Correspondence.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 160, 20 February 1869, Page 4

Correspondence.

. %• The Editor i» desirous of affording every reasonable facility for the discussion of public subjects: but u must h ■ understood that be is in no way responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents.

{lt appears to the Editor of the Express that a period has arrived when it becomes necessary to more fully explain and remark upon the position and privileges of the Correspondence Column in this journal, more especially as beyond the few -lines at the head, we have not done so hitherto. The correspondence column in a newspaper is in itself nO new feature, but there are few journalists who carry out the idea in its fullest sense, and fewer still who admit letters which contain opinions or expressions adverse to the party to which the paper belongs. But when the proprietor of the Express commenced his venture, now three pears ago, he intended it to be a means of giving expression to opinions of every shade, without preference or party favor, perfectly free in every :sense of the word, and consequentlyrathercourted its use by his constituents, exercising no control over it, beyond the right to refuse communications which he considered unfit. During this period we have never had to exercise this right by rejecting any, until a few weeks ago, when a subject of interest only to the inhabitants of a particular locality, was worn threadbare, and a very general dislike expressed to its further continuance. That we did not reject letters opposing —for we will not gay attacking—our own opinions has been evident in more that one instance very lately ; while the general use of this great privilege has shown that it is appreciated. But our readers seem to forget that we do not hold ourselves liable or responsible for the opinions of others, nor does it follow that our. opinions coin- < cide with any letter appearing therein, unless we plainly state that such is the case; because we have at various times lost a subscriber or two for : i the reason that something appearing in this t >colnmn has not been according to their particular views. Now, we wish every reader to understand distinctly, that the correspondence column is perfectly free and open to every person who has a v> public grievance to complain of, or who wishes to place his opinions before the public, always providing that he does not abase the means we >. offer, by attempting to use them as a weapon for personal attacks, instead of the evolution of principles. We claim the right to veto any such, or to Stop any correspondence when it has run threadbare, or ceased to interest, but without ■ responsibility. Whenever we see fit to express an opinion, we shall do so without fear or favor ; indeed, it is scarcely necessary to tell our readers . th&,' seeing that we have proved it again and again without hesitation or fear of consequences; hmi we may add that,'so far from being influenced by any act of oppression to abate this feature in ovtg- We Creak ooetiroversy, for publishing Come of which letters, or declining to insert more, one gentleman has seen fit to stop his subscription I : So far from having any effect of stoping the freedom of our correspondence column, the only result Has been to elicit these remarks; and we may add that, if the cancelling of the appointment of Government Printer, as a punishment, has not such an effect, it is,not likely that we shall allow the ceasing of a subscription, or a charge of “ contemptible . -partisanship,” to influence us.]