Columbus Democrat

The tact of our neighbors, of the Democrat of "damning with faint praise," is one which a conductor of a public print might well envy. We are not aware what Judge Trotter thought of the following paragraph, which appeared in the Democrat of July 28th, and indeed we know not that he has ever seen it. We give it for the benefit of the public. In speaking of the enviable station the Judge holds, the Democrat says:

"We do not mean by this that he [Judge Trotter] has displayed extraordinary talents or that he has taken a very prominent part in the important debates of the Senate."-Argus.

The Arch Fiend himself might well envy "the tact and talent" which the Argus displays for misrepresentation and falsehood. The article in the Democrat from which the above garbled extract is taken, is highly laudatory of Judge Trotter-it does not indeed exhibit the fulsome panegyric which the Whig press pour out in such disgusting strains upon their federal orator, Mr. Prentiss, but it tells the truth, which is all that Judge Trotter ever wishes to be said of him. The Judge had been but a short time in the Senate, and was one of its youngest members, of course it could hardly be expected that he would make any extraordinary display, or take a very prominent part in the debates. He has modesty and good sense; characteristics rarely to be found in the federal ranks. How far we have been guilty of "damning him with faint praise," will be seen from the following extracts from the article in the Democrat which called forth the above squib from the Argus man'

"There is not one of our public men who has gained so enviable a distinction in so short a period of public service, as our Senator, the Hon. Jas. F. Trotter. We do not mean by this that he has displayed extraordinary talents, or that he has taken a very prominent part in the important debates of the Senate." [Observe, we did not mean by this that the Judge had not the talents to take such prominent part ] "He has won his way to distinction and popularity in that body by other means than these-means more honorable to him as a man, and legislator, and more conducive to the interests of his constituents. Judge Trotter does not think that he was sent to Congress merely to make a display, and acquire notoriety by much speaking. His mission, he thinks is for higher and nobler purposes."

"He has shown himself an able and eloquent advocate for the interests of his constituents whenever occasion required it. Witness his excellent speech, delivered in the Senate, 3d of July, on the bill to authorise the State of Mississippi to invest the two per cent fund."

Of course this is "faint praise," in the estimation of the Federalists, who have been in the habit of extolling such trashy and ephemeral orators as Prentiss of Mississippi, and Menifee of Kentucky, as "above all Greek, above all Roman fame." For ourselves we shall always be content to tell the simple truth, leaving it to the more courtly Editors of the Federal press to fawn, and flatter, and lie.