Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-14

morals. Thougi politically debased public prass in
rather the Consequence than the cause Of vtated safe
Of pubic morals yet slch - tue renee OF the press
in argmentng such state Of morals that nothing bet.
ter deserving anx ors than the pr sarvipg It
pI e. independent and respectable, and the removing
from cur nsitu ions everything that bears upon il with
a contrary tendency.
81 long all tie ofices and power OF the Govern
meut are held forth the Incentives a veba scramble
f1r the p esde2cy, 60 long will the agency of party
tive for changing the mode Of 81 ing our Presidents
that OF removing so great an incentive to the morsl
zluon OF the prs wou.J with the consderste, bs am
pJ sufficient to require the change The evils 70 re-
public from merely party press il fl ate. Every
m .L's o-n reflections satisfy him OF The impor-
talce of this topic One of the obvou, and i'm
pjr!ant Of those evil will b. suggested specimen Of
tbs rest The great banef: derivsbl by free people
fom free press Is the dl uson OF political light
and correct niormidon to he Conduct Of public
This duty will BE- hl"''rs,l, aud faithfully per-
formed BY the pfess so log Gaias independent.
Bat so soon as IL ioosas w independents, by becoming
allied TO one or the oher great political factions instead
OF aiding II greatly otstrucs If t does totally pre-
the dissemination Of pure light and Information.
After the political parties have been formed and
the great body OF the people made TO take Sides those
who embrace within their class almost everything vs
have Of well meaning dsnteres.ed devotion to country,
those to whom it is most important that light and nfor
nation should be carried and upon whom alone II ID cal
cuated TO ro1uce feet, from rclinstion other
causes read no papers but those Of the party 10 which
they are elied. The Consequence is an obvious one
They receive 10 light or information except through
that distorted aud Gis:or.ing medium. IL few scatter
ed rays should chance to be forced upon then through
psper of the opposing party, they have been so long
taught to oatbe and dsaust everything emanatng from
that source, and their Of obtaining accurate In
formation for themselves is inadequate that hey
tent themselves with disbelieviDg wha. comes from
disirused quarter. They have, In short, about the
cp ,rtuny ot coming correct conclusions upon
p1ilics, jury would who allowed TO hear the
witnesses aud lawyers Of Only Of CAUSE. Such
is the vi.i.tng effect of plrtysm Upon every thing 1t
10 ches Thus rendering the press naturally well
adapted to conferg these necessary benefits the most
efsctua means Of producing their deadly oppostes.
II Was toy purpose, in another number TO have gone
very fully into deyelopement Of the perrcious effects
produced by this unceasng scramble for ae Presidency
upon the legislation not merely Of Congress,
bu: Of the difsrent State Legislatures, and
then to have exposed that most odious feature
of the present system which enables every party Pres
dent to appoint bis successor But the discussion
has sweed far beyond my original antcipation and
spprehensve Of wcarying public indulgence and
pltence that must leave thoe together with other
topics of minor importance TO the sbler inimadveron
Of coadjutors tha, cannot but hope to 6nd In different
quarters Of the lion. Tney perhaps, may be able to
overcome the difficulty Of handling those topics, az
to do full justice them withou. offence to the party
feelings aud prejudces Of the day. That, confess, b
beyond my skill aud have that account the more
readily determined to avoid those topics and leave them
uudscussed though in my opinion, presenting some OF
the serious evils Of the present system OF eeong
Presidents