The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-19
" The Southern Press. 4"

The Nation, weekly journal printed
in New York, a paper much in the in
terest of negro-suffrage and freedmen's
rights, generally-has not so much con-
fidence in the loyalty and patriotism
and good faith of the Southern press as
the editors themselves. The Nation
says-but we are not responsible for
what it says
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
When a steamboat becomes old, rot
ten, trustworthy, and, losing the conf
dence of the public, is in danger of los
ing their patronage, it is hauled off for
repairs, the painter and upholsterer are
summoned. it is baptised with a new
name, and in six months the public are
invited to try the qualities of "the new
and splendid steamer -, etc" The
thief known to the police, adopts dis
guise and an alias; and both thief and
steamboat proprietor find, Shakespeare
to the contrary Notwithstanding, that
there is great deal in name. This stale
trick the press of the South are repeating
upon the people, with better success than
it deserves. The old papers have dropped
their names-and because we do not see
the title, we delude ourselves with the
idea that their existence is ended. Be-
cause we no longer read envenOmed ex-
tracts from the Sentinel, and Examiner,
and Dispatch, we imagine they are dead
but the truth is the newspapers of the
South are unchanged, in character, in
animus, in all but name. The same
capitalists own them; the same proprie-
tors manage them the same editors
write for them. 1t is true the published
names of editor and proprietor are often
new. tits true also that their columns
are not filled with the same noisy but
vapid denuncationo of everything North
ern, but this is the effect of fear.
Throughout the rebellion Richmond
has been regarded as a representative of
rebeldom and the Richmond press as
representative of the press of the entire
COnfederacy. We have made some in
quiry into the present condition of that
press, and we venture the assertion that
there is nota sound" newspaper among
them all. There is not one ofthem gen.
timely new. Their editors may have
taken the oath of allegiance. They may
acquiesoe in state ofthings which they
consider inevitable, and abstain from
fighting anew the useless battle over the
dead bodies of slavery and secession
But there is not paper in Richmond
which is thoroughly in favor of the new
order, of liberty, union, and equality of
rights. There is not one which heartily
supports a restored nationality and free
institutions.
We do not propose to leave this gen.
eral assertion, We will make it good
by specifications. The principal papers
in Richmond are the Wing, the Repub-
Tic, the Commercial Bulletin, and the
Times. ....... ...
The Richmond Wing has neither
changed its name nor It's editor-Mr.
William Ira Smith, the present proprie-
tor, bought half interest in it during
the war, it is limited to save himself from
CONSUMPTION. Two others of the firm
who owned it were colonies in the rebel
army. Their names no longar appearin
connection with this paper, but it is more
than suspected that they still possess an
interest in it. OF all papers in the rebel
capital, it was perhaps Qf there were any
difference) the leastobnoxious. 1t was in
clined to be conservative, and secured
some respect from the North by its per-
sistent opposition to the Davis admins
tratiOn. But it was never suspected of
real Unionism, or it never could have
lived in Richmond. And though it ac-
ouiesces in the restoration of the nation
al authority, and submitsssf TO the Pier
mont government, it cannot be said to
give a cordial support to either. 1t Is
not regarded as their organ by the loyal
men Of Virginia, nor does it enjoy their
confidence. ;.
The Richmond Republic is ostensibly
a new paper. 1t was started very soon
after the evacuation of Richmond. In
its prospectus 1t promised great things.
Securing the editorial services of the
former correspondent of a Northern
newspaper, the loyalists hoped to find
in il an expression of their views. But
| its proprietors control its columns and
Give character to its utterances. These
are the proprietors respectively of the
Richmond Examiner and the Richmond
Dispatch, 1t is in reality a resuscitated
form of those defunct newspapers.
The Commercial Bulletin is simply
Davis old organ, the Richmond Septi-
mel, in new name, but without a
changed spirit.
The Times is the newspaper of Rich
mond. 1t has much the largest circula-
ton. 1t is, perhaps, not too much to
saw that it equals that Of all the other
| papers combined; this 1t has acquired