Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-08-01
sTo ali Whom it may g oncern.''

we have a lew words to-day Tor the
private ear of our friends and subscribers.
: tits now nearly four years since we es-
tablished the Register. Previous to that
time, the existence. of newspapers printed
in this place, had. been brief and preca,
rious. No one had succeeded in making
livelihood by their publication, and they
were either discontinued, or assumed a
kind of remittent character fatal to the
prospects of news journal. Although
warned of the dangers of the enterprise
and cautioned against its attempt by
many of our friends, our own judgement
told US that agood paper would be sus-
tanned in Clarksburg and that the result.
has proved that we were correct. IT,
We started out with the determination
to, assume a straightforward course die
tated alone BY our own judgement, and
steadfastly to pursue it. unawed by the
threats and unseduced by the gatherings
of any who might seek to prostitute the
columns of our; paper to their own person
al animosities or political preferment, and
make our paper rather the medium for
the dissemination of useful reading and
general news, than the organ of aspirants
or cliques-a journal for the people and
not for persons. The opinion expressed
in our editorial columns in regard to ques-
tons of political or general character,
have been oar 0aOn, and we are prepared
to rise or fall by them-we shirk no re-
sponsi6ilny. Thus far we have gratify>
ing evidences that our course is approved
by the people of this country, and that
their sentiments coincide with ours. We
shall still unremittingly seek to merit this
appreciation, and the honest sentiments of
common people engaged in a common
cause cannot materially differ.
During the past year new element
has arisen in the political world and ours
being political paper, it was expected,
as it was its duty that it should take side
in regard to it. The editor of the Register
did this actuated by the same motives that
have always governed him in regard to po-
litical questions-the propagation of true re-
publican principles and the maintenance
OF our government upon the basis estab>
llshed by its patriotic founders. If our
Judgment has been wrong, we have yet
to be convinced of it, while we are every
day becoming stronger in the opinion that
we are right and SO believing, we shall
continue as we have started, until cons
WINGED that we are wrong, and this must
be done by other means than threats or
wheedlings.
Our early opposition to Know Nothing-
ism brought down upon US the indignant,
malicious and proscriptive opposition OF
the order. Dozens, and we may say
hundreds, withdrew their subscriptions,
ceased their advertising and jobbing, and
used every means possible to break down
our establishment. We were assured by
those who had been our friends, that I'M
less we ceased our opposition to the order,
our business would be entirely destroyed,
while if we would join in "the great Anne
rican movement" it would add thousands
to our subscription list. Not being will
t ing to sacrifice a vital principle of govern
? ment to selE-interest, as long as there were
other means ofprocuring an honorable live.
llhood for ourself and family, we incurred
: their dispIeasure and DEF1ED their hos
t tility. We imagine that there never
was more indicative, INSCRIPTIONS and
wicked combination against one poor indi
, vidual, that was formed in that order
< against us. There has been a number oil
, individual members Of the order who
have not united in this general attempt
at our destruction, but they have beer
honorable exceptions to the general rule
r 1t would be;useless for US to attempt {
4 denial of the fact that the onslaught
made upon us by the dark-lantern gen
try has considerably affected US pecuni
i arily but we have the gratifying conso
lation of the approval of our own con
!; science and of the people of this and the
adjoining counties and the State at large
): as well as manifest disposition on the
: part of the sound, conservative and con,
stitutional people of this country, to sus'
tain our paper and the doctrines it pro.
mulgates.
For-the benefit of those who one year
ago SO confidently and exultingly predic,
) ted our downfall and bankruptcy, we will
state that the Register was never in a
, mora Hnnrishinn cnnd;t;nn IT, -,