The Shasta courier., 1859-10-15
Personal yituperation OF the California
Press.

1t cannot be denied that the editors of Cali
fornil, in their structures upon public men and
measures, are too apt to descend to the use of
personal vituperation. Indeed, this practice, in
form so mild at first as to be almost wholly
inoffensive, has gone on increasing until now it
has become a habit of many of the editorial fra
ternity-a habit that truth impels men to de-
nounce as Hcsntious.
This fault, to use the mildest possible term for
it, is not confined to any particular class of ed
itors-but alike to political, independent and,
we are sorry to say it, religious. The habit to
which we allnde may be illustrated thus Dr.
Gwin fayors some measure. Instead of arguing
against it, if they think it wrong. these editors
such of them as we are now animadverting
upon, Immediately denounce it as swindle"
as Is corrupt" Infamous" dishonest ras-
cally proceed to speak of him as " the old
Lime-Ponter," the paid agent of the P. NJ S.
D. Company" as a a hoary headed old villain
&c. &c. Gov. Weller, in the same position, is
charged with corruption" by the intimation
that he, for pecuniary reward, is assisting to rob
the government-with criminal laziness-with
excessive fondness for good brandy Mr.. La
th"H'7 when he is brought before the pzl s.
- - - -
..ofen OF as :" Is wolIu-.- ...oe.. o. -
Judge" as ''puroner of papers" A1d so we
might continue through the list of OR public
men, to illustrate the existence of the great fault
of which we speaking.
The history of no public man of our State,
however, so fully exhibits the extent to which
this vile habit has gone, as does that Of DR..
Gwin. For years the papers opposed to him
have continued-with perseverance that, in a
noble cause, would have proven them noble men
indeed-to pour out upon his head steady, un-
broken stream of filthy vituperation, foul slan-
der and vile and most infamous elimination.
We have been induced to make these remarks
indeed, this entire article was suggested by an
article which we have just read in an opposition
paper-wherein, with sneer the editor ex-
claims that Senator Gwin has lost his influence
ut the White House, because the carrying OF the
Pacific mails has been let to parties other than
those interested in the P. N :. S. Company !
Now see the dishonesty of this intimation. This
same paper has for years been denouncing Dr.
Gwin as corruptly controlling the carrying of the
California mails for the benefit of the P. NJ. s
s. Company. And now, when the charge is
proved absolutely false, bv the action of the De-
partment, the editor coolly taunts DR.. Gwin
with having lost his influence with the Presi-
denti
Now, this editor of course is not muggins
Hence he knows that Dr. Gwn has more nfu-
ence to-day with the President if possible, than
he ever had beforehand that if he could cor
ruptly influence the Government heretofore, he
could do it again.
We put this question to this class of editors
The P. NJ. S. ) Company has had the carrying
of the California mails under the administrations
of Mr. Fillmore and Mr.. Pierce, and so far under
the present Administration now DO you truly
think that rr. Gwin really corrupted all these
Administrations?