1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



671 



other, and to come to some arrangements lor the 

 collection of" our debts. 



"But this is not all. (rcntiemen — norisit the most 

 imporiant duty which we, have to porlljrm. Tiie 

 press is not only usellil to society, but it should be 

 profitable to its conductors — and, may I not add, 

 that it should be iionorable to its conductors. Ii 

 should be a source both of Ibrtune and of distinc- 

 tion. It is so in Europe. In Paris, whose jour- 

 nals cannot compare witli our own, either in di- 

 mension, in ability, or in independence, some of 

 her priii«ipal journalists are amonii; the hicihest 

 dii^nitaries of the fjovernment. The press is in- 

 deed a passport to power. 



•'The proiession is rising in Enjjland, not only 

 in emolument, but in disuity. One of the most 

 distiniiuished journals in the world is the 'Exami- 

 ner' of London, and you may recollect in the last 

 July No. of the 'Kdinburirh Review,' that the 

 hiijh character of its editor, JMr. Fonblanque, has 

 obtained for him the honor of a lonij and compli- 

 mentary article in the first periodical of the a^e. 

 The reviewer pronounces "his style to be clear 

 as Swift's, and sometimes as ijraceful as Addi- 

 son's, whilst it is more figurative in expression, 

 and much richer in anecdote and allusion." 



"And why is it. gentlemen, that our profession 

 does not occupy that station in society to which it 

 is entitled? Let us not disguise the fact. It is our 

 own lault. No maxmi is more true, than that he 

 who would have the respect of others, must show 

 that he respects himself We have descended to 

 abuse each other in a manner lh;it has lost the 

 respect of the world. We misrepresent each 

 other's motives — we heap approbrious epithdts 

 upon each other's heads — we do not recollect that 

 violence is not energy, and that virulence is any 

 thing but dignity. How can we expect to be 

 treated as gentlemen, if we do not conduct our- 

 selves as gentlemen.^ Each one says indeed, that 

 it is not his fault. He tries to juslify himself by 

 pleading self-defence. But whosesoever be the 

 fault, the effect is undeniable, that in this eternal 

 warlare of attack and of recrimination, the press 

 has lost much of its dignity, and much of that 

 moral influence which it would have a right to 

 claim, and would unquestionably command, in a 

 free and enlightened country. The mischief does 

 not stop here. The licentiousness of the press in- 

 sensibly lowers the tone of private manners, and 

 infects the character of our public councils. In 

 this respect, therefore, the interests of society, as 

 well as the reputation of its conductors, demand a 

 thorough reform. 



"This is, gentlemen, another of the great ob- 

 jects for which we have convened together — and I 

 am sure there is no well-regulated"mind in this 

 assembly which will not heartily co-operate in all 

 the measures which may be necessary to improve 

 and elevate the lone of "the press. 



"You will probably have other subjects before 

 j'ou. Be assured, gentlemen, that I vvill spare no 

 effort to facilitate the business of the convention. 

 I trust sincerely, that we shall part in tlie same 

 harmony in which we have met." 



On calling the names ofthe Editors of the state, 

 the following gentlemen were found to be in at- 

 tendance. 



Thomas Ritchie, Richmond Enquirer. 



Alexander JNlosely, Richmond Whio-. 



I 



llii.-hmoiid Con)piler. 



James A. Cowardii 



VVm. H. Davis, <y 



Z. Mead. Southern Churchman. 



Wu). A Smith, Conii^rence Journal. 



Wm. Sands, Jicligious Heruki. 



'j'liomas W. While, S. L. iMessenger. 



John S. Cailaht-r, Charlcstown Free Press. 



Edmund Kuiliri, Farmers' Rcirister. 



Edii-ar Suovvden, Alexandria Gazette. 



Richard H. Tolor, Lynchburg Virginian. 



Alexander J. Marshall, Warrenton Times, 



Robert Ricketts, Warrenton Jcffersonian. 



E. P. Hunter, Mariinsbnrg Gazette. 



VVni. M. Blackford, Fredericksburg Political 

 Arena. 



Mr. Hill, Editor of the Wilmington (N. C.) 

 Advertiser, being present, was invited to take a 

 seat in the Convention. 



On motion of Mr. Ruffin, 



Besolved, That the relations between the pub- 

 lishers ot; and subscribers to, newspapers and 

 other periodicals, be referred to a committee, with 

 instructions to consider and report the existing 

 evils, and to propose such remedies as may seem 

 most proper and eileclual. 



On motion of Mr. Sands, 



Resolved, That the subject of adopting a uni- 

 form scale of prices for book and job priming and 

 advertising, as far as the same is practicable, and 

 also for the regulation of the relations between 

 emplo3'ers, journeymen and apprentices, be refer- 

 red to a select committee, to report to-morrow, . 



On motion of Mr, Snowden, 



Resolved, That the subject of the proper tone-' 

 and manner of conducting the newspaper press 

 of Virgmia, be rettined to a select cumniitlee, to, 

 report to-morrow. 



The chair appointed, under the first resolution,, 

 the following gentlemen to constitute the com- 

 mittee: 



Messrs. RufFm, White, Toler, Mosely, Hunter 

 and Alexander, 



Under the second resolution: 



Messrs. Sands, White, Walker, Marshall, Da- 

 vis, Ricketts, and Mead. 



Under the third: 



Messrs. Snowden, Gallaher, Blackford, Toler, 

 Ruffin, Hunter, Cowardin and Smith. 



On motion, Mr. Ritchie was added to the com 

 mittee under the third resolution. 



The convention then adjourned, to meet at 5 

 o'clock to-morrow evening. 



Thursday evening, January ISth, 5 P. M. 



The convenlion met pursuant to adjournment. 



Mr. Alexander, editor of the Charlottesville 

 Jefi'ersonian Republican, and Mr. J. C. Walker, 

 of Richmond, appeared and took their seats. 



Several communications addressed to the con- 

 vention, were read, and for the present laid on the 

 table. 



On motion of Mr. Gallaher, 



Resolved, That such members of the legisla- 

 ture, and other gentlemien, as have been hereto- 

 fore connected with the press, be invited to seats 

 in this convention, as honorary members. 



Mr. Ruffin, from the committee appointed yes- 

 terday, under the 1st resolution, presented a re- 

 port and resolutions, which after some debate and 

 amendment, were adopted in the following form: 



The committee to whom was referred the sub- 



