[figure description] Page 025.[end figure description]

THE day after the town meeting, the Captain
began to reflect, that he could not avoid being implicated
in the character of the paper about to be established.
O'Regan was known to be his servant; at least
to be under his influence, and he would be considered
the real editor; Teague the ostensible, and though
the fact was known at home, that he had nothing to
do with it, yet abroad, it would bear a different construction,
and refutation would be difficult. Having
supported the character of a gentleman, and being
still willing to support that character, how could he
endure to have the volumes of scurrility, that would
appear, imputed to him; or supposed to be admitted
with his approbation. Uneasy with this upon his
mind, he could see no way to get out of the labyrinth
in which he had involved himself, by inadvertently
proposing Teague. He thought it however his duty,
to disclose to the bog-trotter, the office to which he
was destined. Maintaining good faith, he was unwilling
to make use of his influence to dissuade from
the undertaking; or to deter by representing the
danger that existed, and the consequences that might
ensue. This he could easily have done, by suggesting
the guillotine, or even a cudgeling, the more

[figure description] Page 026.[end figure description]

common mode of punishment, in this republic. But
good faith forbade.

But what was the amazement of every one, when
news was brought, that Porcupine, had decamped in
the mean time. Whether it was that the talents of
Teague had been magnified; and he did not choose
to engage in competition with one so much his superior,
lest he should lose by comparison, the reputation
he had acquired; or what is more likely, the
constables were after him for debt, his press and
types having been seized the day before, and sold for
rent, and new demands, of a smaller nature coming
against him, fines and penalties also hanging over
him for libels; and damages recoverable in actions
of defamation; but so it was, that he had disappeared.

The Captain was relieved from the embarrassment
which he had endeavoured to conceal, because he
now saw a way open to set aside the idea of a press,
which he had reason to apprehend his bog-trotter
would not be competent to conduct with reputation.

Townsmen, and fellow-citizens, said he, seizing
an opportunity to speak, the reason has ceased upon
which we had proposed to act: the setting up
the bog-trotter in the capacity of an editor as a
match for Porcupine, for he has disappeared;
and what need we buff at the bear when there
is no bear to buff at. Unless indeed we could set
him up, expecting from him a chaste and pure paper
containing solid information, and strictures useful to
the republic. But that from his education and manners,
we have no reason to expect. It is true, if he
had sense to collect the ideas, and give them expression,
he has had opportunities to observe what if
known and digested, might essentially serve to preserve
from extremes in a free government. He has

[figure description] Page 027.[end figure description]

seen the folly of the people of France, if, those occasionally
thrown into the representative assemblies,
could be called the people. He has seen the folly of
these in reducing all things to the first elements instead
of accommodating to existing establishments;
of deracinating from the foundation church and state,
and bandying the term liberty until ignorance and
usurpation terminated in despotism. For though at
the commencement of a revolution, active and uninformed
spirits, are useful, or perhaps absolutely necessary,
like the subterranean fire throwing up continents;
yet as in this case, the fostering dews and the
breath of the atmosphere, are necessary to give soil
and impregnate with vegetation; so after the stirrings
of mens minds, with a political convulsion, deliberate
reason, and prudent temperament are necessary, to
preserve what is gained, and turn it to advantage.
But this sans culotte, for so he was called in France;
and well he might; for he was without femorals
when he went away, and when he came back; this
sans culotte is not a Mirabeau. He has kept no
journal: he has made no observations except of
mens heads chopped off by the guillotine. He has
brought back little with him, but ce que dit; que ce
vous la; donnez moi, and such like. I think we are
well off with him and let him go to his vocation.

[figure description] Page 028.[end figure description]

Scotch-Irish, so called, a colony planted in Ulster, by
king James the first of England, when he subdued
the natives; but a real Paddy, with the brogue on his
tongue, and none on his feet; brought up to sheep-stealing
from his youth; for his ancestors inhabiting
the hills, were a kind of free-booters, time immemorial,
coming down to the low grounds, and plundering
the more industrious inhabitants. Captured by traps
set upon the hills, or surrounded in the bogs, attempting
his escape, he had been tamed and employed,
many years, digging turf, before he came to my
hands. I bought him from an Irish vessel, just as a
curiosity, not that I expected much service from him;
but to see what could be made of a rude man by care
and patience. The rogue has a low humour, and a
sharp tongue; unbounded impudence. And what
may be a restraint upon the licentiousness of his press,
should he set up one, he is a most abominable coward;
the idea of cudgeling will keep him in bounds;
should he over-match Porcupine, and turn upon his
employers. He has all the low phrases, cant expressions,
illiberal reflections, that could be collected from
the company he has kept since he has had the care of
my horse, and run after my heels in town and country
for several years past. What is more, he has been in
France, and has a spice of the language, and a tang of
Jacobinism in his principles, and conversation, that
will match the contrary learning carried to an exorbitant
excess in Porcupine. I do not know that you
can do better than contribute to a paper of his setting
up. He may call it the Mully-Grub, or give it some
such title as will bespeak the nature, of the matter
it will usually contain.

The academician at this came forward. I am far,
said he, from a disposition to spoil sport; but when
the useful is mixed with the jest, I count every point
gained.

[figure description] Page 029.[end figure description]

less offending the self-love of men than what has the
appearance of immediate and direct instruction. Nor,
will the publication of the foregoing hints on the illiberality
of the press, be thought, even now altogether
useless; for though since the death, or departure, of
the two monsters just named, there has been an ebb
of this flood of scurrility, yet dropping the figure, the
American press, has not been wholly free from the
stains of the like paragraphs. The application therefore
may not be wholly without an object, and, in the painting
there may be seen some existing resemblances.
For though, as the almanac-makers, say “it is calculated
for a particular meridian, yet it may without sensible
variation, serve other latitudes.” No man can
have a higher opinion of the dignity of station occupied
by the editor of a paper under a free government,
than I have. I think it one of the most honourable, as
well as the most useful in society. I am unwilling
therefore that it be degraded, and I am happy to observe
that the example of the two monsters mentioned,
has had the effect to disgust the public.

I take the pulpit, the courts of judicature, and the
press, to be the three great means of sustaining and
enlightening a republic. The Scripture is replete
with the finest sayings of morality. With a scholar
of the Latin and the Greek school, it is delightful to
quote in conversation, or writing, the classical sentences
of antiquity, aptly applying them to the occasion:
enriching the discourse with apposite thoughts;
pleasing the hearer, or the reader, and doing credit to
the person himself; drawing out from his treasury,
things new and old. But these writings of an oriental
cast, contain pithy observations upon life and manners,
than which there can be nothing more delightful to
remember and quote, and more profitable to carry into
practice. Reading the Scriptures by young

[figure description] Page 030.[end figure description]

people; hearing them explained and introduced by quotation,
sermon and lectures from the pulpit, raises the
affections to virtue, and helps the judgment in the conduct
of life.

The courts of judicature, are a school of justice,
and honour. A great ground of the law, are the principles
of universal justice. The discussion of council;
the verdicts of juries, the decision of the courts,
have respect to the great principles of moral honesty.
But the sphere is confined, compared with that of
the press, which has an extensive range; and for this
reason ought to preserve the greater delicacy in language
and sentiment. Even the war of the sword
has its laws.—It is not allowable to poison springs, or
the means of life. In a paper war nothing is justifiable
that does not tend to establish a position, or determine
a controversy; that which outrages humanity,
is the cruelty of a savage who puts to death with torture,
or disfigures, to gratify revenge.

To know what may be said in a paper, or in what
manner it may be said, the editor whom the public alone
knows, need only consider what would become a
gentleman to say, in promiscuous society. Whether
conversing in the manner he writes, or in which, what
is inserted, is written, he would be heard with respect,
and treated with civility. Good breeding is as necessary
in print as in conversation. The want of it equally
entitles to the appellation of an ill-bred-man.
The press can have no more licence than the tongue.
At the tribunal of common sense, it has less, because
an expression might escape a man, which might receive
pardon, or excuse, as the offspring of inadvertence;
but writing is deliberate, and you may turn
back and strike out the allusion, or correct the term.

National character is interested in the delicacy of
the press. It is a disgrace to a people to have amongst

[figure description] Page 031.[end figure description]

them volumes of scurrility circulated through their
post-offices, with a peculiar privilege of centage,
placed upon the benches in our public houses, or sent
home to our private dwellings.

Is this the occupation to which it ought to be an
honour to belong; to which a father would wish to
put a son, having educated him with the best advantages,
and giving him, as he had thought, a duty as
sacred as the priesthood, and with a more exclusive
sphere of action than the barrister; having it in high
commission by the constitution of his country, “to
canvass the conduct of men in public offices,” and
inform the public, “where the matter is proper for
public information.”

It does not follow, that because a man takes a paper,
that he approves of all that is in it. It is certainly
censurable to continue our subscription to a
paper, the prevailing tenor of which is defamatory of
individuals; but were we to reject a paper because
it is occasionally so, there are few papers that we
should take at all. The American press, has been
abominably gross, and defamatory, and there are few
publications of this nature, that have been at all times
unexceptionable. A man will be astonished sometimes
to hear of himself, or of others, what has not
the slightest foundation, but in the invention of the
paragraphist. There may be some prototype, filmy
origin to the unsubstantial fabric; perhaps not even
a vapour, but in the breath of the defamer. Is the
assassin odious, and not the author of anonymous
abuse? Yet such is the evror of opinion with some,
that they think it not dishonourable to attack anonymously.
It is cowardice in a free country, where
the law is equal; where no Cæsar exists to make it
necessary to conceal the author of the pasquinade.
A brave man will scorn subterfuge, and shade. An
honest man will avow himself and his opinions.

Previous section

Next section