Newspaper Page Text
\p VII'.V
[TOR THE STATE I’RE»W.]
Gbxtlemes-. —I intended the follow ingartiele
tfor the “Chrittian Index,” but spvnreflection. '
seeing that my “ blemishes” annoy
4he amiable Editor of that renankaWy white
sheet, it would be cruel to ask him to soil its
wirgin page* again. So Lmutt beg you to let ,
■me discourse him a linlc’flreongh the coinmns
•of veur excallen" Sournal, where truth doe*
not appear-shocking nor its vindication an as
tonishing blemish” calculated to scare up the
whole Baptist world as " an opposition to" and
** aoeailiog tlw Baptist tai th .
The Naval Chaplain again.
Its'- 31*- :--Ju _vwtr last nunil>oT
you fverehuid enough to in*eft, however re
luctantly. my vindication ot the Navy, the
General Government and the Episcopal Church,
against the unjust attacks <fi certain New Yoak
Baptists. When I wrute:th;tt.il n®v<r dreiur.s 1
that you sympathizeO with them or wodid
defend them and iff arge me with assail
ing the Brplfiet Chute h. I know that there
-are hosts «.l Iwnest Bmptbto in the South who
■will not thank yon f» r holding them up a* the
justifiers and champions of That Abolition crew.
I made no attack upon the Bapti-ts orrthe Bap
tist Church —I ask them to read Tiiie t picce
again and see how unjust such a charge is.—
J?st you make charges in your review ot that
jpiece that demand of me a reply—indeed. you
■i-Sprewly invite it. I will first extract such as
require notice, numbering them from 1 to 10,
and briefer reply to ench.
1.
“ The communication of Col. S. T. Bailey in
reply to an article m -the Index of the 24th nit.,
will astonish onr readers not a little. We have
no |»eissonal acquaintance pritli the writer, but
have learned that he is a lawyer of eminence
and a communicant of the episcopal Church in
ahis city. The article itself is desultory and
less magnanimons both in its style and spirit
.Ilian we should have expected from ao dietin
guished a source. The phrases “a Mr. Stock
bridge,” “the Examiner man,” “ a penurious
example of rebellion," ■“ insubordination and li
centiousness," are expressions which would
have Justified us in rejecting it, but as it goes
lieforetfie w odd with the author's own signature,
we are snre that onr readers will not hold us
responsible for these blemishes. It i-proper that
the Baptists should l>e apprised of every form
of opposition with which their faith is assailed,
and their rights invaded.”
• Cdltmel Bailey -converts complaints into
charges, enters as counsel far the defendant,
states hts points.and makes hie arguments for
■“the Church" mid trhe Nava! service, and, of
«ourae, against the .Bapliwte '’
1
■“ It clamor atlhe appointment of a Bapti<
a'liaplaiu to the Naval service—the ministerial
and social degradation of a minister of Christ
because he refused to u*e the Episcopal service
.—the rude assaults upon that minister with
orauge peelings and tumblers by ungalliuit of
ficers—the contempt, of the superior officers
when redress was sought, and finally, the ac
ceptance by the Navy Department of esparto
reports to the permanent injury of Mr. Stock
bridge—if these iransactions do not constitute
the very essence of tyranny in its worst form,
we should like to be informed what else would
be necessary.”
4.
•“ But because the Baptists are complaining
<>f the exercise of such tyrany, Col. Bailey
charges them with manifesting an “ ungener
ous, unchristian spirit!“ If the parties nnd
circumstances had been exactly reversed, it
Episcopalians had been the persecuted and
Baptists the persecutors, the public would have
heart such forensic fnlnMaations from Col.
Bailey ant! -ethers ns uinet Imre thrilled
through the heart -sf this great nation ami sha
ken the pTUars of the a'aliinet itself. But the
“raw” la-iag altered, alt are the eon-.”
5.
“That “Gen. Washington was a coxcant
umiuuuioant ot Uust church to the -day off his
•death'’ are drov. aa-l place the onus probinuli
on him wtio makes the affirmation. If “it is
notorious tint! h<- a ait," the fan* can be prov
ed.”
«.
“ That by their repeated petitions they were
instrumental in breaking down the Virginia
Church establishment, and that Madison. Jef
ferson and Washington aided them in these
endeavors. But wc impute no disloyalty to
the present Episcopal Church. If she will
cease “dragooning” non EfHMopaltaus into
conformity to her Chnreh rrtmd. and afeandoa
the efforts to monopolize the Atwy and Sava]
service with the schools st West Point and
Annapolis, other denomination* wifi not com
plain of her high pretentions."
a.
"The pretence of Col. Bailey that oppositvrt
40 this chaplain monopoly ha« its saerce in His
infidelitv and abolitionism of the North »<iich
is attempting “tn destroy this I'hivn” on ac
count of Southern slavery, is mure xageaarom
than true. We have no sympathy icik dis
nnionists. neither with Northern diuMKMiata
nt the ,V*rtk, or Northern disunioni-ts at the
South. Vieiv it not for Episcopal »uppr«na«iL
the crusade against slavery would l>e as pre
valent among El<i*eopalians as any other—as
was clearly demonstrated by a late abortion
sermon from Dr. Ting at Philadelphia—«d
that persons of the Episcopal deuominaiim
can take groands against the Union. from toe
cause or other, was illustrated more than once
in the secession and disunion speeches at' Col.
.Bdiley himself. We hope his Imdy ta not en
dangered by living in a glass houe"
8,
-The intrinsic excellency «f the prayers, it
is sari, should couu«**4 Uow mw. “They
are unsurpassed in saUrtoe piety.” that is. if
we understand Vim, tk* piety i. iu these writ
ten prayers, TWs may account Cor the <qan
ion. that some people have more pioty in tlieir
pockt-ta than iu their lu-arts,”
»,
" This “ form of prayer can ho unforced by
tlH> otfi<»r».” I*® then, if the sailor* will not
bow down awl respond to the Chaplain, they
must be pricked to obedience by the points of
naval sabrusl Gluriou* fteodmrt this! Moat
execlleut liturgy!”
W.
“-lint what mast the reader think when at
tlie cloaeot Cel. Bailey's docuiueas be finds
the couf*««3 of ki* T-nce t He ” knows
not ttae merits oi Mr. ikockbndge’a case " ex
>-pt Mkt U presented in the Enuniuer' Atal
Joes be beliu*e tbe statements of " tie Exami-
ner mem I” How doe* he know that this sns
pickur individual has told 'the truth, seeiwg '
that he does not belong do “that small band
of honest men ?” So this pyramid of Col.
Bailey stands upon its apex ! die has plunged
from his " l>eautiful and sublime liturgy into
ridiculous ignorance." WeaAvisehim U> r.p
ply himself to the law and aboadon the study
of theology. In claume phrase: ‘kt thedilioe
•tnaker stick to bis but.’ ”
Touching No. 1. What else would yWU’have
tae call “a Mr. Stockbridge" who is Wholly
unknown to me, and I presume to most of your
readers? And as to the “Examiner man" be
too is not only unknown but puiqiosely con
ceals his name; from the tone and injustice
' of his piece. I thought and 'till think him an
Abolitionist shirking under the delusive name
of Free Siriler. 1 am not continued that the
term* used are improper until tatter advised
a« to •• rrSr/f"on." “ inn'ibur'fiinitinn," nml
*’ —the dictionary is r<*>ponsible
for the are of th<*se words, not I. They may
l>e “ blemishes,” I am su wanting in taate per
lia|M< that I cannot perceive it—thank God that
my taste is not so sensitive to the touch of
truth as some otluw- As to “apprising the
Baptists of every form of opposition with
which their faith h> assailed and their rights are
invaded" as an excuse Tor distressing them
with my • astonishing aaticle” with all its
“blemishes"—it is the drollest idea ot the
season so’droll Xbitt I could not refrain from a
: hearty larxgh when I road it. I ask .every Bap
tist brother and sister to read againr.hut “as
tonishing" article mid find if they can. at; y as
sault u]mn their faith or any denial of their
rightu or any censure east upon either, unless
the Rev. Mr. Stockbridge is the representative
of the Baptist Church South. And even a* to
him. his faith is not umiU'd. nor his in
rad<d. unless he claims it ns a right to assail
us of the Episcopal Church fur wrongs of
which he complains, irat with which we hiul
nothing to do even from his own showing.— ;
We humble laymen of the “minority Church"
claim the poor jirivilege of all “ minorities" of
repelling hostile blows, Asitmthe “axliinirh
ing" fact that I sagnei my jaoper name to the
article and so got a hearing from nry Baptist
friend.*, it arose from no foolish desire of noto
riety, forthat I hate—hut to relieve the Rec
tor of this parish from all suspicion that he
had, contrary to all rule and practice of the
. Episcopal priesthood, entered into a public
controversy iu the newspapers with a clerical
brother of another name. I put my name to
the “astonishing” article—an humble layman
who asks nobody to shore his “astonishing
blemishes.” and like a brazen lawyer as he is,
cares not n fig what any body but honest men '
think of him and his blemishes. That sort of
men he has always deemed the Georgia Bap
tists, and hence he wrote them that “astonish
ing letter” to try tn persuade them that he
•tacs not belong to a Tory church, or one that
would approve ot nay indignity to a Baptist
Clergyman as charged by “the Examiner
man.”
As to No. 2—This is answered in the first
place by reference to the piece taken from the
Examiner, to see if no charges were made—
and in the uext place I entered no defense but
' called for proof of grave charge* got up as 1
firmly belir ved, a»d still believe, for sinister
nnd wicked And lastly, I haxeyii
te Jisuru tluut wlien intanoous ckarges are
made l»r Northern Baptist Abolitiuiki-ts
against anybody, that Southern Baptists ftad
themselves assailed when sueh ♦.hinders are
repelled. J can answer for some «»f lay excel
lent Bajeiri. friends—they thunk no one for
putting tliecu ill that category.
As to No. X—l ask where, and by whom, has
there been n "rlaiuar nt the appnintment of a
Baptist Cluipiain in the Naval .Service.” J
never heard of it before. Let as Inivu die
proof.
The difficulty coiauienced, as Mr. Stock
bridge confesses, with liimself—he having twice
refused, after being requestid repeatedly, to j
use the Episcopal service, by both the Commo
dore ami tbe Captain ot the Ship. By the
rilles of the Navy a Chaplain is ns much an
officer aboard as any other and a* MibjeiT to nil
hs rules, lie is no missionary. a«r presiding
Elder over a church, but simply an officer of
the Navy with specific duties, and is as much
bound to obey implicitly and without question
or gainsaying, every order and request of his
Chmnmrwfer ns the meanest sailor before the
mast. He is for the time Iwing a clerical • iil
»,/■ and nothing more. The safety of all aboard
ship in time of peace —tbe safety ot the Re
public in time of war, depends upon the prompt
and ready submission anil obedience to the ol
der of the Commander of every one on board
ship. In the word* of one of our Presidents,
without this a Navy would degenerate into a
dangerous nuisance. What then must be the
demoralizing etfeote upon sailors to see an un
der officer, and he a teacher of morality, mid
the distinctions ofrjglit and wrong, openly and
with impunity disolwring and treating with
disrespect their Commander .' What must be
thought of a man, at officer, who has confess
edly done this audrgt escaped a Court Martial,
coming Wore the pablic with complaints that
after this he had been treated with dixretyctt
by some of the under effieers ? But his ow n
disobedience and dhrespert. was no exenae for '
such tyranicnl, miprvvuked Ireatment as he or
rather liis advocate says tw received, and in
deed it is not charged that each was the cause.
Why not state tbe provocation of these ag
gressions? Can any one believe, who knows
the high toned honor and gentlemanlike bear
ing of oar Naval officers, tliat one ot them
could so degrade himself a* to throw a tumbler
across the table at an unu&mding Chaplain ?
No mnn of sense believes it—nor do-s Mr.
Stiakbridgi- so state; he dues not deny there
was ample provocation. What are we then to
believe.' Mr. Stoekbridgeconfesseshisrebel
lion—that is proved then by the best of evidence, i
But when he charge* ut tiers, the rule of law
and the Bible both say he must prove it—till
be dors this the presumptions are all against
him, and he states a* a fact that he has laid his
eouqilaints and charge* before the proper tri
bunal. the Government, not one of them Epis
■ ! eopuliuii*. ami failed to obtain reilress. 1 liis
is antirfaetory proof that he was in the wrong.
But I second the motion and the promise that
this whole affair shall be looked into by Con
gress. By all means gentlemen, no lou-king
mit. call upon Congress for a Committee to
; probe to the bottom this whole atfair. and [mb
; liah the truth to the people, and let them see
i t’ne villain-, of the “minority tory chnreh."
and tbs Navy and the Gvveiument. and the
1 charge of tyranny, fur it is nothingle * against
all. No peeping into the documents aad then
’ skulking, for as it stands it will be a very pret-
I ty affair to take the place of bleeding Kansas
when that excitement unfortunately dies ont.
As to No. 4 —l did no aucli'thing. What I
complained of was that these "Northern Aboli
tion Baptista wen ‘manifesting an “ ungener
ous unchristian -Spirit" 'in thus inrinuating
that the Episcopal‘Obtrdh is an insignificant
minority church, the successors of Revolution
ary Tories, and that Mr. Stockbridge's griev
ances were owing to':hat church. Now so
long as falsehood is held to be an “ ungenerous, i
unchristian spirit” among men, I have no apol
ogies to make. Tl.e charge that I repel this
injustice because Mr. Stiwkbridge is u Baptist,
and that I would have justified him if he luid
been an Episcopalian, i* a gross slander that 1 ,
cannot tru.-t myself to further notice.
As t<> the Sth specliii nt ion. that I state wffiat
is not true —in saying that General Washing
ton was a communicant of the Episcqpnl
Church. Some things men may lx- ignorant of
without criminality, but where knowledge is a
duty, ignorance is a crime. I hold it the
bounden duty of every teacher of morality mid
religion in .America, to know, feel mid teach
that the pure life and great deeds of Wash
ington conld have no other base to rest upon
but tbe pure, lively faith ami moving spirit of
the Christian Religion—that-u.-h a character
is simply impo-sible upon any other basis —that
this made all the difference and the only dif
ference between him and other great captains
of history. It i« quite rt-ocntly that infidels
and abolitionists have succeeded in implanting
in the American mind a doubt, nay to a large
extent n belief, that Washington, although u
moral man, was not religious. While the men
lived who knew him in the Army, such an ef
fort was useless. My father served in that
anuy and I have heard him and other Revolu
tionary soldiers often speak in my boyhood of
tbe,piety and religion of Washington as a thing
notorious and undoubted in the whole army—
that lie made no noise or parade about it to
be seen of men, but that on all proper occas
ions he w itnessed the “good cotif'-ssion.” I
well remember how shocked ami excited the
whole village'became on one occasion because
a stray abolitionist asserted that although
Washingtim belonged to tlic church, he could
nut be a nrfigiens ir.an because he held staves.
Blus|ffien:y cixtld nut lull esJiocked them more
—indeed it was ouly liis soldiers w ho bore
testimony, but all who kmew him at. the va
rious stations of the army in the Eastern and
middle States. Undoubtedly it was his relig
ion that saved the Colonics as everybody, of
all sectsand persuasions, had undoiiliting trust
in his goodness. But whnt does li'istury say’
I might quote several —I will quote two whose
' authority is undisputed. Washington Irving
in his “Life,” VoL 1, page 285, says:—The
Established or Episcopal Church predomina
ted throughout the undent Dominion, as it
was termed. Each county was divided into
parishes as in England, each with its parochial
J church—its parsonage and glebe. Washing
ton was vestryman of two parishes—Fairfax
and Truro. The parochial church of the form
er was at Alexandria, ten miles from Mount
Vernon, of the latter nt I’ohick, about seven
miles. The church itt Pohick was rebuilt on
apian of his own. nnd in n great measure nt
his cApe’use. At one or the other of tlicse
rhairte's he attended every Sunday, when the
weather and the reads permitted. Hi* de
meaner wa* reverential and devout. Mr*.
Washington kuelt. during the prayer. He al
ways stood as was the custom at that time.
Both irere C"U> >n un
This was several years before the Revolu
tion. Mrs. Kirkland iu her Memoir of Wn»li
ington. page 475, says:—"That some people
should wish to make it appear that Wa*hing
ton was not a religious man, is only one of
many proofs that men love to detract from
a rcputirtion ot transcendent merit and to
throw a cloud over glory too bright to be en
dured by the evil eye. There may perhaps be
amulier explanatiou of these effort*—the
narrowness of Sectarianism which feels bound
to acknowledge ni» religion that does not conic
within its owu pale. It would seem that one
«r the other of these motives must have opera
ted a* the inducement in raising a doubt ns to
the deep religiousness, the nnxious sense of re
sponsibility to God, and tho habitual devotion
of Washington. It requires very little expe
rience or observation to discover that n char
acter like his, can be built o:i no other founda
tion than that of religious principle. Only
the blindness of vain an 1 shallow infidelity
fails to perceive this truth. Only envy nr the
hitter venom ot party spirit can deny its iqe
plicability in Washington's case. But look at
direct testimony on this point, and first. Wash
ington'* own.”
Here follow many proofs and at page 478 she
gives the well known anecdote of the Rev. Dr.
Johns of the Presbyterian Chnreh, and often
published in his lifetime, as a proof of—not
Washington * piety, for none doubted that—but
of his catholic charity. The army lay canton
ed near Morristifim, New Jersey, after the bat
tie of Monmouth. Nearby was a little Presby
terian Church, where Dr. John* officiated.—
On a morning of the previous week. W.isliing-
Pin called upon Dr. John* and said, " Dr. I un
derstand that the communion is to be celebrat
ed with you next nSuuday. I would learn if it
accords with the canons of your Church to ad
mit communicants ot another denomination."
The Dr. rejoined—“must certainly ; ours is not
the Presbyterian tabla, General, but the laird's
table, and hence we give the Lord's invi
tation to all his followers of whatever name.”
The General replied. “ I am glad of it; that is
as it ought to be. but as I was not quite sure
of the fact 1 thought I would ascertain it from
yourself, as I propose to join w ith you on that
occasion. Though I am n member of the Church
of England I have no i.rr/<«;rc partialities."
Thisis the testimony of non-Episcopalians—
much more might lie given but I trust that
this is enough.
As to the Util specification—l deny that the
Episcopal Churcli Im* ever "dragooned ’ non-
Episcopalians into conformity to her ritual or
made any efforts to monopolize the Army, the
Navy or the National Schools, nor has she in
terfered in the niutter. The charge i* rimply
absurd as well a* untrue. All such matter*
are regulated by the government, w hich has
been for the last thirty years non-Episcopalian.
You do the “minority Church" too much hon
or when you wwild have it believed that it has
constrained the whole United States into obe
dience. They huve never done it, nor desired
Ito do it. It her foes have adopted her ritual
in the public service it has beeu because they
thought it nest tor that aarviee; and patriot
ism told them they, lu ting under oath, li:>rt no
discretion, afteronee deciding what wa«be«t—
such ritual thus becoming tlial of f tberirovern- '
ment and not of any church. Such as old ’
Hickory nnd his disciples have not laid them- ■ '
selves liable to the charge Os 'having been i
“dragooned” into anything they thought I
wrong. So far from MUshington joining the <
Baptists in breaking down the Virginfe Church '
Establishment, the reverse is the fact if there is ; »
any truth in History—Hildreth, 3rd vol., Ist I
series page 384. says, that Jefferson with Mad
ison joined the Baptist* and Presbyterians and j
oilier dissenters in tlirtt endeavor, but that ■
Washington and Patrick Heffiy opposed it.
As to the 7th specilication—Mr.Tyng. nut the ,
Doctor, wa* bj •the,people nf-hi* I
congregation, and not by any fcccleriiutieal ; t
|h»w er. Would to God tbe other Protestant , ,
denomination* North, hod such jmwci rt sqp i
pression. Thousands of good men of every i
denomination North, disapprove of the wick- i
ed war against the.South, but they cun do u* i
no good, they are "suppressed” by overwhelm-, i
ing abolition majorities. It i* simply untrue ■ ■
that Col. Bailey ever made n disunion, i
speech anywhere, at any time. \\ hoever says :
he ever heard him make such a speech utter*
what he knows is false. There never has been
a disunion party in Georgia. Col. B. has ,
made speeches wherein he has tried pi prove I
from the history of our government and the
principles of public law, that the several States
are sovereign, and as sovereign* have a legal
right to secede and withdraw from the I nion
whenever the people of a State in convention
I resolve that their interest and safety require
it; and that without aucli right it is absurd to ;
. call them sovereign States; and that the Fed
i eral Government ha* no right to dragoon them
into submission, and that if the Federal troop*
i fired the first gun upon the people of South
Carolina forthat purpose he would feel him
-1 self, as a freeman and a patriot, bound to has
ten to her assistani-e to repel the invader.
Nothing of that does* be take back, nothing
conceal, for his convictions strengthen with his
years. "If that is treason make much of it."
But w hat be said about the Northern aboli
tionists destroying the Union is misunderstood.
He never intended to agy, nor did he say, or
insinuate, that they desire or intend todissolve
the Union. They intuwd to rob u* and then ;
dragoon us into *iibmi*mwn. Hi* meaning w.ts
that their rebellion and dtangpiMl •xf tbe Fcil
eral constitution would drivetlw Southernpe<*
pie out of the Union. But us to this Ire begins
to entertain very serious doubt*, seeing they
have so many advocates and defenders in ali
the Southern States. Thu worst enemies rif
the South are those of her own household.
As to the Bth specification—“ And it came
to pass as he was praying in a certain place,
when he ceased, one of hi* disciples said unto
him, Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught
his disciples. And he said unto them when I
ye pray, say whatever the spirit moves yon to
say. for I disapprove of them Baptist "pocket
prayers." That Baptist John is unwisely fol
lowing the Jew ish practice of “pocket-pray
er*"—the Gospel of St. Luke. chap. 11, verses
1 nnd 2.
A* to the W.h specification—lf a child is com
pelled to observe the Sabbath mid pay oliedi
enee to religions practice* mid the form of wor
ship his father prefers. or if a grown up man
on board a ship is compelied to obedieni e iik'
a child—if the atheist nnd deist sailor is re
strained and compelied to attend public wor
ship—if the Jew will not light to defend the
ship Oil Saturday beemi H-it is liis Sunday ;f
tbe Quaker will not tight nt all because it is
sinful—if the shaking (ju.iker has the fit on '
him during public worship, mid * ignllopsover
the deck upsetting all that comes in hi* wav
if a disciple ol Brighmn Young is rollicking
with his w ives between deck—while thel’lii
nese are how ling and prostrating themselves
liefore their God, Fou—the captain brings
these madmen to their senses witli the cat-o
nine-tails —the Lord have merey on us and our
religion* floedom—we are “under an establish
ment." Senator Sew ard, for God * sake bestir
yourself mid look into this gross violation of
the higher law, that great discovery of modern
times—higher than oath—higher than law—
that rule of all robbers—that canon of “con
science” which felon* in all ages have longed
for in vain, above and superior to the laws of
the land.
As to the 10th specification—Thank God I
I am not responsible tor others'stupidity. The
school girl* at tho College understand the dif
ference between n confession of guilt and n
charge against another. They know the con
fession is proof, and that tbe accusation is not.
The one they know is proved, because it i* a
rule of ethic* a* well as law, that no one ac
cuses himself falsely, am! that the truth of the
charge against another is unknown without
proof; mid yet this Reverend dance charge* me
with "ridieiiloii* ignorance.” How full must
be "the ditch" when such blind leaders abound.
And I must "ply myself to the law and aban
don the study of Theology." hey I Why man.
look to your Dictionary and you will find that
modes of worship and church government con
stitute no part of Theology. But listen to this
Christian teacher advising a |mor sinner to
give up the study of God mid the awful reali
ties of a near eternity and to confine himself
to the study of law I Father, forgive him, for
he know s not what he does!
In conclusion I feel bound to give a brief
word of exhortation upon this excellent text
with which lie closes his amiable tirade: “lutt
the shoemaker stick to his last." Brother,
stick to that text unto death. Preach it the i
balance of your life. When you see a poor
weak brother troubled with tbe temptation of
the Devil, that he has a call to preach, whisper
in liis ear, “let the shoemaker stick to his last
—w hen you see un ignorant brother with good
natural powers, who feels it his duty topreach,
,*ay to him a* saint Haul said to Timothy,
"Give attendance to reading,” if not, “shoe
maker stick to your bust." It is firmly believ
' ed that the Voltaire* and Tom Paines of infi
i delity have made fewer converts to their faith
■ than have been made to it by poor, deluded, ig
, norant mortal*, fitted only for the cobbler’s
| block, yet crowding into the pulpit as expoun
i dur* and teachers of tbe great mysteries of
j Godliness to erring mortals.
“FooL* rushing in
Where Angels fear to tread."
‘■But Christ <4iose fishermen for hi* first
preueliers.” Yes he did, for tw o purposes—
first, to manifest iu them his miraculous pow
er in making thei’n, without study, the most
learned men the world ever saw ; nnd second
ly, to manifest to succeeding ages that it is hi*
will that the teachers in his church should ac
i quire all possible know ledge. He thought
I they shonld be linguists, so lie taught them in
| five minute* al! the languages of the known
world, so that they could converse in. and ‘
write them all fluently. He thought they | i
should understand the great science of Natu- 1
nd Bfcliosuphy, so he gave them miraculous ! i
[lower over the very laws of nature. Has he I ;
done so much for you nnd me, brother? I trow >
not —then “shoemaker stick to your last" and 1
dont bother me for “answering a fool according [ 1
to his folly.” 8. T. BAILEY. i
7 11
[fok the STATE FRESSJ |
tht. history and principles of banking
No. 2.
The banking system is an unequal system. It ■ ■
discriminates against the people, and lor the 1
banks. How? First, individuals are prohibited 1
from loaning money at a greater interest, than ■ I
seven per cent. The banks issue three dollars •
in their [iromises to pay for every dollar paid i '
in. w hich produces twenty per cent per an
num interest. The system, then, gives bank
■lng capital an advantage of fourteen per cent,
over private capital. This is not the only i
Tact I have to adeawco in support of my propo- |
tition of inequality, and I will give them after
a little; but just here. I propose to call atten
i firm to the vast aggregate amount of interest
I that this system involves. The amount of
I banking capital that is clamied to have been
paid in, in the State of Georgia, is nbont eight .
million two hundred nnd sixty-six itLousaud ■
dollar* ; upon this amount the banks nre nl- I
lowed to issue tauik bills (that is falsely called
money) to the amount of twenty-four million,
seven hundred and ninety-eight thousand dol- ,
lar*. which last amount draws mi annual ia.
tercet, of one million, seven hundred and thir
ty-five thousand, eight hundred and sixty dol- j
lars : bpt of this a: aunt, we will allow the
banks a credit of one third of the amount j
of interest, because they can say. they have ac
tually paid in one third of the anionut that
produced this interest, and this deduction
leaves, one million, one hundred and fitty-sev
en thousand, two hundred mid forty dollars—
balance drawn from the people iq*>n ficti
tious capita)—create*! by the several charters
under w hich our banks conduct business —
which in fifteen years amount* to the enor
mous sum of seventeen million, three hundred
and fifty-eight thousand, six hundred dollar*. '
The foregoing calculations, arc based upon tbe i
' admission, that all tbe operations ot the banks
are Siir. and honest—that the amount claimed.
Im- ta-eii iidrly paid in, and that no more than
three xlollar*. is i—ueil for every one actually
paid ire If it i* true, as is siipposcsl by many, ,
and as often disclosed by legal and legislative
investigation, that tire banks issue six to one. of
course the amount ot interest is im reused in
proportion to rite issue. Nor does the above
calculations, skow theimmeuse amount* made,
bv spccutatiims of various kitols ; sveh as en
tering vacant iaud*. the purelsase of cotton,
wheat, rice. «n»l all kiwd* *ot prodtoe—the
' purchase and sale of stack*, ms-d in short, in ah
kind* of speculations where ■» mraio|*>ly cun
■ be attained.
But I return to tlw dire<i-~ToTi of the inequal
ity of the banking system, Yoticnnu.it l«ail a
: bank for it* debts, ta*r win you after suit *nd
judgment, sell all i’iw |**i(icrty <*f rjw stock
holders of the lunik. Itere, then, is wrcquality.
You can bail and ire su an iudjvUtol. mid
' you can sell all liis property undec yxiurjndg
ment, bet when yoriappixwi It these vast mid
powerful monied «*ir[ait»itioiis. insteisl of *<//
r l, e property of the several ineorporatoi's being
liable to levy, the liigite't judicial tril*<ii:il of
tbe State, say*, that the eoijxirator*, that i*.
the stock holders, arc liable only for thenmomit
of stock held by eucii. and when they pay that
amount they cun [dea l such payment in dis
charge of all liability l«ey*»iwl that amount. —
Our Supreme Uourt says, in the ease of Lane
r*. Morri* Sth Gn. Reps page 474-5, that,
"the *toek holder can lie charged only to the
extent of his stock. Beyond this, he laay de
fend fiimseli : and mi payment of thisaiuount,
there is an end of further liability. His de
cision was made in July 1850. In July lssl,
we find tho same parties, before the same
court, litigating the same cause of action, em
braced in the case decided one year before.—
Bear it in mind, that these bill* upon which
Lane was trying to get his money, were taken
by him a* moiiey, they were forced upon him,
a* a ••ircnlating medium, by continued legisla
iive enactment, and a submissive bank-ridden
public, hi accordance w ith tbe decision. Lane
returned home, mid commenced his second
suit against Morri*, to recover tbe amount ot
the shares held by Morris, and to the amount
anil/for which the Supreme Court decided Iu
was liable, and in that, the second time the
case went up, the Supreme Court says, 10 Ga.
R. 175, that "The stock-bolder's personal lia
bility to the bill holder, is in proportion to the
amount or number of share.* held by him in
the bank, and the value thereof; and no more
nor less.” Again, same book, page 177, the
Supreme Court hold* this hinguage. “If the
bank hail in circulation three millions of bills
and note* at the time of its failure, the stock
holders could not be made personally liable for
the ultimate redemption of such bills or notes
beyond the amount of stock subscribed by them,
estimating each share at one hundred dollars,
as deciaredin the second section of the charter,
for the reason, that is the exact measure of
their [lersomd liability, a* provided in the lltli
section. The word*, "and the value thereof
as applicable to their personal liability, for
the ultimate redemption of the bills, in propor
tion to the respective share* of stock held by
them, are important words for their protec
, tion, in tbe event there should be a larger a
mount of the bills in circulation, unredeemed,
than the amount of capital stock of the bank.
The stock-holders are not made ]>er.*onally lia
ble for the ultimate redennition of all the bills
which may have beeu issued by the bank,
w ithout any restriction by the 11th section of
the charter, but are made personally liable on
ly in proportion to their respective shares of
stock and the value thereof.”
I have not quoted these decisions with the
view to attack the Supreme Court, but with
the sole view of showing, that the banking
»y stem is one of inequality, and gross injustice I
to the people. It is boasted that you can sue
the banks. Admit it, and what is gained ?
When you get judgment against the banks, how
can yon enforce it? Why, levy upon tbe
property of the bank. What property ? A
fine banking house, probably, that is usually
put into the semi annual statement, as availa
ble assets, at an enormons estimate. When •
this is sold, where go next I The fine bunk- I
ing house will will not pay million*, nor
hundreds of thousands, what theu —levy upon
the property of the individual stock-lrolder ?
Oh! no, not so lust; the bunk, say* our Ba
preme Uourt. is one person, and the stock-hold
er is anotiwr. s-» you must have a return of
“no property” on the fl. fa. against the bank. '
and ft'tn commence suit against the stock- I
holder and there, in a law suit with the
stockholder* as did Mr. lame, fight and liti- j
gate until 4he titoney you sued upon, is ex- 1
buusted in costs and lawyer*’ fees, and yon at:
last, turned from the temple of justice, with
but little lrpe*f getting back oven your costs,
and this is called equality—justice, Bunks
are a guan partnership, nnd in equity aud fair
dealing, each partner should be bound to pay
the debts of ffa finn, ns long a* lie Ims a dol
lar, nnd this is tDic law as to ordinary com
mercial eupartitoreliip* ; it matters not hew
much, or bow little, each individual partner
put into the concern, one suit against tbe finn,
brings a judgmentlliat binds all the projierty
of the firm, as well as nil that each individual
menilier ha*. No retarn ot "no property" ami
a second suit, is necessary to bind all the i
property in the concern,mid all out of it, own
ed by individual member*; but w itli the banks
it is different. You may huve a judgment a
gainot a bank for one htmdred thensnnd dol
lars, and Mr. A. lie worth one hundred thou
sand dollars, but lie own* but one thousand
dollar's worth of stock, and that is nil he i* f
■ held liable for, and not the*, until a suit in
which every inch of ground is fonght with
' all the legal ability, that tbe country will tur- j
, nisb, or that cun, in some instances, be engag-
ed from abroad; and nil this delny and vexa-'
i tion. is to get money out of that system that '
propose* to give you money as u circulating
medium. It is hardihood in tlie extreme, to
call our present banking system vr.e of equali
ty ;no man can with propriety cat? it so. The
drift of legislation and legal opinin'*, Im.* been
drifting with this immense monied power for
year*past, and when a little crumb is dropped
in the sbajie of n penalty, fur the s*q>ension
of specie payments, down comes a law, riding ,
over tlie executive power, and the right* of the
people—suspending all proceeding* agaiu~t these
legislative pets—the banks—and legalizing the
almost periodical suspension that now hangs
' over n*. Mote arioo, LOMNDES.
MACON, GA.
Thursday, March 18.1858.
CRAWFORD SUPERIOR COVET
This Court was in session hist week, Hon.
11 ax ky G. Lx ma n presiding. The Judge, we
understand, gave entire satisfaction to tbe jwo
ple of the comity; hi* charge to the Grand
Jurv is said to have been eloquent nnd impres
sive- The businessof the Court progressed rapid
ly. but. ns it held tor only one week, some impor
tant cam* were iieeessnrily left uiitoueln d. On
Tuesday, Jamk* Revel was tried fur murder.—
Solicitor General Moxtfokt nnd Sami el Bali
and Nokmax <k Simmon* appearing for the
prosccut'am: and Gxoik.i: R. Hixteii. O. A.
l.iw-iniAXii Gi» »:«t U vi.LAi h for the defence.
Excellent speeches were delivered by
Ilxu.ik ilcxTEtt. Tlieprisower wa* found guilty-
A nutioii for a new trial w»* made, and ably
argaeil by Col, L'* iiitsxn. br,l was overruled
and tire sentence of lla-Coitrt prommnei-il. At
the reqaert of s-ierai friend* we publish tiic
remark* made by the Ju Igv, which were regard
ed us highly appropriate:
J ams* Rev ei, stand np :—Have you any
thing to >ay why the Judgment of the law
, sbiaild not be pronounced agair.4 yon?
In the discharge of my official dww*. it de
volves upon me to pronounce upon you the
sentence of the law.
By the verdict of the jury. you have been
adjudgeil guilty of the crime of murder. Evc
rv thing ha* been done by the Court, and the
able Counsel who defended you. to obtain a
fair and impartial trial. Every thing has been
done that could afford you the mean* to show
thu character of the transactions and to prove
y«»ur innocence.
In the ability with which you were defend
ed—in the action of the Court in giving yon
the benefit of any doubt arising in the admis
sion or the exclusion of testimony. 1 enn but
feel that tbe verdict of guilty recorded ngitinst
you, was the honest expression of an unbiased
judgment arising neither from passion or preju
. dice, but in the circnnistnnoe* in evidence of
the case.
The time intervening between the sentence
of the Court and your Execution, .will afford
| you an ample opportunity for preparation to
meet another tribunal where penitence inny
give you mercy.
Then let me enjoin on yon the necessity of
directing your thoughts to the contemplation
of your immortal destiny. Let not the illusions
of hope beguile you with indifference, lint de
termine by honest resolution to meet the fate
which awaits you, with firm reliance on tbe
Providence of Him, who readeth the secrets
of the heart, Your situation demands this.
The awful tragedy of crime you enacted—the
assault* you made on the lives of two respecta
ble witnesses who were spared to testify against
vow—the murder of one of your fellow-citizens
snatched from life by your hand, nnd w hose
grave is still wet with the tears of friend* and
neighbors—the woe and grief, the horror and
calamity—resulting from your act to this com
munity. should all arise before you and admon
ish you to use the time allotted you to live in
prayerful preparation, aud to look with an up
lifted eye from the things of time to eternity.
It is not my province, nor shall I wake up
the unpleasant memories associated with your
guilt, at II time so solemn and while perhaps
liis own heart bleeds with pain at the contem
plation. lint your situation is one of lesson to
the y onng—to them this scene is one fruitful
with instruction. The place where tbe aet
was committed add* but another to the many
instances engendered ami springing from the
use of intoxicating liquors. The infamy and
desolation it has wrought—the blight of fami
lies—tbe mad-liouses it has tilled tho ruin,
1 tears and misfortunes it has caused find but
I another melancholy evidence and example of
its evil effects. But I will not go on, looking
as Ido witli pity 0,1 the scene before me. Your
death caunot eaU back the son restored to his
father's arms, or a husliand to the bosarn of
his family. But your lamentable fate will
tend to restrain the wicked from the unlawful
execution of their purposes. If any one medi
i rates crime—if auy one lias passions, uncurbed
i by restraints of law, reason and religion—your
fate will make li'rpi pause, mid other victims
may tie spared.
It will teach all the necessity to live in obe
dience to the laws of tbe land : human life will
become more secured and protected: nnd the
; w.'irningofthis hour will ring in the conscience.
speak its convictions to the brain, .-»i,d leave
its itifr re.** ujion the memory when you shall
be long mingled with the dust.
During the session of the CNwrrt Wilkt
C. Cleavelano was admitted to the Bar,
after a highly creditable examinatiriri which
gave promise of future usefullness and ffiotine
tion in his profession. Many Attorney*, M
sidas the local Bar. were in attendance, am*Wig
whom we noticed Messrs. W. K. deGraHVn
reid, P. AV. Alexander, James M. Smith, B. F,
Reese, John M. Giles, Fam'l T. Bailey, AVimb
ington Poe, Sami Hal), Janies Hall, J ante*
May. aud O. A. Lorbrane. But few suit* were
returned to the March Term, showing the pros
perous condition of the county.
We recollect with pleasure onr trip to Craw
ford, and were glud to meet with ■urnerou*
wnrtti friends, among whom we winy mention
the ckver.and courteous Clerk of the Court,
James J. Ray, Esq. We are also happy to
add timt the people of Crawford seemed to
Lave a good opinion of the State Pres*, a*
evinced by the addition made to our subscrip
tion list in the county.
COL. BAILEY'S COMMUNICATION
To the exclusion of Editorial mutter, we pub
| lish to-day a Ooummiwicatioii from Col. Sami ei.
T. Bailey in reply to an article in last week'*
I issue ot the t 'hrint'uni hrdt-r. It is full of in
teresting mutter, and wc liope no one will bo
prevented by its length from giving it an at
tentive perusal. We know but little of the
merit* of the case in dispute; and us it is our
misfortune to be neither a Baptist nor an Epis
copali.in, we cannot be accused of uudue bias
in favor of either denomination. If this is a
, "free fight." the State Pnasaniay be “count
ed out." < >nr coinmn*. however, are open to
communications on any proper subject* in
. which the public are interested.
WHERE K THE FAULT!
Mirny complaint* lune been made to u* of
lute about the irregularity in the reception of
the Statr Pirn. Now. we have too inueli re
gard for our own interests not to see that the
paper is duly mailed to eui'linnd every subscri
ber; and it any one tail* to get it promptly, it
is certain the fault is not with us. If we could
find out where the blame lay, we would not
hesitate to expose it. Those subscrilier* who
’hi) to get th,- piqwr regularly will confer a
favor by informing ns of the fact.
As Si Patrick's day wciir* this week
and lias to lie duly commemorated, we could
not expect "Avoca” to forget the celebration
and devote Ids pen to any other subject: but
we w ill prol*<b|y have something to prewtit
from the -nine source in onr next i**nv,
Just its we me going to pre**, an itoitat'ni*
i* given ii» to attend ;| convivial entertaiamenl
in honor ot the day. Wc hope tn be presetit
to take notes of the "say ing* and doings" on
the occasion.
most intere'ling intelligence that
we can lay before onr reader* i.« tm- highly ito
portant fact that Mrs. F. i>E.**Ar wiiliqien her
new stock on the :'.l«t in*t. We have reliable
information that her Uauortt are decidedly the
prettiest ever seen in this city ; and her llrm
fivodx of all descriptions are sa'al Io Iw uiistir
passed tor richness and beauty. Os ronrre
ihi .■ ■ wiil be a i rush and jam of rriooUvr r.t
the “opening." The Ladies will please re
laember the day. ♦
An application Ims liceii made at Wash
ington city for the establishment of a Post Ot-
Ihe nt Momu.ey's Store in tbi* enmity. This
place is situated near the intersection of Bibb,
(.'raw ford, mid Monroe counties; nnd we ale
informed tluit mi office at this point w ould Lv
n great tiecontmndiition to n large niimlier of
[K-ople w ho nre now compelled to go u coiisid
crable distance to get their letters and paper*.
DA.M.
• THE CITY COUNCIL.
The City Council held its regular meeting
lari Friday night. They did nothing to im
mortalize themselves. We huve liHiked over
their published proceeding* in the Journal >C
.!/<«»< ngrr with the hope of finding u local item,
but have looked in vain. They took no ac
tion. it seems, on the Re port of the Committee
on Fire D< purtineiit. in favor of building Cis
terns <fcc.
A eommimicatioti that we published last
week aliout the l oiistriiction of n certain Dam
by tbe City Fathers, Ims called forth a reply,
to which we give place below in order that
both sides mav have n hearing :
Mr. Editor:— The article in y our paper of last
week over die signature of “Observer," iu my opin
ion, reflects with unnecessary severity on the action
■ of onr City Fathers, in relation Io Uic hiiilding of a
, dan; across the Gulley at the Foot of First street.
This, sir, us I am credibly informed, is a matter that
has been under the consideration of tbe city author-
| ities for years past. I aui also credibly informed,
, sir. that tiie parties— tht poaplx thotiuulrro— air, were
emisulted aimut tbe feasibility of the plan before it
was consented to be undertaken ; and as I un credi
bly informed, sir, tlicre is blaek and white to show
that such was tbe ca e, and that tbe matter was as/
entered into without the full and entire consent of
the property-holders adjoining the premises—other
wise I know that nothing of tbe kind would have
been constructed. Hoping that a proper view of the
thing will te taken, sir, with all the circumstance*
attending it. I am, sir, vours respectfully,
A.’ B. C.
The Lauiks owe usa thousand thanks
for informing them that Bostick it Kr.ix have
in Store several new style* of Hobrx which tho
senior member of the firm tells us arc selling
; off "like hot cokes." Gall and get one—or
if you don't want a JMe, then buy a Carpet.
i Arc Adrertionnrnt.
I Tw toos Cov.xty Sctkbjob Corrr holds
it« session next week. The Senior Editor ex
pects to be in attendance and hope* to find his
patrons ready to respond to their promise* tr»
pay. We want every Democrat in t his strong
hold of Democracy to take our paper, and as
many Know Nothings as may see fit to sub
scribe. The I‘rtox advocates principle* upon
which both parties at the South eaa shako
hands together.
Several communications intended for
to-day's piqier have been crowded out.
J3T“ Senator Itkiisox and Hog. L. J. Gab
tbeli. have our thanks for Congressional fa
vors. T" the former we are Mder obligation*
for the "President’s Message and accompany
ing Document* for 1557-*rt.”
Any merchant who wants • first-rate
Book-keeper—one who ean be vouched for as
an honorirble and accomplished bnsmess man—
I will dowellte adifress J- M. care ot the State
’ Prexe office.
.——
(NrAKT.Lsrox, March 14.—A fire occurred
in thiscity this morning, by which seven hun
di ed bale* of cotton were destroyed.