Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-19
The Lynohburg Republican on Northern
Literature.


The Lynchburg Republican on Northern
Literature.
A few days ago. we Published as an advertise
ment. the prospectus of the Saturday Evening
Post, a literary paper published in the city OF
Philadelphia. As politely requested, we referred
cditorially 10 the premiums offered by the publish
crs, and to the literary merit of the paper. Our
opinion Of the Posi- vas based upon what We knew
of il years ago, during the period that We were a
constant reader of il. At that time, it was one OF
the best, IL not the very best, literary journal in
the country, and was not at all p~artizan in poll
tics; with which, indeed, it had nothing to do.
We have not seen acopyo of that paper for many
years; and If ii has come to be a political, instead
Of u literary paper, during this t;mc. We were ig-
norant Of the fact. We make this statement MS a
sufficient reply to the Republican, for having COM
mentcd unfavorabiy upon our notice Oh tho Post.
Our neighbor. and everybody else. will under
stand that We can have no sympathy with abolition
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES they may be found Since
we have been called out, however. by the strict
urcs Of the Republican. VIC shall take occasion to
express our views with all candor promising
that our neighbor 10 disposed 10 be rather hyper
critical upon our conduct.
We have no sympathy with extreuists-neve
had. and never expect to haye-and yet We trust
that if the painful necessity should ever be de-
volyed upos ne, of dwarfng and restricting our
patriotism within sectional limits. we shall be
found as true to the section in which Providence
has east our lot, as the vapid and windy orators
that are accrstom ed to question The fealty Of eve
rybody who will not rally to the standard they have
set up. For the present however. I'VE join ourselves
to NO party tina. does NOT keep step u tho music
of the Uaion."
And now with regard to Northern literature
generally. Having labored as earnestly, If not a.
efficiently a. Others. in behalf Of Southern inte-
rests the encouragement OF Southern literature,
and the development of all the resources which ma.
ture has so prodigally lavished upon the South. it
is not necessary for Us 10 reiterate our convictions
and preferences. At the SAINT time, wc are not
prepared to endorse the sentiments Of tho Repub-
lican in refusing to any Northern
paper to the support OF the South, which docs not
come out openly and manfully and rebuke North.
ern Black Repatlicanism," and affirm that they
which are not for rs are against u.s." Nor do
We indulge the squeamishness which charactcriIes
our neighbor upon this subject. In truth, we
think that the South has been placed in q very ri
dieulous attitude BY the prohibition leveled at tho
circulation Of certain Northern newspapers. We
manifest an apprehension that our institutions
will not stand the test Of criticism and that
our people are in danger Of being converted to
the faith Of the abolitionists. To alay all appre-
hension resulting from this cause. we have but to
cite the history of the past. Thirty years ago, u
number Of the prominent mon of Virginia, aye,
the most Of them, from the Nestor Of the Press,
Mr.. Richie. down to Mr.. Faulkner. who was then
a youthful aspirant for political honors, were
averse to slavery, and believed it wrong, per Sc.
But the agitation of the question that has since
followed. and the investigation which it provoked,
has changed the current of public opinion South,
and many Of those men. even including MIR.
Letcher-an abolitionist. of . more recent date
have lived to see and renouncc their error. Thir-
ty years ago, who thought Of defending slavery
from the sacred record : and yet the high sanction
Of that book is now cited in favor Of the institu-
tuition. whilst the historian Of the United States
3 Democratic anti-slavery politician-admits that
1.-The institution of slavery 10 older than the re-
cords of human society" and that " the father Of
the faithful was himself q Shareholder" What
has produced this changei We answer, abolition
agitation. We have nothing to fear from all they
can say about slavery as it exists amongst us but
if the ground upon which We stand is so untcua-
BILE that it cannot be maintained if our cause is
so bad that it cannot resist arguments, take what
shape they may; the sooner we abandon it, tho
better.
We believe with Mr. Jefferson, that " even er.
ror of opinion should Be tolerated, whilst reason
is left free TO combat it." We are for repelling
argument with argument, and, il need be, blows
with blows. We viii not taeitly acknowledge
our own weakness, and elevate the New York Tri.
bune or Post into Fictitious Importance, by at.
tempting to exclude them from tho South, as
though we dread the eiec. Of their circulation
No true man in the South can read either of those
papers without loathing and disgust, and we do
not believe that all their philippines will ever make
one proselyte amongst Us. Let them rave. whilst
we, secure in our own conscious sense Of right,
can deride their impotence.
With these views, we chose 10 take Northern
papers of every type. that we may be able to form
correct opinions Of Northern sentiment.
We think that, with the same motive, other,
may pursue a like course, without being respousi
BILE to Democratic editors or Government officials
whose superserviceabls zeal may induce them t.
invade the domain Of private right.
4 Correction.
1t having been asserted by Democratic news
papers that the Mayor elect Of Boston is q Blacl
Republican. the Boston Cosrier tOld-Line Wing,
denies the charge in the following terms: