The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-12
no nR.T. Il. MURPHY

Sir: You will please excuse me for trespassing
pnon vour attention so soon after the signal de-
feat which you met with, in your double caPa-
CITY of informer and inquisitor, in your late no.
table attempt to vindicatc the prosecuted demo-
cracy of this fair city l am told, for was not
present to witness your inglorious and signal dls-
com6ture, that it did not arise from any want oil
zeal or malevolence on your part; that you were
forced to retire from the anticipated field of glo-
nv, filled with the mingled emotions of chagrin
and disgust-That never did the Esprit of demo-
cracy" evince more becoming feeling of deter
mined resolution than you did, to punish the sup
posed offenders against all that patriotism should
hold dear-that YOU did all, in fabricating the
grave allegements, that man could do-that the
specifications and charges were drawn with all
that legal accumen, didactic and chaste diction,
for which your delicate sheet, above all other
missiles, is so pre-eminently distinguished. But
that, after bringing your witnesses upon the stand,
they did not fulfil the high expectations of your
vaulting ambition. This, surely, was no fault
of yours, as it doubtless arose from that venal
error, which some men commit, OF talking idly,
and not confirming themselves to TIE truth, when
speaking of their neighbors and friends This,
il, the present state Of public and private morals,
is not matter of surprise, except to the unini-
tiated. But let me conjure yoa, for the sake of
your peace of mind, to permit your boiling rage
to subside, as at least one of those, who shrink
from the awful responsibility of sustaining, under
the sanctty of an oath, the things which he had
uttered in private confidence, and without respon-
sibility, may have had eye-sinister, directed
towards one of the offices held by the offending
incumbents If this were so, interest may have
swayed his Judgment, and produced an optical
illusion, which, until his hand was brought in
contact with the sacred book, disqualified him
from seeing things in their proper light-nay, the
same cause may have deadened his sense of hear
ing so far as to interfere with his powers Of con-
ception, and to convert honesty and fair dealing
into their opposites. To be thus grievously af
ficted, was, indeed, most lamentable moral
and physical visitation; and while the object of
it Is entitled to the pity of all, who appreciate
the character Of the unprincipled busy body; the
fact of one so astute and disinterested as your
self, being made the dupe of the more designing,
does not in the least, detract from your merit as
a modest and unassumIng parsonage, not, in the
least, inclined to interfere with the business of
others
Besides, the very tolerant spirit which you
manifested, in simply requiring the dismissal of
two gallant officers, for committing SO crying a
sin, as that of buying Of wings few pounds of
bacon, or barrels of pork, to feed the victorious
army, and their allies, the bloodhounds, in Flo
democrat in this land of freedom, where, if your
enlightened views should be carried out to the
full measure of your moderation, it will soon
become capital offence for fEhireling," as that
pure patriot Amos, would say, to prove so recre-
ant to his duty, as to thinks for himself
Now, in future, let beseech you, before
you again place yourself in the enria5le position
of info7nler and ;nqwisitor, to drill your wit
nesses more thoroughly, in order that there may
be no tripping or backing out for, let me assure
you, in all sincerity, that the chances of success
of General, are sadly against him, when he
enters the field of strife, with raw troops opposed
to those who have had the advantage of thorough
discipline. Had you succeeded in dislodging the
Quarter Master and Commissary, for harm tslly
prosecuting the Democracy of Baltimore-who
knows but that you might have been equally
fortunate in a movement against the Surgeon
General, and then, who would have been more
likely than yourself, to ELL the vacancy of your
own creation.
There is a charm in the very name of modern
reform, and not the less so, because it immolates
the good and the virtuous, and gives place to
those who are their antipodes
THEOPHILUS BLUNT.
HnMIIIATINCs SurGr