Daily Richmond Whig

NEWSPAPERS.

The influence of newspapers on public opinion and taste, has been the subject of frequent remarks, and the value of this means of disseminating information of every description, has been duly appreciated in all parts of the world, where the art of printing has extended itself.
We need no other proof of these facts, than the jealousy for the freedom of the press which is manifested in free states, and the arbitrary and tyrannical restrictions which are imposed on it by all despotic governments.
The result of accurate calculation shows, that there is a greater number of daily and other papers circulated in the United States, than in any other part of the world. A fact highly honorable to the intellectual and literary character of our country. And although it has been by some supposed, that there was an excess of freedom leading eventually and rapidly to licentiousness, we ardently hope that all attempts to trammel the free expression of opinion on men and measures in their public capacity, will be sternly met in their incipiency and crushed with indignation.
We regret to acknowledge, that in the fervor of political controversy, the press has, in the hands of injudicious and violent partisans, too often been made the vehicle of slanders which have fallen with a damning weight on the heads of virtuous victims, and spread poison over the circle of domestic and social happiness. This evil, however great, must be endured, rather than jeopardize our political institutions. Our civil institutions too, have provided a remedy against wanton, and vilifying attacks of this nature, and the injury is sure to recoil on the head of the offender, as soon as time has enabled an enlightened public to discriminate between truth and falsehood.
There are, however, evils of another character, which unfortunately are suffered to percolate through the columns of some gazettes, to the great detriment of society, inasmuch as they assume a harmless appearance, and are allowed to pass unnoticed from the slight influence they are supposed to have on readers.—True, they are regarded with contempt by persons of sound intellect and correct taste; but when frequently presented to the young and inexperienced, their tendency is to vitiate the taste and keep the judgment in a state of puerile weakness.
We allude to those miserable attempts at puns and witticisms, which occupy so large a space in columns that we will not at present name, and regret to see a mind naturally combining strength and elegance, and refined by polite education, squandering its powers on such trifles. It forms but a pitiful excuse for an editor, that many of his readers may be pleased with such articles, and that he must adapt himself to the tastes of all. Light reading and pungent wit may be introduced occasionally; but it should be judiciously and sparingly used. He is in a measure responsible for the sanity of the public taste and morals, and is no more at liberty to indulge them with such corrupted literature, than he is to offend against modesty, by the introduction of licentious jests and profanity.
Editors cannot be too scrupulous as to the matter they issue in their columns. Newspapers are placed in the hands of all ages and sexes, and should be free from whatever might cause a blush on the female cheek, or lead youth to form hyperbolical or false ideas.—[Scrutinizer