Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-03-18
From the National Intelligencsr.
FESTIVAL. OF WING EDITORS.

American ciiizens to the CaPitai o. tns y o
With tho Wings Of the Union, Washington was
the Pilyrim Civ and the multitude thronged here
ms did the Pilgrims Of olden time TO the hoy 1iy.
The Fourth Of March, 184f, was new era With
the People Of the United States. ihe chadei mad
been besiegcd for series OF twelve years, and they
who were enclosed within its walls, eiinging 10
their sliars and their principles 10 the last, came
forth in the end the conqnerors Of the corrupt dy
nasty who had held the reigns Of power Instead
of n surrender, discretionary OF by force Of aims,
there was triumph, and one complete and as
,opishins that bcsieged and besicgers were alike
amazed at the issue Of the contest.
or the many who came here, and who had done
good service to the country, were number OF fhs
editors and proprietors Of the Wing press OF the
country. body Of men, who, through their news
papers, were in daily communion with one another,
and representing, "a it were, the eye and ear ana
tongue Of the nation, now, Tor the hrst ''"e,
In the same city, and here for the same purpose
TO participate in event which bud been eonsum-
mated in part through their agency. Inc gamer
ing of DO many OF the g Piess Gang at Head Qnar-
tiers was made the occasion oil ffatcrnsl meeting
Arrangements we're made accordingly, and feast
of good things prepared by OF the best caterers
in The CITY. Tho line & xed for The conyival meet
ing was the evening succeeding tho Inauguration
of President HARRIsos. Some forty OF the mem
hers OF the Press present from almost tho ex-
trernes Of tho Union. There we're editors In at
shire to Alabama, and from the tops OF the Green
Mountains to the embryo State Of Florida. Old
Massachusetts was there, and beside her old Vif-
gnn; the Empire State was represented from the
great commercial city Of the Union to the interior
OF the State. New Jersey was there, represented
by one who bad been instrumental in raliying the
great host ut Baltimore in May; the Broad Seal
was remembered and respected; and beside her a
son Of the Old North State" which had shown
herself bright beacon light in the midst OF sur
rounding darkness. Maryland was there, and Ala
bama was there "Thc Keystone State" was rep
resented from the great city Of the State to its cap
ital; from the former, by adopted son born I'M
der the shadow of The Old Plymouth Rock. and
from the latter, by one who had been the frat to
rescue the tenants Of the log cabins from the de-
graduation which tho vasseis Of power would have
east upon them and upon one OF tho great pioneers
of The wilderness Of tho West.
The representation Of the American press would
have done credit any body Of men in the land.
The sIIest editor in the country was there, man
who, forty-two years since, had put the harness
upon his back, and worn il almost from the inau-
euraton of the successor Of Washington, to the in
suguration Of one whom the Father of his Coun
try had, in the buoyancy of youth. called from the
retirement of social life to the hard service of
campaign, to the uncivzed and almost unexp iored
Northwe.t. The seniors and Juniors Of the Press
Of tho country in attendance, and the combin
ed experiences of the few present would. If told and
concentrated have been that Of almost Ave hundred
years. Some had been more than twoscore OF
years in the servise, and several had labored with
pen or type for more than quarter of q century.
Others there were who had grown old and poor in
the ranks; and Others who, having done good ser.
vice. and lost their little all In profession OF their
choosing, had retired to some service where the
Iaborer was better rewarded for his toll Others
had linked their destiny for good evil with the
public Press; and others yet, and younger yet.
were fresh and ardent in pursuit OF profession,
the very labor and excitement of which is one Of
ns greatest attractions. But must leave the
prelude for the play, and our own speech for the
speeches Of better soldiers in tho service.
We found ourselves between seven and eight
O'Clock, seated at a long table covered with all the
good cheer Of tho season, mud decorated with all
the fine taste and beauty Of skilled in the Gull
nary nrt. At the head of the table, rs the prcsd
ing officer Of the evening, was The Mayor OF the
CITY, one Of the editors of the National In,eligen
Ger. The foot Of the table occupied by wor-
THY and intelligent colleague in the service. in the
person Of Col. STosE, of the New York CONNER
ciai Advertiser - The feast of reason md the flow
Of SOUL followed amid speech. sentiment, and
song, midnight came, and morning too, before 4
separation could be made, and, in the end, the
final parting painful as the first meeting had
been Pheasant.
II would Gil newspaper from the title 10 the
imprint to record half the good things soid uron The
occasion. Though social meeting only, and con-
fined to the craft, with no set speeches, and
studied sentiments, there were frequent sallies of
wit, displays of eloquence, exhibitions of though,
end prumptness of reply end rerartee, that W. Id
have done honor to any body Of men whose rrac-
tce it might be to play the orator. Many have
doubted whether a speaking man and a writing
maa could be concentrated in the person.
The doubt should no longer exist. for We can bear
witness that newspaper editors without practice,
are az ready to think well and to talk well upon
their legs as any class of men who speak In public
by profession. The oil hand remarks during the
evening suggested at the moment from
eurrences growing Of the festvity. and from the
assembling OF so many together upon a similar
rand. There poets present, and poetry, both
in prose and verse; bookmakers and dramatic wri
tiers Of high reputation and no mean capacity
were there and witha q score of d.ting uishe pol.
iticians, and men who had made name and fame
for hundreds who, independently of the Press
would never have been known beyond the place Of
their birth and abors.
The veterans Of the corps told their experience,
and a sad experience it with some whose sen.
timents embodied in their toasts. Others vim
dIcated the Press, from the ostracism which too
many would use. abuse, and banish. The expert.
snce was generally common experience, aud the
opinions expressed common opinions, both as TO
the wrongs inflicted and the proper redress Of
Press spoke Of it in no vain boastins. and in the
full conviction that the Press was rather curse
than blessing to People, unless it was moral
Intelligent, responsible, and accountable. All re
galded it as potent engine, for good or for evil
and to keep II pure, those placed at the helm Of
this great and speaking power between man and
man, and community and community, should be men
OF truth and wisdom-men entrusted with the key
Of knowledge, and accountable TO God ard the Pee
pie for the knoS ledge impaired. A proper self
respect was regarded as the true means OF exact.
ing respect for others. Goodness, good temper,
and dignity of character. spoken Of as the
grea; qualification 70, placed as seninels upon
the ws;eh-,ower Of Liberty. Il was said, too, and
heartily responded to, that those WHO would pro-
scribe the Press should themselves be prescribed
Prescription should be prescribed. The Press
should receive. not above other men, but as other
men. Of the honors and emolunents Of ofice-uot
merely for the sake Of Office, hut for the sake Of
justice. Public opinion was wrong and public
opinion should be corrected The Press had been
lanO 4 ha MIA If Raj