 In 1850, the Census counted 1,630 party newspapers (with a circulation of about one per voter), and only 83 "independent" papers.The party line was behind every line of news copy, not to mention the authoritative editorials, which exposed the "stupidity" of the enemy and the "triumphs" of the party in every issue.Editors were senior party leaders, and often were rewarded with lucrative postmasterships.