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Jamestown Journal
Wednesday, June 21, 1826
No. 1
Jamestown, Chautauque Co.
N.Y.
Edited and published by
Adophus Fletcher
Conditions
The Journal will be published every Wednesday and
forwarded to Subscribers according to direction.
Village subscribers will be charged two dollars and
fifty cents per annum!
Post-Riders supplied on liberal terms.
Advertisements not-exceeding a square, will be
inserted three weeks for one dollar. Twenty-five cents will be charged
for every subsequent insertion. Larger advertisement at a price
proportionable.
The Journal
JAMESTOWN, JUNE 21, 1826
(Original Editorial)
It is not without much diffidence and hesitation,
that the Publisher of the "Journal" commences the arduous
duties that devolve upon him. He is sensible that by taking upon himself
the management of a publick newspaper, he has assumed a station, highly
responsible. The periodical press is an engine of vast importance, and
it is not a matter of consequence, who are its conductors. The whole
reading of a numerous part of the community, is confined almost entirely
to two or three newspapers. Hence, we find that in conversation on
nearly every subject, the mass of the people appeal directly to
newspaper authority. As public journals constituted a source whence a
great proportion of our people derive the principal part of their
information, it is highly important that this source should be kept pure
and uncontaminated, so that the young, the inexperienced and the citizen
of limited means and opportunities, may resort to it with safety.
Scarcely less important is it, that it should be strictly attended to,
that newspaper are the vehicles of useful information, than that they
should not be the promoters of vice and the abettors of error.
"A man is known by the company he keeps," says the proverb;
yet this maxim, founded as it is, upon experience, is scarcely less true
than the remark, that the intelligence and character of the citizens of
any given section of our country, may be readily ascertained from the
number and character of the newspapers that circulate in it.
For ourselves we have no doubt of the correctness of
these remarks, nor that to our periodical press must be attributed, a
great proportion of the intelligence that pervades our great country. It
is true, that it has been thought questionable, by many virtuous and
benevolent individuals, whether our public journals have been upon the
whole, beneficial or otherwise; and that the improper and unskillful
manner in which many have been conducted, has been
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appealed to, in support of
this opinion. The evidence adduced, clearly shows this opinion to have
been formed from bad specimens, and not from careful examination of the
whole subject that there may be instances in which newspapers have
exercised an unhappy influence will be admitted: but that there is
anything in their nature, tending to evil, we strenuously deny. The same
consure may be passed upon every improvement upon every method of
conveying information if we will draw our inferences from particular
cases, not caring to distinguish between the institutions themselves and
the abuse of them. The halls of literature and the temples of science
have been invaded by the votaries of profigacy and infidelity; and
instead of exorting a salutary influence, they have, in many instances,
fostered vice and contamination of the public morals. Nor has the pulpit
itself been exempt from their rude touch. Yet who, will say that our
seats of learning are to be demolished, our teachers of science and
religion to be put down, because such institutions have been abused,
because unworthy men have found their way into professors' chairs, and
have been abused, because unworthy men have found their way into
professors' chairs, and have approached the sacred desk? Who will say
that our happy forms of government should be abolished, because
despotism and misrule have still an existence in the world.
That our publick journals may be rendered much more
beneficial than they now are, cannot be questioned. But that as they are
now conducted, they cannot well be disposed with, is believed to be
equally certain. Even our common country papers have frequently excited
a literary spirit and awakened inquiry. In those villages where a
journal is published, we almost universally find more literary ardor,
more taste for scientific pursuits, more well informed individuals, and
more who can readily communicate their views and sentiments, than in
other villages equally populous and wealthy, but destitute of a press.
In such villages equally, all read the same articles; and whatever is
curious or peculiarly interesting, becomes the subject of conversation.
By discoursing on such subjects, ideas new to the professors are
frequently elicited; and a train of reflections introduced which prompts
him to further inquiries. A few casual remarks, or a slight sketch are
found insufficient to satisfy awakened curiosity. An extensive source of
reading is sought for; new tastes and appetites are brought into
existence from learning the views of others, the subject of this
awakened curiosity, is led to look within, and examine his own
meditations. In order to prosecute this examination, he finds it
necessary to embody his thoughts. Recourse is had to the pen, that great
instrument for calling forth the faculties of the mind: and he |
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whose mind was recently
almost a blank, becomes a close thinker, and enlightened citizen,
and fitted by his talents and acquirements to be eminently serviceable
to the public.
That we are to expect such results in every
instance we would by no means in(unreadable). But that similar effects
have been produced in some degree, in many instances, facts plainly
show; and to prove which we have many living witnesses.
One of the principal objections that is made to
newspapers is, that they frequently become the instruments of party
violence, and keep alive political animosity. That this is the case is
admitted; but must it not likewise be admitted, that they bring before
the tribunal of publick opinion, the measures of our public servants and
enable us to judge with some degree of accuracy of their nature and
consequences. In a government constituted like ours, this is all
important. For however wise the measures adopted by our public servants
may be, they can never be made to answer any valuable purpose, can never
be carried into effect, unless their object is fully known, and public
sentiment is in their favor. An unenlightened people would look upon
every plan for public improvement, as a deep laid scheme for the
aggrandizement of its projector, and as rapidly tending to the
subversion of that equality which is the basis of our free institutions.
A leading object of this journal will be to afford to
a portion of the citizens of Chautauque and Cattaraugus an opportunity
for acquiring information, of which (owing principally to their local
situation) they are at present, in a great measure deprived. It is
intended, that as far as practicable it shall contain an accurate
history of the times, and together with a notice of passing events, such
disquisitions on useful subjects, as shall be furnished by
correspondents, or may be selected with propriety, Scraps of history and
biography, well written geographical descriptions, interesting
extracts from voyagers and travellers, notices of new inventions and
improvements in the arts, will be introduced in to our columns, as
suitable materials occur. Nor shall we be inattentive to the votaries of
fancy and the lovers of imaginative composition. Poetry and fiction,
when of a moral tendency, and perfumed with Parnassian odours, shall be
admitted. Living in a section of the country, where the agricultural
interest greatly predominates, we shall not neglect that portion of the
community, who are emphatically termed, the bone and muscle of
society. In order to gratify their tastes, and if possible to assist
them in their useful and laudable employments; arrangements will be made
to receive at this office, the most approved agricultural journals, and
copious extracts will be made therefrom.
As closely connected with agriculture and the general
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