Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-02-09
or stay in Siberia, managed to slip
away to more congenial climes.
Confessions of a Politician.

GEoRGr d. PREsTIcr, for many
years the popular editor of the Lou
isville Journal, was on visit last
fall TO Memphis, Tennessee, where
he was received with distinguished
marks of public respect, and compli-
mented with public dinner.
After variety of viands had been
discussed, " and the cloth had been
removed" the presiding deity Of the
ovation, Senator Jones--a gentleman
who, for upwards of twenty years,
had been the especial object Of the
admiration and enlogy of Mr.. Prem
ice, rose and announced the follow
in toast:
" George n. Prentice--the poet.
the philosopher. and the man. Wei
come--ihrlce welcome, in our midst. "
" When the applause with which
the toast was received had subsid-
cd, remarks the New Orleans Pic
ayune, one Of whose editors was
present, Mr. Prentice rose and
made beautiful speech in response.
We do not intend to give the whole.
but there IS one passage wherein Mr.
Prentice relates his editorial expert
ence, the temptation 10 copy which
we cannot resist. As the confessions
of an influential parlizln editor of
many years standing, il is very inter
esilng--as piece Of pathetic clo-
quence, it is admirable. George ID.
Prentice, during his long and brilliant
editorial career, never did anything
more honorable, never appeared in a
hIgher-nindcl character, ihan when
he thus gave utterancc TO feelings that
came gushing from his heart"
II know that my wing friends
(said Mr.. Prentice, responding to the
ioas) will both pardon and justify
me when say that prize this com
plment, coming from wings and
democrats alike, far more than |
could similar one from members Of
ms own party alone. There was a
time, years ago, when | cared lltle
what my political opponents said or
thought Of me, so ! had the regard,
the support and the applause oil my
political friends. But | have long
since ceased to feel thus. have
learned 10 appreciate and 10 desire
the good opinion Of all good mcn.--
| have learned that candor, and truth,
and honor. aud honesty, and wisdom,
and patriotism, and virtue are con
fined TO no party My devotion TO
the party with which have acted
throughout my life is unlaltering, but
time teaches to all true hearts the
great lesson Of political hberality. |
i'e,ra- nublished somc thinus which.
although well intended at the time, |
could wish bloiled from the memory
OF my readers and from my own.
" have written some bitter things
OF men, who have since passed away
from the earth, and whose memories
| revere, and on whose graves | could
shed tears of s0rrowand regret. An !
sir, when look back through the
twenty six years Of my editorial life,
and think how many ! once denoun-
ced who afterwards became my per-
soual friends, or proved themselves
their cOuutry's friends, and how ina
ny | once euloIizcd and lnilcd for
who have since turned their hands
rllhlessh and causelessly against me /;
when reflect how often the most
arduous and devoted political services
are forgotten by those to whom they
are rendered, and how often the
deepes, political injuries are magnan-
imously forgiven hy those To whom
they are done and when remem-
Der how many of my political friends
have siTIven To crush me, aud how
many democrats have gathered a.
round me as banl of brothers IN
the days Of my personal peril, |
should be guilty Of an outrage on my
own conscience, and on every feel
ing aud impulse OF my hearl, if /
were not to weed out from my ma
ture tie partizan bitterness that once
ilnurishcd there. ! am a wing, but
will greet every true hearted dem
oc'al as my brother, aud will gree;
no false hearted whig as such"