Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-07-25
cor. BENTON A sCHooLMAsTER.

The Senator from Missouri, 40 our readers all
know, surprised the Senate and delighted large
nun0er Uf ths Senators. with his recent sRgeei
against the Annexation Of Texas. He was after
wards attacked by MIR. McDufie, and responded in
a speech which must have made the South Carroll.
ma feel uneasy for gentleman 10 more restless un-
der reproof or opposition than he. In the course
of his reply to Col Benton. he manifested no little
dissatisfaction at the Colonel's use and application
Of the word necphyte On this part Of his speech,
Col. Benton offered the following very pleasant
commentary:
The Senator from South Carolina. who has done
me the honor to address his whole speech to me,
takes exception to the word neophyte, applied by
me 10 the new friends Of Texas. I am surprised
at this exception coming from him. That Senator
10 scholar-no mean One-I use the term in Its
literary sense--and in his ear, familiar with the
language of scholars, the word can imply nothing
offensive or derogatory 1t 10. indeed. chaste and
cred and profane. st. Paul uses it in his epistles
athe Greek copes) and, after naming him, no high
er authority 10 wanted for what 10 gentlemanly and
scholastic, as well as what is pious and Christian
but bring me dictionary, (speaking to page OF
the house;) bring me Richardson, letter N, and
let US see what he says.
"NEopHYrE--In French. neophyte; in Italian,
neoito; in Spanish, neophyto; Latin, neophytus;
Greek, neophutos from neOs, new, and ptuton,
plant, new plant; fguratively, new convert -
one newly implanted 70. c.) in the church; and
consequently, newly converted to the Christian
faith; one newly inflated newly introduced or EN-.
ployed"
This Presumed Mr.. Benton) is Richardson's de.
fnition and etymology; and nothing can be more
classic or innocent. Itispure Greek, only modiied
in sound and termination,i in going through six Lam
guages; and both literally and guratively, has an
innocent and decent Specification. Richardson gives
illustrations in the use of the word BY eminent wrl-
tiers. Let US follow him, and see the application
Of the term; and first he quotes from Lord Cham
cellor Bacon, characterized by Popein single line
which will not repeat for it is only Of the schol-
ar and philosopher Of whom we speak. In ms e.
say ON the Union Of Laws, he says:
may, in the effects of grace, which exceed far
the effects of nature, we St. Paul makes differ.
ence between those ne calls neCphytee-that 10,
newly grated into Christianity-and those that
are brought up in the faith"
This il scriptural or sacred application Of the
word, and very applicable; for the Senator is
eraft IN The Texas faith, and was brought up in it,
But il has many other applications; and Ben jon
an applies Il hisrionicaly q professional appli-
cation with him. and shows that the stage Is well
a. the church, had its crops Of these new plants.
He says, in Cynfhia's Revels:
at 10 with your young grammatical courtier. e
with your ne0phyte player, thing usual TO be
daunted at the first presence or interview"
In poetry a. well asin prose the neophyte figures
and thus we End him again in Ben Jonscn, in the
Revels Of Cynthia:
"There stands msophyie glazing. Of his face:
repeats