Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-03-01
THE VINDICAT0R.
6TAUNTON, VA,
sAguRDAY MORNING. MARCH /, 'ss
A Word Personal.

cupving so embarrassing, delicate and re-
sponsibe position, we shall herein give
the substance of our views in relation to
the point potlced. We will frat remark,
tina! we have never, at any time, in the
remotest manner, shrank from the perform
ance Of any known duty since we have
had charge of the indicator, nor skulked
the responsibility legitmatc!y springlng
from such course. W. have endeavored
to treat,sll questions upon which we have
commented, with due degree Of fairness,
yst determined frmness-wi!h impartial
Justice, vet disingenuous candor. This
course has, on more than one occasion,
given offence, where it was net attended ),
and has been passed over in silence, where
insult and defiance were designed. The
first has doubtless been the result Of per-
sonal prejudice and party intolerance the
latter, OF craven hearted cowaidiee. We
have no apologize nor excuses TO make to
the first, and perfect contempt for those
who have been guilty OF the iatter.-
With these preliminary remarks, we will
proceed briefly to define our notions about.
editors and their responsibilities.
For all matter which appears as edito-
rial, the ostensble editor or editors are
personally responsible, and may be held
SO by the Individual who may deem him
self agg.ieved. That satisfaction can be
obtained, personally, in our view, only
upon a candid and fair demand for retrac--
ton or proper explanation, which, if re-
fused, or is not sufficient, must be atoned
for in such manner as the parties interest
ed may select. An editor, however, is
not accountable for'any communication
which appears in his paper. unless he re-
fuses to give up the authors name, When a
legitimate and bona fde demand is made
upon him fol it. If he then withhold the
responsible name. he, Che editor by the
custom universally observed with news.
paper correspondents. is considered as as
Stunning the position Of the writer, and may
be held amenable to the person offended.
These remarks apply 20 communications
published as matter Of public interest, and
not as advertisements. Fol- an advertise
menl, an editor is IN nowise responsible,
directly or indirectly diately or imme-
diately-no more SO than for the virtue Of
the many published nostfums, which ale
made up of ialsehood and aggression from
beginning 10 ending. The article goes in
as paid adver!isement-as such the pub
lie must consider 1t; aud there is no u.s.
tIce or light in eliminating the editor fol-
the sentiments il may contsin-espeeiaiiy
when 1t is known by every one that the
father O! an advertisement can always be
known by proper application. provided
the name is not attached When such is
the custom, well known and observed in
all communities where newspaper IS pub
lished, il is wrong-it is ungenerous and
unmanly--to use the mildcst terms, for
persons to seek to throw upon the editor
an, blame or odum which may attach 20
such advertisements We can only account
for such conduct ir one Of two ways. 1t
arises. either from an inexcuSable igno-
rance-or willlul meanness and puslla-
nimity. The ignorance is inexcusable,
because tits the duty Of every man to at
least make inquiry as to facts OF which he
"a ignorant, before he condemns. Mean
and pusillonimous, because the person so
acting has not the manlinesA and the
courage, to arraign the editor in person.
These remarks have been deemed zee
cssary by the editors Of the VindicatoI,
owing to SOME inslnuat,ons resulting IRON
the publication Of an advertisement in the
issue of the 23d, signed "Justice to all, "
referring to the Sherilfall,. We neither
admired the taste, nor endorsed the sen'I-
ment of that adverlisement-no more than
we would the action Of man in fore
warning the public against trusting or har-
boring his wife. We thought at the time.
a. we think now, and as we have fire.
euen,ly spoken. that it was not only I'M
kind, but entirely unfounded. in its in
unuations. So far as we know, the pres
ent High Sheriff of Augusta County is
heightened gentleman. He has been an
unfortunate officeI.-which Is more attrib-
utable, in our opinion, to the kindness Of
his nature, than to any corruption in his
official conduct. This much we say, with
out, in any wise, compromising our sense
o: duty, or encreaehing upon the privacy
OF the feelings of any who are borue I'M
der the weight of misfortune.
We shall always hold ourselves ready
to render under Cesar the things that are
Cesar's. To rebuke and condemn-to
admire and praiie-to censure and to CON-
pliment, just as our ideas of duty aud self
respect, may suggest careless and regard |
less of the smiles and the frowns OF all
who may see fit to make difference Of
opinion, a cause for eowardly insinua'ion
We hope word to the wise will be sufii-