The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-09

FESTIVAL OF WING EDITORS.

With the Wings of the Union, Washington
was the Pilgrim Civ, and the multitude throng-
ed here as did the Pilgrims of olden time TO the
Holy City. The Fourth of March, ls4l, was
new era with the People of the United States.
The citadel had been beseged for series of
twelve years, and they who were enclosed with
in its walls, cnging TO theirs altars and their
principles to the last, came forth in the end the
conquerors Of the corrupt dynasty who had held
the reigns of power. Instead of a surrender,
discretionary or by force of arms, there was
triumph, and one so complete and astonishing
that besieged and besiegers were alike amazed
at the issue of the contest.
OF the many who came here, and who had
done good service to the country, were number
of the editors and proprietors Of the Wing press
of the country. A body Of men, who, through
their newspapers, were in daily communion
with one another, and representing, as it were
the eye and ear and tongue Of the nation, were
now, for the first time, in the same city, and here
for the same purpose--to participate In an event
which had been consummated in part through
their agency. The gathering of so many of the
"Press Gang" at Head Quarters was made the
occasion OF fraternal meeting. Arrangements
were made accordingly, and feast Of good
things prepared by one of the best caterers in
the city. The time fixed for the convval meet
ing was the evening succeeding the Inaugural
ton of President HARRISON. Some forty Of the
the extremes Of the Union. There were editors
in attendance from Maine to Missouri, from
New Hampshire TO Alabama, and from the tops
OF the Green Mountains to the embryo State Of
Florida. Old Massachusetts was there, and be-
side her old Virginia; the Empire State was re-
presented from the great commercial city of the
Union 10 the interior Of the State. New Jersey
was there represented by one who had been in
strumental in ralying the great host at Baltimore
in May; the Broad Seal was remembered and
respected and beside her son of the " Old
North State' which had shown herself bright
beacon light in the midst of surrounding dark
ness. Maryland was there, and Alabama was
there. "The keystone Staten was represented
from the great city of the State to its capital
from the former, by an adopted son born under
the shadow of the Old Plymouth Rock, and
from the latter, by one who had been the first to
rescue the tenants of the log cabins from the de-
graduation which the vassals Of power would
have cast upon them and upon one Of the great
pioneers of the wilderness of the West
The representation of the American press
would have done credit to any body of men in
the land. The Oldest editor in the country was
there, man who, forty-two years since, had
put the harness upon his back, and worn il al
most from the Inauguration Of the successor of
Washington, to the Inauguration of one whom
the Father of his Country had, in the buoyancy
of youth, called from the retirement Of social life
LIKED and almost UNEMPLOYED Northwest The
seniors and juniors of the Press of the country
were IN attendance, and the combined expert
ence OF the few present would, if told and con-
centrated, have been that of almost FIVE hundred
years. Some had been more than twoscore of
years in the service, and several had abored with
pen or type for more than quarter of century
Others there were who had grown old and poor
in the ranks; and others who, having done good
service and lost their little all in profession of
their choosing, had retired to some service where
the laborer was better rewarded for his toll
Others had linked their destiny for good or 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 ofits greatest attractions. But we
must leave the prelude for the play, and our own
speech for the speeches Of better soldiers in the
service.
We found ourselves between seven and eight
O'Clock seated at long table covered with all the
good cheer OF the season, and decorated with
all the good taste and beauty of one skilled in the
culinary art. AT the head Of the table, as the
presiding officer Of the evening, was the Mayor
OF the city, one of the editors of the National In
telligencer. The foot of the table was occupied
by worthy and intelligent colleague in the SER
vice. in the person of COL STONE, of the New
York Commercial Advertiser "The feast of
reason and the flow of soul, followed: amid
and morning too, before a separation could be
made, and, in the end, the final parting was as
painful as the first meeting had been pleasant.
II would fill newspaper from the title to the
imprint to record half the good things said upon
the occasion. Though social meeting only,
and confined to the craft, with no set speeches.
and no studied sentiments, there were frequent
salies of wit, displays of eloquence, exhibitions
of thought and promptness ofreply and repartee
~ hoI 80,
whose practice it might be to play the orator
Many have doubted whether a speaking man
and writing man could be concentrated in the
same person. The doubt should no longer ex-
ist, for we can'bear witness that newspaper ed-
tors, without practice, are as ready to think well
and to talk well upon their legs as any class of
men who speak in public by profession. The
of-hand remarks during the evening were sug-
gested at the moment, from occurrences growing
out OF the festvty, and from the assembling Of
so many together upon similar Grand There
were poets present, and poetry, both in prose
and verse; bookmakers and dramatic writers OF
n high reputation and no mean capacity were
there, and withal of distngui shed poti-
clans, and men who made a name and fame for
hundreds who, independently of the Press,
would never have been known beyond the place
If their birth and labors.
The veterans of the corps told their expert
ence, and sad experience il was with some
whose sentiments embodied in their toasts.
Others indicated the Press, from the ostracism
which too many would use, abuse, and Danish
The experience was generally a common expo
rience, and the opinions expressed common op;n-
ions, both as to the wrongs inflicted and the pro-
per redress Of grievances. Those who spoke Of
the power of the Press spoke of il in no vain
boasting, and iii the full conviction that the
Press was rather curse than blessing to Peo-
pie, unless it was moral, intelligent, responsible,
and accountable. All regarded il as a potent en-
nine. for mood or for evil aud 70 Lnnr, - ,.,,xs