The Camden Weekly Journal

State Advertisements—Executive Patronage.

Of all the debts which are annually presented to the Legislature, we believe there are none paid with such reluctance as those for advertising. May we ask, why is this? Is the amount of advertising so much? A publisher of a secular work can obtain one or two thousand dollars from the Legislature, merely as a token of encouragement, and yet, if the bills of the newspaper press amount to four or five thousand dollars, there is a great noise made and economy is recommended. Let us examine into this matter. The Executive may exercise all the discretion and economy possible and yet, to comply with the law of the State, an annual outlay is necessary to be made for advertising. Say that the amount paid last year was $5000, we will warrant the expenditure could not be lessened more than one half—$2500. Now what signifies $2500, especially when virtually devoted to the cause of Education. Newspapers have done as much for the cause of education, as the Free School Fund. And yet, every successive session of the Legislature we see a spirit of opposition exhibited towards the country Press, for having received any portion of Executive patronage.

We speak on this matter as if no benefit accrued to the State proper, for this outlay. A heinous offence is committed in Charleston, the villain escapes and seeks refuge in Lancaster. the proclamation of the Governor is read in the Ledger, and the assassin or seducer is apprehended. Does it signify that because the murder or rape was committed in Charleston, the proclamation of the Governor offering a reward for the apprehension of the seducer should appear only in the Charleston papers? By no means. Then what course should be pursued?—publish in all the papers of the State. This would be the most effectual means of bringing him to justice.

The proud, aristocratic State of South Carolina, ambitious in her pride to seat her Legislators in marble halls, and yet too parsimonious to expend two or three thousand dollars on the Press of the State, which, we repeat, does as much for the cause of education as the Free School Fund. It is just the other day, that a gentleman of this district gave us five dollars for the paper the coming year; we remonstrated, saying our price was only two, but he insisted on our taking it, "for," said he, I am an advocate for education among the masses, and I am willing to pay five dollars annually for a paper published in the district. At another time we may say more on this subject. We should like to hear from the country Press.

[Lancaster Ledger.