The Hillsborough Recorder

TO THE PUBLIC.

After some unexpected delays, we have this week been enabled to present the Recorder to its readers upon an enlarged sheet. This has emphatically been called the age of improvement; but in all the multiplied forms in which this spirit has manifested itself during the last twenty years, perhaps in none is it more perceptible than in the appearance of the public press. The newspapers of our villages now, surpass in size and neatness those formerly issued from our largest cities.

It has long been our desire that the Recorder should reflect a portion of this spirit of the age; and an effort to accomplish this desire, we felt was due to that portion of our friends who have continued to sustain us through good and through evil report. This enlargement of our sheet necessarily involves a considerable additional expense; but we are mistaken in the people of Orange, if we may not safely throw ourselves upon their generosity, and with confidence hope that they will duly appreciate the benefits of a free and honest press, and extend to it such a portion of patronage as will, in some degree at least, compensate the care and toil and expense necessary to sustain it.

It is now more than eighteen years since we commenced our establishment at this place, during which time we have had many difficulties to encounter. The storms of political strife engender many prejudices which it is sometimes vain to attempt to allay; and the zeal of popular enthusiasm creates preferences which yield nothing to honesty of purpose. These things tend greatly to depress a village newspaper, the prosperity of which depends almost solely on the patronage of the county in which it is published; and we ought not, perhaps, to expect entirely to escape their influence.

But we have had more potent adversaries than these. It is said of the church of Rome, that she withholds the Bible from the common people, that they may not, through ignorance of the true meaning, be led into heresies; the priests only are to read and interpret for them. So it is with some of our self-styled Republicans: they are afraid to trust the people, and if it was in their power, they would entirely prohibit the circulation of all papers which do not perfectly square with their notions. Not able to contend openly for their doctrines, they would suppress all inquiry. And this is the spirit which has been operating for several years to undermine the circulation of the Recorder, and if possible to break up the establishment. At one time this was very nigh being accomplished; we were reduced almost to the last extremity: the star of our hope had sunk almost to the very horizon. But amid all this darkness, we were sustained by a consciousness of the integrity of our purpose and the justness of our cause: and perseverance has enabled us to witness the return of a brighter day. Our star of hope is now again in the ascendant; and we trust that under its enlivening influence we shall be permitted long to battle for truth and sound principles, with our flag nailed to the mast—"UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, and the Laws."

Our enlarged sheet will enable us to embrace a greater variety of matter than heretofore; and we shall endeavor to gratify the various tastes of our readers, by placing before them every good thing we can select from our exchange papers and other periodicals, whether of Morality, Literature, or Politics. In all our selections our object will be, to blend instruction with amusement, to inform the judgment, elevate the mind, and mend the heart. In political matters, we shall nothing extenuate through favor, nor set down ought in malice, but on all occasions shall endeavor to give "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

Having fewer advertisements, our paper in its enlarged form will perhaps contain as much reading matter as any other paper in the state.

We shall endeavor always to procure good paper, and to make the impression fair and legible. When these things are considered, with the fact that the whole contents of the paper will be selected expressly for the people of this section of county, we hope those who have been in the habit of sending abroad for their papers, may be induced to bestow their patronage upon their own press, and thereby build up an establishment respectable in its appearance and useful in its operation.

To those of our friends who coincide with us in opinion, we might make an appeal, urging upon them the expediency of exerting their influence to extend the circulation of our paper; but we deem it unnecessary. They surely have discernment enough to know, that before their principles can triumph, light must be spread among the people.

We would also remind those of opposite politics, that the columns of the Recorder are always open to respectful and decent communications, as well from their party as our own, and that we shall endeavor on all occasions to give an impartial and faithful account of the transactions of the day. And further, when any important measure shall come before Congress, upon which we may think the public mind requires to be enlightened, we shall consider it a duty always to give speeches on both sides of the question.

With these brief remarks we submit our cause to the people of Orange, and trust that they will mete out to us a due portion of liberality.

Hillsborough, N. C, May 9. 1838.