, 1842-07-09

dent Boyer had been put to death, but of
this he is not positive.
Introductory chapter to 4 work, en-
fitted "Truth rcrsuS Error, alias Philoso-
ply, Reason and Common Sense. against
Folly, Prejudice and Superstition" by
a Physician of Missouri.
Truth crushed TO earth will rise again,
The eternal years Of God are hers;
But Error wounded, wriihcs in pain
And dies amidst her worshippers."
When the author undertook the cor
tcmplatcd work he feels a disposition TO
submit 10 the public, he was actuated
safely from the consideration of relieving
his mind from that ennui and depression
Of TIE animal spirits, eve the necessary
consequences of indolcnce.
Located in a section of Missouri, af-
fording but few social e~njoymcnts, when
contrastcd with such as he had realized
il. Virginia-''that great enemy, Hme,''
often hung heavily on his senses, and TO
fill up Il vacuum which might have been
more inmorally and unproiitably imploy-
cd, lie was induced 10 write a few chap
tiers in commcnoration Of younger and
happier years. These were published
in the St. Charles Clarion, headed OK
tracts from the Journal ola Physician"
As he continued 10 write, the subject
seemed to expand, and through the adj
vice ola literary friend, he was induced
10 discontinue that ~ephemeral mode OF
publication and 10 incorporate these pub
lishcd, with those that might cnsue, into
a form more substantial and permanent:
And the author discovering, that without
violating the integrity of the Journal, 4
fair opportunity was presented of expos
Ing many evils and vices which infcSt So
ciety, he concluded TO act accordingly.
To "shoot at folly as it flies the au-
thor considers not only Il Republican
Privilege, but in many instances, a stern
and moral obligation. Unfortunately
however for society, but few have been
gifted with that talent; and from that few,
fewer still can be found, possessing the
moral courage and the manly indcpcn-
dcncc TO acknowledge and avow it.
As regards himself, Or his poSterity,
the author feels no hesitation in expos
ing 'in their dark and naked deformity,'
! whatever errors, evils, or vices, he may
find practiscd on the community, wheth-
er originating in Church or State.
In executing that portion of his labour
"nothing will he cytenuatc, or set down
ought in malice
The author fclls well aware of the
dangers and difficulties by which he is
| surroundcd-but dangers an difficulties
are inscparablc from all glorious enter
prises. lie feels already satisfied, that
by the saint and the preacher, he will be
branded with the ~opprobrious epithets-
Scol1cr, Blasphemer, Iniidcl ''d i'd o"'ne
genus" but such imputaticns will pass
Iby Nas the idle wind, which he regards
not"
He has been too long a member Of the
great social compact, al his stage Of life,
to regard that Mushroom termed popu-
larity, often acquired without merit, and
oftcncr lost without a crime.
sFor modes of Faith let graceless zoaiots light,
His cant be wrong, whose life is i'll the right
In conclusion, the author begs leave TO
make this solemn asscveration-that he
believes himself both in Theory and
Practice, a Republican-an ardent adj
mircr of Libcrty* and an uncompromis-
ing antagonist to the Despot, whether
detected under the martial cloak of a
military chiellain, or the modest surplice
of the Preacher.
oFor,unc in men, has some small difference
made,
One flaunts in rags, one ~fiutters in brocade.'
sin making this declaration, the author
wishes it distinctly understood that he is
not one of those pseudo Philosophers, or
agrarian Philanthropists, who would
(were it ever ~practicablc,) elevate the