FARMERS' REGISTER. 



67:i 



2. No pul)!icii!ion sliiill he ssent to Ihe order of 

 any new and unknown siilnscriher, unless paid lor 

 in advance, or satislactory rcterence be made to 

 some known and accessible person in renjard to 

 the subscriber or his payment. But, in case ul an 

 order ti)r a publication, without payment, from a 

 new subscriber who is unacquainted with the con- 

 ditions, a sjnixle number u.ay be sent, containing, 

 or accompanied b_v, a copy ot" this retrulation. 



3. The names of all subscribers whose ability 

 to pay may be unknown to the publisher, and 

 who may remain indebted on open account at Ihe 

 end of two years, from the time when the ad- 

 vanced payment was due, shall be erased li-om the 

 list of subscribers. 



Mr. Sands, from the committee appointed in 

 like manner, under the 2d resolution, presented 

 a report and resolutions, which were for the pre- 

 sent laid on the table. 



Mr. Snowden, Irom the committee under the 

 3d resolution of yesterday, presented the following 

 report and resolutions, which were unanimously 

 adopted: 



The committiee to which was referred the 3d 

 resolution of the convention, relative to the con- 

 duct of the press of Virginia, have had the same 

 under consideration, and beg leave to report: 



So important has the newspaper press become, 

 not only as the disseminator of intelligence and 

 the ordinary news of the day, but as exerting an 

 influence upon the moral as well as the political 

 relations of society, that all must take an interest 

 in seeinof its tone and character elevated and sus- 

 tained, and it^ energies directed to the best and 

 most useful means. If a free pree be the palladi- 

 um of our liberties, ajoureone is absolutely neces- 

 sary to preserve our relish for our liberties, and fit 

 us forja proper enjoyment of them. 



The public, therefore, is concerned, and its in- 

 terests deeply involved, in the correct manage- 

 ment of the press, and in the character of the 

 newspapers of ourcountry. What is desiijried for 

 our intellectual repast around the family fireside, 

 of which all are to partake, cannot be a matter ol 

 indifference to any virtuous citizen. As much, 

 however, as the public is interested, the editoi-s 

 and conductors of the press themselves must feel 

 a still deeper solicitude. When men devote their 

 energies to any labor, they are anxious to see that 

 labor applied to its legitimate purposes, and pro- 

 duce its proper results. We are all daily' and 

 hourly employing our time and our minds in a la- 

 borious task, and are constantly occupied in a pro- 

 fession, in which we seldom, as things are at pre- 

 sent, reap profit, and often meet with discourajre- 

 ment. It is, therefiTre, as much a matter of inter- 

 est as of duty, n-ith us, to unite in an attempt lo 

 increase the usefulness and Hdvance ihe respecta- 

 bility of the press, and thus make it more worth}- 

 the countenance and generous support of the 

 public. 



To make particular rules applicable to all cases, 

 in furtherance of this desirable object, would he 

 found impracticable. We all agree, that the ge- 

 neral conduct of the newspaper press ought to be 

 improved — its tone changed, and its manner pol- 

 ished. It is, however, in the hands of responsi- 

 ble and independent individuals, whose opinions 

 and judgments are as various, as their establish- 

 Vol. V— 85 



ments are separate and distinct. It is obv ious, 

 then, that much must be I, li lo the sound discre- 

 tion of the edilors ihcmselves. Wc can do nolh- 

 in<r more than to recoirnize certain general princi- 

 ples which ought to reyulate the press, and to re- 

 commend to our brethren throuL'houtthe common- 

 wealth lo act upon them, and apply them as they 

 may see proper, so as never, however circumstan- 

 ces may vary, to violate their spirit, or interrupt 

 their harmony and symmetry. These, at last, n- 

 solve theaiselvesinto the general doctrine of mak- 

 ing the press pvre as well as/ret' — dic^nifiRd as well 

 as independent — respectable as well as tntereding. 

 If this were accomplished, the situation of an edi- 

 tor would be rendered more pleasant, and even 

 more honorable, than it now is. If we respect 

 ourselves, the public will respect us. Along with 

 the habit, which has now ffrown to be a part of 

 our nature, of lookinij at our newspapers for infor- 

 mation on all the topics of the day, would grow 

 up a confidence in the rectitude of our intentions, 

 and the excellence of our motives, which would 

 make newspapers even more than they now are, a 

 necessary part of the literature of our country, 

 and give incrensed value to our labors. We would 

 then be thought worthy of a full and ample re- 

 muneration, for works, on which all could rely, 

 and to which all could turn with profit and plea- 

 sure. 



No where could the experiment we are now 

 about to make, of elevating the character of the 

 press, be more advantageously commenced, and 

 with a fairer prospect of success, than in the state of 

 Virjjinia. The newspaper readers, and in this 

 case we may include nearly all the citizens of the 

 con'.monwealth. are intelligent and virtuous. They 

 have, at heart, the welfare of their country, and 

 the happine.5s of the people. Conscious how 

 much depends upon the conduct of the press of 

 the state, in efFectinof these objects; how potent an 

 engine the press is in their political and social re- 

 lations; how great its influence must necessarily 

 be, for weal or for woe; they, we confidently be- 

 lieve, will applaud us lor, and sustain us in, the ef- 

 fort we are now making, to render it worthy of 

 them and of us. 



Full}' impressed with this belief, with the brief 

 and general views here give.t, we submit the fol- 

 lowing resolutions : 



Resolved, That, in the opinion of this conven- 

 tion, in referring to editorial opinions, the name ol 

 the newspaper alone should be used, and discus- 

 sions between editors carried on, divested entirely 

 of personal references, of opprobious epithets, and 

 of harsh language; and that the editorial inter- 

 course should be marked by amenity, courtesy, 

 and, as far as possible, good feelings and kindness 

 — thus, in the course ol the editors towards one 

 another, setting an example to correspondents, 

 and relieving themselves and the public fi-om the 

 disofust attendant upon newspaper controversies, in 

 which personalities or abuse are iiidul'red. 



Resolved, That, in the opinion of this conven- 

 tion, to rid the press as much as fiossible of person- 

 al controversy, it is proper that all articles of a 

 purely personal nature, in which the passions or 

 prejuiliites, or feelinirs of one or more individuals 

 only are concerned, should be entirely excluded 

 from the columns of the newspapers; and that such 

 articles of controversy as result from personal dif- 

 ficulties, but from the circumstances attendant up- 



