isapntrary
TO the spirit Of our insttutiuns-savors some
what intensely Of a predispostion to royalty
and would be eminently calculated to mark the
downfall of republicanism among us. The
Miners Express, OF few days since, contained
a very sensible, and at the same time severe ar
ticle, upon the subject-and now we have BE-
tiFl ~ ssthe organs,' the Fairfield
Se.ltinel which says, "Down with the resolu-
lion, and DOWN with the men who persist in
pacing il say We" And SO say we. And if
gu. Major General Senators, one Of whom at
least, Uoted for this mobility proposition, (lhe
other being absent) will not s'down,' we hope
that they will at least be able to give to the
''family organs" satisfactory explanation OF
their course in the prem Tres. A-hem!
The vote upon ordering the bill, comforting
the title. to third reading, stood as fellows !:
(the ayes and nays not being called on its pas
sage;) a.. ,n ..;. p.,.
Bayard, Benjamin, Brodhead, Cass, Clayton.
Dawson, Dixon, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of
Iowa, Evans, Fish, Foot, Gwin, James, Jones
Of Tennessee, Mason, Pearce, Pratt, Sebastian,
Seward, Shields, Stuart, Thompson Of Ken
lucky, Thompson Of New Jersey, Wade, Weller,
and Wright-3O.
NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Bright, Chase, Clay,
Douglas, Fitzpatrick, Hamlin, Norris, Slldell,
Sumner, Walker and Williams-l2.
Nav, without going through the motions Of
s.rsing solemnly," we do protest most vehement
Iy against the "highly undemocrasic'' and very
ssdisorganizing" course of our democratic cotem-,
poraries in finding with the public acts Of ssour
distinguished Senator'S They arc "the chosen
leaders Of the party-at least SO swear all "the
organs and this thing of questioning their
conduct, and saying "down with them, is out
Of all charac ter, and ought to be rebuked. They
have no business thus to think for themselves
and buck up against athe powers that beat
least they will not allow US to do so-and we
intend 10 see that they shall be duly chastised
for their sstreason." "Down" with sour chosen
leaders" indeed Did you eveE' No, never
Il is strange indeed that any journalist should
exhibit the iIlberalhy contained in the above
extract. In place Of making the affirmative
vote upon this question, basis fos giving
candid expose Of his sentimentsupon the subjec.
,pA oh oh
merited, all who voted in the affirmative, among
whom we find the distinguished statesmen, Cass,
Allen, Atchison, Badger, Bayard, Benjamin
Brodhead, Clayton, Dawson, Dixon, Dodge,o
Wisernsin, Evans, Fish, Foot, Gwin, James
loEes Of Tennessee, Mason, Pearce, Pratt, Sc
bas.ls., s;,xA:d Shields, Stuart, Thompson Of
ksntas,S. Thompson Of New Jersay, Wade,
Well sad Wight, he makes it The occasion
for yp"sfat and malignant personal attack
upor Csn. Dodge, and reason why either the
pubic s-ryant has violated his obligations and
should be censured, or the Express and Sentinel,
have violated their obligations and should be
held accountable for the same.
Is this the way for candid journalist to treat
a grave subject? In place Of showing wherein
a wrong has been done and holding all The par
ties to that wrong alike accountable, he selects
ihe one iadi0idnat that he has personal dislike
and hatred for and attempts 10 make him alone,
responsible for the odium, if sdum il can be
called, Of doubtful act Of legislative proprety.
The gangrene Of personal malignity oozes out
At every point Of this deformed article and a
cAlmn perusal Of it in his reflective III oments,
should cause the blush Of shame and wounded
manly pride. 10 mantle his cheek.
Not less unfortunate were his remarks touch.
ing ourself and the editor of the Sentinel
bay not men in this enlightened age and coun-
try, where every inducement and encouragement
j. afforded for freedom Of opinion, honestly differ
with each other, without being subjected to The
sosrse and unmsnIy imputations contained in
hal article? May not the statesman and the
,umhie citizen the public servant and the con.