Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-06-07
nfDfTIEILLl, THtN. THURSDAY. JUNE I 1855.
Journalism a, and Office. :

4 r
a aS,arIn the United States there is no
te more faithful guardian of the pub
4 lie interest than the public journals
1t and much as is the freedom Of the
L press abused in our country by Ii
n belous and unprineipled sheets, yei
d it were better that such an evil
d should be tolerated than that the
L freedom of the press should be de.
!, stroyed, for though there are nany
( libelous and unprincipled journals
e extant, yet their influence is small.
: In England the newspapers WELD a
!; powerful Influence, but it is second
-Iary one. Parliament-not public
public sentiment!
Il Fifteen to twenty years ago, Con-
gress ruled public opinion. With
such men as Calhoun, Webster, Clay,
Wright, aud host Of other. brilliant
'fminds composing it-that body
was the embodiment Of the public
sentiment. Public journals were
made subseryient to. Con gressional
opinion--their course was ,inAu-
enced if not controlled by Rep |
resentatives in Congress, and so far
from being independent Of Congress
ional influence, the public press was
looked upon as mere secondary
organ "a sort of help-meet to Con,
gress and Congressman.
But the press is no longer mere
mouth-piece for members of Congress
it is fulfilling higher, nobler des-
tiny. Congress no longer rules pub
lie opinion. The brilliant talent
which was in Congress in 1S40,is not
there now; the giant intellects that
for the time being gave our National
Congress a character for dignity, bril-
liancy of talent and forensic elo-
quence, second to no such other as
sembly the world ever saw, have near
ly all passed away, and their places
been filled by men, too many Of whom
are poorly calculated for the position
they hold. And even had not Con-
sress degenerated in point Of talent,
t could not lead public opinion at
he present day. The influenced
Congress once welded has departed
rom that body, and is now centered
n the public journals of the day.
instead Of being made subservient
0 the wishes Of the few, they now
ontrol the opinions Of The many.
The election Of our Senators. and p
representatives is dependent in no I
light degree upon the course pur-
ued by the public press. Congress
no longer the .infallible. body it
nee was; its acts are either condemn
dor approved by the public jour
ais; and this condemnation or ap-
roval is the voice Of the public.
But while Congress has been de-
enerating, the public press has been :
onstantly improving in tone and :
alent, and in a few years, journalism
destined to be the profession in
be United States. As it is the :
rgan Of the people, the people will
ave the ablest talent to represent
and such journals only CD
ill be supported as ere edited with fol
bility, and are faithful to the interests an
fthe people. We repeat, the Amer ola
,an press is fulfilling high and no. pc
lie destiny. It has a brilliant future tn
cfore it. In a few years, those who SCI
re illi.erate and unqualified, will be pn
ompelled to resort to something all
lse as means Of maintenance, and tai
.merican journalism-calling to its OF
lpport the ablest talent in the coun- OF
will be the embodiment of the fol
ltellectual wealth Of the United au
tataa aa Sfe'' -'a no
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