Page:History of the newspapers of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.djvu/24

 HISTORY OF BEAVER COUNTY PAPERS of the 'Minerva,' we have published it on Wednesday. Saturday will henceforth be the day of publication." At the head of this page is the editorial salutatory, which reads as follows : "We this day present to the public the first number of the 'Minerva.' In doing this, it is per- haps necessary to state the principles upon which it will be conducted. The 'Minerva' shall be strictly impartial, free from the influence of party and political prejudice. Convinced that when correctly informed, the people can- not fail of judging correctly, the editor will give a faith- ful detail of passing events, leaving them to form their ovm. conclusions. He will not assume the office of. Dictator. He does not mean, however, to exclude from his paper political discussion. On the contrary it is invited. Believing that the only way to come at the truth is to hear the arguments advanced on all sides, he will gladly receive and cheerfully publish political essays from either party, when such essay is written with moder- ation and couched in respectfid. language. But he never will consent that the pages of the 'Minerva' should be- come the channel through which partizans may give vent to their gall. Its columns shall be occasionally devoted to amuse as well as instruct his readers. With respect to his own opinions, he has no hesitation in declaring them Eepublican ; that he is warmly attached to the con- stitution of the State and of the Union. Such, briefly stated, are the principles upon which the 'Minerva' will be conducted; the editor trusts they will be approved of by an enlightened public. J. Berry. Minerva office, 4th November 1807." The third page contains the proclamation of Gover- nor Thomas McKean, dated at Lancaster October 3, 1807, offering a reward of five hundred dollars for the arrest and conviction of the person who murdered James Hamilton, September 23 last past, said Hamilton having accompanied WiUiam B. Irish deputy marshal in the dis-