September 10th, 1833: The first issue of The Westfield Journal was published. This new paper in Westfield was distributed every Tuesday evening with a subscription cost of two dollars per year. Liberal discounts were given to companies and people who paid well in advance.
The publisher of The Westfield Journal was Joseph Bull, Jr., and the first issue began with his letter to the readers. Like publisher Joseph Root of the Hampden Register, Bull viewed the paper as a way to transcend personal opinion, and he promised to deliver truthful, impartial reports, especially when politics are discussed:
“Why not a newspaper in Westfield? Why may we not mingle our thoughts, and interchange our sentiments with the wordy throng who write, and print, and publish, the things which are, or which may be, as inspiration or as fancy dictates? …In truth we think it would be no great obtrusion, if we should presume to take our stand in the field, and offer to bear some small part in the labors, the sacrifices, the honors, (and if we may indulge the humble hope) in the emoluments of the press.
“It will be borne in mind, that we are not making our debut on a new theatre. It is but recently that a paper was published in this village. We appear to revive, and set in operation a former establishment. We are led to this attempt by the solicitation of friends whom we respect, and whose advice we value too much to disregard…
“In announcing our plan, we give no pledge of adhesion to any man or body of men, who do now or may hereafter guide the political destinies of our beloved country. Our humble aid is hardly worth the asking, and if sought for, we still say we would not give it. If we hold on, in the course, we think we shall be more consistent, than most of those who conduct our public journals. In these times of selfish strife men seem to be all in all, while political measures are more out of sight.
“As we are enlisted in no man’s service, we are the parasites of no one; and are thus prepared to discharge the duties of our vocation, with impartiality. We do not mean to say however that we will withhold our humble mead of praise from him who best serves the interests of his country, or forbear to cast our mite of censure upon that man who proves recreant in political life. We will join the posse to arrest that offender, whose vaulting ambition would ascend too high, or whose baser spirit would creep, and grovel in the dust…
“We shall be lookers on, brief remarkers, believing as we do that those measures are sustained with the most firmness, which are adopted with moderation. We trust there is a redeeming spirit in the patriotic bosom of our Republic which will preserve the union, and save from political debasement our free institutions.
“If with such sentiments, we can please the worthy citizens of the town, and country, and sustain ourselves from loss, and the fear of want, we shall cheerfully give our days and nights to the toil.
—J. BULL, JR.”
