interested in considering the subject and in the preparation of this sketch, I trust I have been successful in enlisting your interest, without exhausting your patience by its recital, and that it may have imparted some information which will be new concerning St. Andrew the Apostle, and the patron Saint of Scotland.
LETTER FROM JACOB B. MOORE TO EX-GOV. WILLIAM PLUMER.
I regretted very much that my brother discontinued his paper, and that circumstances out of his or my control obliged him to do so. He had a small, but a sufficient patronage to enable him to keep along a few weeks before the publication of his last paper, when the formation of large "companies of subscribers," agreeably to propositions sent forth from our Patriot and Statesman establishments, reduced his subscription list so much that no alternative presented but to stop. I do not complain that people wish to increase their amount of income or influence, but I do dislike the means which are too frequently used by the greater establishments to put down the lesser.
A newspaper, conducted on the principles which you name, supporting the great cause of the country against the interests of factious and designing men,—judging of measures as they are, without putting into the scale those with whom they happen to originate,—would, in my opinion, be very useful and perhaps profitable. If I ever engage in a newspaper, it would be in one of this description. At the present, my employments are of a nature requiring all my attention; and being such, with a moderate income, free from the toils and vexations which generally attend an editorial life, I shall content myself with my present course of business, unless that by some event should pass into other channels.
As to political affairs, young as I am, I have seen a great deal of what I believe to be corruption; and have no reason to hope, from the examples continually before the world, that any better standard of morals can ever be applied to our political rulers. And when the stern integrity, the republican virtue and talents which have characterized the age in which our country sprang into existence and grew to be the power she now is, shall be talked of only as belonging to the past,—we need not the spirit of prophecy to describe our political condition.
I should be very happy to see you, and spend a few hours in talking on these and other matters; and shall give myself the pleasure as early as convenient.
With best regards to your family,
