Washington telegraph., 1854-11-22
Address of E1r. Prentice,
n,irered at Dinner giren hun by the Citi-ens Of
Little RocE,

Fdio,c Citizens c7sd Friends
All that | can do IN retdrn Tor the compliment
,-ou have raid me is 10 thank von nave SUM-
- as an editor, to deserve well .. my country
nan Whether have or have nos succeeded,
an grateful to you for your kind recognition aud
'.onerous appreciation Of my earnest endeavors.-
Far more than a quarter d a century | have Ia
lsroJ in nv profession 10 promote what honest
i believed TO be the good of the country. am
l,.ore that have sometimes been mistaken as to
.La means best adapted to the accomplishment OF
~ obipct and | have no doubt that | shall some-
ines be mistaken hereafter. But | have been
Ianest hitherto and | will continue to be honest,
and thank God, that, in all my future labors
sb.u have the advantage ofa long eventtuI. varied
ond most instructive experience. and thank
God too. that in all my future labors, shall enjoy
4ba advantages of being governed by the dictates
oC heart chastened and soitened and vet nerved
and strengthened by time and the alterations OF
rosnpritv and adversely, of warm support and
hitter persecution.
see before me large number of citizens of
Arkansas who have come together to do me hon
or as their guest | behold an assembage with
on+ distinction of parties. Indeed know not but
large majority of those present like large ma
;orty of the people Of the State are democrats
}Ta;s compliment like similar one recently paid
me by the citizens of neighboring State has af-
isrted me most deeply. 1t has touched a heart
which was never insensible to Kindness would
not be vain or boashu yet | cannot help reflect
inr on an occasion ike this. that there has never
before been an instance within my knowledge
where a warm partlZan editor. whig or Geulocrat,
was honoTed with high public testimonial by
wbigs and democrats indiscriminatey. There
have been and there are ADLER and worther whig
editors than am. and there have been and there
are ADLER and worther democratic editors than
am. vet not one of them all in the whole history
of our country has, so far as l know, ever been
honored by both parties with public festival
Ike this And have been thus honored twice
within the briefperod OF two or three weeks Iirst
bv the wings and democrats of Memphis and now
byyourselves. Iaccept these extraordinary COM
piiments not only as an honor to myself but as
certain evidence that tie partizau rancor. which
has so long prevailed throug hout the country and
been curse to it is rapidly passing away. ac-
cent them as happy omen that an era is dawn
inL when all honest men and patriots no matter
what their divisions may have been. will recog-
nize each others honesty and patriotism and CO.
operate heartily with each other in the great
cause of the country. Upon the battIe-felds of
Mexico wings and democrats fought side by side,
striving only to see who should do most Tor the
glory OF the American name, and trust and con-
fdentlv believe tRat time Is at hand when
harmony. like that which prevailed on a foreign
soil will animate all true patriots upon our own.
Gentlemen, your distinguished committee in
their fatteriug letter OF invitation TO me. were
kind enough TO express a desire to honor me as a
poet | eel that my humble efforts in that ca
pacitv are all unworthy OF such regard In my
boyhood. the writing of poetry was to me a de-
lghtui task, labor Of love, but amidst the thou
sand political discussions disSensions. and strleS
ofmY maturer years, have found little tune to
wander oil from this ungentle world to the dear
realm OF fancy. And even when have done so.
have scarcely been able. harrassed, annoyed. and
yexed as | have been. to give an adequate utter
ance TO the thoughts that seemed occasionally to
flash Ike broken gtImpses of Eden across my
haIfdarkened spirit. Ii God made me poet
have been unjust TO Him, liz neglectiug the exer-
else of my powers. But citizens OF Arkansas
citizens OF Little Rock, you have poet among
Yourselves, who amidst the most eminently sue
cessiul tolls OF an honorable and aborious profes-
sion, has had the time and ability to breathe from
his great soul strains OF poetry that will echo in
The ears and hearts of posterity. With him. as
with me. poetry has been only a relaxation. a
pastime, the employment of an idle hour vet he
has written what his conntrymen will not VII
Eugly let die,' he has written what will float
beautifully above the waves of time when his
manly form shall be ensulphed beneath them |
know that ii is distasteul to him to hear me say
this but it is true and cannot help saving it,
Your committee, gentlemen, have thought pro-
advocate OF law and order" | have endeavored
to he such Yes can proudly say that have
been such. UnIalterlnglf aud earnestly through
out my whole editorial life. have advocated law
and order. | have advocated them when their
advocacy was believed by many to involve pecu-
mary rum and the most fearful personal danger
have in all cases, no matter whether friends or
enemies were concerned. gone for the observance
and maintenance of the laws as interpreted and
mi tered nv tho ,FE
land, and have gone for leaving their execution
to those authorities uniniluenced by the clanor OF
the public press. | have done this and so heIp
me Heaven, will continue to 90 it as long as
live. though score OF mobs may howl and mad
den tor my blood, and though some good citizens.
even the oldest o!mY personal and political friends
hurried away by their own reused feelings NAV
deem themselves called on TO Join in the warfare
against me. When | cease to be the advocate of
law and order, may cease to live.
Citizens of Arkansas, this is the first time ever
came among YOU. | came as stranger and
have been greeted as friend. | have never re-
ceIved more cordial greeting in any community.
Every hand has given TO mine cordial grasp. |
have heard the music OF warm welcome upon
every lip. The friendship OF all democrats equal
ly with that of all wings. has been warmly prof.
tered to me and warmly accepted. The two
houses of your Legislature have conferred high
honors upon me. and, what | value even more
Your lovely women. even those whom have not
had the pleasure of seeing, have favored me with
tokens of their regard. | shall cherish as long as
live the memory OF this VISIT to your capital.
snail keep within my heart treasured recoec-
ton OF your generous hospitality. l have come
among you as a citizen of Kentucky, and | know
that you will bear with me if avail myself of
this occasion to say a few. very few words as to
one of the matters that induced my coming.
We of Kentucky want railroad connection
with you of Arkansas We wish 70 be linked
with yon, to be brought into proximity with you
by bonds of iron. We are entering vigorously
upon the work OF establishing direct commune
cation with the Mississippi river at Memphis. and
We ask you to meet us as brothers and strike
hands with Us there | stand not here as an ad-
vocate OF Memphis though | am under personal
obligations to her for her hospitality stand here
as All advocate of Kentucky and Arkansas.
stand here as the advocate OF project, which
sincerely believe will, if executed, be source of
vast DTOSDPTItV both N ms and To Won haya M