A POLITICAL TEACHER

 

McGrawville Express, Thursday, September 21, 1848.

EDITOR’S TABLE.

A Political Teacher.

   A correspondent of the Cortland Democrat under the signature of "Huge Paw" enquires: "Would it not be well for the Trustees of Cortlandville Academy to employ a teacher that would not go about the country making political speeches?"

   Now, we are ignorant of the character of this "teacher's" politics excepting this much, viz: we are aware that they do not coincide with Mr. Huge Paw's notions.—Who believes that if the "teacher" of Cortlandville Academy had been identified with Huge Paw in the advocating of political principles the propriety of his course wo'd ever have been questioned from such a source?

   In this instance we see exhibited the tyrannical influence of party spirit. If a person is depending upon public patronage for a livelihood woe be to him if he submit not uncomplainingly to the gag rule, sought to be applied to him in reference to all political questions. If he be a "teacher" he must not venture to express his convictions, publicly, upon political matters—he must not enjoy privileges in common with his fellow citizens—he must not discuss the merits of candidates for office, nor offer in a public assembly his views of governmental affairs, lest some political mastiff should growl upon him—lest some "Huge Paw" (how significant this title, and withal, how appropriate) should be lifted against him.

   We were aware of the former strength of party shackles—we knew there had existed a kind of political slavery, even among our boasted "northern freemen," as potent in its control over the mental powers, as is that of the South over the energies of the African, but we had hoped that amid the political revolutions that have seemed to spread consternation and dismay among the throng of greedy aspirants throughout the land, sufficient light had been evolved to secure independence of thought and action—at least, to prevent any rabid politician from holding the rod of defamation and of prospective ruin over the head of a political  opponent, who should dare give utterance to his sentiments.

   We are at war, and ever shall be, with the doctrine, that because an individual does not coincide with us either politically or religiously, that therefore his business must be crippled—he must be victimized—his profession must be encroached upon and his means of support threatened by base attack or dastardly innuendo. Here is an insult of so gross a character offered to a gentleman, that we almost covet the satisfaction he must experience in the repelling of it. We know not whether this "teacher" be a whig, a barnburner, or an abolitionist of the olden stamp, but in whatever political interest he may have embarked it is to be hoped he is honest; and if he feels conscious of being in the right, it is hoped that no "paw" however "huge" has power to gag him; and that he will not desist from the preaching of politics, even at the peril of his bread and butter! Let him so deport himself hereafter that the individual whose "huge paw" penned the paragraph before alluded to may understand that however many political slaves may do his bidding, he—the "teacher"—is among those who have free papers.

   We consider that no greater indignity could be offered us than that of threatening to injure us or diminish our patronage if we do not confine our writings, our thoughts and speeches to certain subjects—appealing to our supposed love of gain to induce us to sacrifice principle and independence!

 

   ''THE CENTRAL NEW-YORKER.''—This is  the title of a well conducted and neatly printed sheet published in the village of DeRuyter under the supervision of C. B. Gould, Esq. As an independent—or, as such are usually called, neutral paper, we welcome it to our table and commend it to others.—May the proprietor be liberally patronized.

   The "Cayuga Telegraph,'' about which we had felt some solicitude, came to hand recently accompanied by a political Journal entitled ''The Cayuga Democrat;" the latter emanating from the same office which published the former. It is hoped the political will not swallow up the neutral paper(?)

 

FREE LECTURE.

   We are requested to state that Dr. POTTER will lecture at McArthur's Hall, this evening, at 7 o'clock, on the subject of "Mental, Moral and Physical Education, as contemplated in the establishment of a Free Central College in Cortland County, N. Y."

   During the evening, Mr. Waters of Boston will sing the "Family Bible," the "Mother's Vow," the "Bereaved Slave Mother," etc., accompanied with the Aeolian piano forte.—Buffalo Republican.

 

First News Paper in the United States.

   The first newspaper printed in the North American Colonies was called "The Boston News-letter," and was issued in 1704 by John Campbell, a Scotchman, who was Post-master and bookseller at Boston.—Sometimes it had one advertisement, and often none. After fourteen years, when 300 copies were sold, the publisher announced that his weekly half sheet being insufficient to keep up with the foreign news, he should issue an extra sheet each fortnight; which expedient he announces after a year, has enabled the "News-Letter" to retrieve eight months of thirteen that it was behind in the news from Europe; so that those who would hold on till next January, (five months) might expect to have all the arrearages of intelligence from the old world needed for to be known in these parts. After sixteen years the publisher gives notice that copies of the "News-Letter" will be "printed on a whole sheet of writing paper, one half of which would be blank, on which letters might be written," etc.

 

CAUTION NOT TO DRINK IN THE DARK .

   We learn there is a young lady residing in Coeymans (County of Albany) who eighteen months ago drank with water in the dark, a small snake, since which time her body has grown nearly as large as a barrel, and the physicians attending her say the snake is about the size of a man's arm.—N. Y. Sun.

 

"Free Soil'' State Convention—The Nominations.

For Governor,

JOHN A. DIX, of Albany.

For Lt. Governor,

SETH M. GATES, of Wyoming.

For Canal Commissioner,

CHARLES A. WHEATON, of Onondaga,

For Prison Inspector,

WILLIAM P. ANGELL, of Chautaugua.

   Mr. Dix is the present able Senator in the U, S. Senate, who represents the barnburners of this State in that body. Of one so well known, little needs be said.

   Seth M. Gates formerly represented the County of Genessee in Congress, and is somewhat distinguished for his course while in that body as a Whig Abolitionist of the John Quincy Adam's and Giddling's school.

   Charles A. Wheaton is a resident of this city; long known in this section as an uncompromising party Abolitionist, and was for some time the editor of the Liberty Intelligencer, formerly published in this city. His qualifications for the office are of the first order. No better name could have been presented.

   Of Mr. Angell we know little. Report says he was recently reformed from a Western post-office by the administration. This, in the eyes of the barnburners, was perhaps considered as giving him good claims to their favor.—Star.

 

MARRIED.

   In Freetown on the 2d inst., Mr. Milo Robinson of Freetown and Miss—Wilds of Willet.

   In McGrawville on the 19th inst., by the Rev. E. B. Fancher, Mr. Volney Carpenter of Homer and Miss Polly R. Powell of the former place.

   In Norwich on the 13 inst., by Rev. E Barber, Mr. Odell Gregory of Owego and Miss Hannah A. Hinckley of the former place.