The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-13
THE MADISONIAN.
FESTIVAL OF WIG EDITORS.

is well known 10 our readers, brought thousands
Of American citizens TO the capital OF the u. 5.
With the Wings Of the Union, Washington
was the Pilgrim City, and the multitude throng
ed here as did the Pilgrims of olden time TO the
Holy City The Fourth of March, 184l, was
new era with the People of the United States
The citadel had been besieged for a series of
twelve years, and they who were enclosed with
in its walls clinging 10 their affairs and their
principles TO the last came forth in the end the
coDquerors of the corrupt dynasty who had held
the regns 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 a 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 ofthe
"Press Gang" at Head Quarters was made the
occasion of a 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 convivial meet
ing was the evening succeeding the Inaugural
ton of President HARRISON. Some forty Of the
members of the Press were present from almost
the extremes of the Union. There were editors
in attendance from Maine 10 Missouri, from
New Hampshire TO Alabama, and from the tops
Of the Green Mountains TO the embryo State of
Florida. Old Massachus' It's was there, and be-
side her old Virginia the Empire State was
presented from the great commercial city of the
Union to the interior of the Stale. New Jersey
was there, represented by one who had been in
strumental in rallying the great host at Baltimore
in May; the Broad Seal was remembered and
respected; and beside her son of the t" Old
North State" which had shown herself a bright
beacon light in the midst of surrounding dark
ness. Maryland was there, and Alabama was
there. "The Keystone State" 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 credtto 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 it 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
to the hard service ola campaign, to the uncivi-
lzed 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 a quarter of a century.
Others there were who had grown old and poor
srt ha nLo. 9TH ,b, No ~
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
"a profession the very labor and excitement Of
which Is one oflts greatest attractions. But we
must leave the prelude for the play, and oui own
speech for the speeches of better soldiers in the
service.
We found ourselves between seven and eight
O'Clock seated at a 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
speech, sentiment, and song, midnight came
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 10 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
sallies of wit, displays of eloquence, exhibitions
Of
that would have done honor to any body Of men
whose practice It might be to play the orator.
Many have doubted whether a speaking man
and writing man cond be concentrated in the
same person. The doubt should no longer ex-
ist, for we can bear witness that newspaper edi- |
tors, without practice, as ready TO think well
and to talk well upon their legs as any class of
men who speak in public by profession. The !
off-hand remarks during the evening were sug-
gested at the moment, from occurrences growing
out OF the festivity, and from the assembling OF |
so many together upon a similar Grand There |
were poets present, and poetry, both in prose
and verse; bookmakers and dramatic writers Of
a high reputation and no mean capacity were
there and withal score Of distinguished politi-
clans, and men who made name and fame for
hundreds who, independently of the Press
would never have been known beyond the place
Of their birth aud labors.
The veterans of the corps told their expert
ence, and sad experience il was with some
whose sentiments are embodied in their ioasts
Others vindicated the Press, from the ostracism
which too many would use, abuse, and Danish.
The experience was generally a common expe-
rience, and the opinions expressed common opin-
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 lii 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 potent en-
CINE, for good or for evil and to keep it pure
those placed at the helm of this great and speak
ing power between man and man, and commune
ty and community, should be men of truth and
wisdom--men entrusted with the key Of know
ledge, and accountable TO God and the Peonle