The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-25
MISREPRESENTATION.

1t cannot be denied that mtiCh 81 In
sensational trash that finds its way f
Northern Journals through the medium
of regular, special or occasional CORES
pondents, is wanting in that Very i'm
portant ingredient, truth. In some case
it may be styled as of the SuopreSsjo peT
order, which is the most mischievous
and dangerous species of ialsehood
while frequently we have the false as
sertion direct. The correspondence them
selves are not TO blame so much as the
papers which employ them and publish
their garbled and er pdrts statements,
except in so far that they are culpable
for undertaking the performance ofworll
for which by nature and education they
are wholly untitled. Every fool that
has failed in all other occupations OF
professions, seems to turn to that OF
writing for the press-as a business re-
sqairing the least amount of mind, train
ing Or common sense. They have an
idea that any clever fellow who can put
few well rounded periods together, and
EEittc uli lHtcIesiIHS uiiNthotSi IL tpltt pc
tent to write for the press. This is Il
grave error, and one that is productive
OF very serious consequences to the
world ut large. The press is ~ much
and is as seriously affected by pcttifog-
gers, empires and quacks, as either of
those callings. 1t requires not only
long years of practice, but mature judg-
Inent, and powers of analysis superior
even to those required 10y either of these
learned professions The reporter or
editor who publishes all he hears, with
out submitting it to "a strict analysis,
and sitting the grains OF truth from the
heap of chaff, viewing ii in all its points
and fully testing it in the crucible of
reason, to arrive at the probabilities and
possibilities before giving it to the world
as truth, is totally unfit for position in
the profession, even the most subordi-
nate. The press has many delicate
duties to perform, and its power for
good and evil is so great that the ut
most caution and circumspection are
necessary, and the soundest judgment,
must be exercised to prevent it being
made vehicle for the perversion OF
facts, the oppression of the people, and a
sianderer of the innocent. No editor or
reporter is justified in publishing state
aIl the facts that can be obtained, as inn
partially as would a judge on the bench.
1t is not sufficient for him to accept a
thing as true because common rumor
says it is true. Common rumor is very
unreliable; and seldom stands the test
of investigation. The editor must hear
both sides, and then, aided by reason,
decide the case, and give to the world
the truth-as he has been able to dis
cover it. Were this course pursued gen
orally by the press-and it would be
adopted were all editors properly edu
Gated to their profession, and the doors
barred to the indiscriminate admission
of unskillful, narrow-minded, and one
idead persons-we would find that thu
trustworthiness of the press would -b'
greatly improved, and false or garble(
statements of facts would be very rare
The South has lately suffered through
these empiricsofthe press very seriously
Her borders are filed with correspond
ents-some religious and Others profane,
but all equally nreliable-who daily fill
the ears of a credulous world with the
most marvellous statements of the terri
BILE condition of things in North Caro-
lima, Alabama, or some other portion of
the country. According to these ter
rorists, and "gobblers" of unauthenti-
Gated rumors, the entire South is o
snothered volcano, only waiting fit
ting opportunity to burst forth, and
scatter dismay throughout the land
Negroes are being slaughtered by Thu
hundred daily, or hungup by the thumbs
and subjected to every manner of crue
treatment, while a conspiracy is on foe
to exterminate not only them but all tn
friends of the Union, 50 soon as tn
troops are withdrawn. In fact, we az
fed with horrors, actual or prospective
by these correspondents, who thought
lessly accept every rumor, every will
and improbable story, that the numel
GUS Munchausenso of the cross-road town
choose to stuff them with, and hastil
dispatch their incongruous budgets
their respective journals. They Go M
stop to inquire into or question the trut
or even the probability OF the EVEN
they detail; but, only too anxious for
sensation, send them forth with all the
mperfections-and frequently with NJ
merous additions, to suit the tastes
their readers-to become matters of re
cord and of history. Thus we see da.
after day the most wiful misrepresenta
tions, and improbable and foolish sto
ries, of the condition of the South, de
tailed in Northern journals, which, wer,
they not calculated TO do much injury t.
this section, would only excite our smiles
as very good jokes, and laughabl,
hoaxes.
This all comes of letting everybody
write for the papers. If any fool cal