Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-04-08

few words in my own person, that my pre-
public in terms Of conn. ndqtion, which show
more the hearty kindness of his disposition
than desire to be cautious in his praise. Had
he barely said that the readers and patrons of
the Free Press might rely on my bringing to
their service faithfully such powers as | am en-
lowed with,-of my being urged steadily, IN
the performance of my labos, by an abiding
sense of what is due from me to them,-of my
feeling deeply interested in the business and
social welfare of the community IN winch this
paper must chiefly be distributed think |
could have bowed my head in assent But
when he assumes for me uncommon ability for
my task, and, at least by plain implication, pre-
diets for the Free Press under my manage
ment, p sticn o. eminent influence in the
Union, though | thank him sincerely for his
courteous opinion, am not vain enough to
accept it as just one. | will do my best
however, to save him the necessity of being
thoroughly ashamed of having uttered it.
The employment of a public journalist has
ever seemed to me very responsible one, re-
curing for lis lulfimcnt a combination Of many
desirable qualities in high degree. | am not
conscious of the possession of any of them be-
yond very moderate extent; but as no man
ovcrreaches the standard of excellence which
lie may have set for himself, be it ever so low,
hope IT will not be found injurious to my eff
forts, if they point to mark which know to
be altogether above my reach. If for time
sho" neXperlence IN this new vocation, az
must inevitably, still, | trust that | shall be
found not too old to learn: and till sufficient
practice may have worn off the awkward cor
ncrs of my work, hope for degree of ndul-
gence from my readers, which a veteran editor
would have no occasion to bespcak
consider the position occupied by the Free
Press an important one in Vermont. Herein
make no comparison between one section of the
State and the others. There are many places
in it rightfu'ly called centres of influence and
business, each one FIR a considerable district
around it. No one hesiratcs to call Burlington
one Of these Genres, and by no means the least
of them. ! he intercourse between it and 9TH
er parts both in and out Of the State, is quite
large and steadily increasing. Though GER
taInly do hone that ap'occasonal word from the
Free Press will be heard in the remoter parts
OF the State (no harm, | Trust, if once IN while
one shall stray over the nue) consider my
special field OF labor to lie nearer home.
dare not anticipate any great effects from what
can do; but identified | have been, for
aeary thirty years, with one OF the great inter
ests pt Vermont, its educational nterest) and
every year rejoicing more and more IN her pros
perlty and good name, no hope OF benefit to
myself would relieve the pain winch | should
feel, could believe that OF any OF item, t vi
be said hereafter, that they are none the better
for my labors as editor of the Free Press.
Ia this conncAion suppose that something
will be looked tor from me AS to the political
character which the paper may be expected to
sustain. In years byegonc, there used to be Is
sues plainly taken on few points Of national
policy and according to the opinions OF men
on those issues, their arrangements for political
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III inc creed OF .the W ne party, so caI'cd,-nnh
beng there, GO Ioi wCrc@r mat vermont has
oeeh So steadily Wing State. a W mg state
shc Will remain. From lis beginning the Free
Press has been called Wing paper, and so
will be hereafter wish 1t To be clearly under
stood however, that the DIN OF p1rtlZ1n contiIc'
mas not been a flyorlte noise in my ears, nor
will 1t ever be, Neither have b en- able to
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