Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-02-10
From the Charleston Mercury.
TO THE REV. SYDNEY SMYTH.


TO THE REV. SYDNEY SMYTH.
SIR:-Your angry philippics against
the people of Pennsylvania, in which you
have displayed so much Christian patience
and moderation, have convinced the wes-
tern world of fact, which before they on
~ suspected; namely: that the clergy of
England whom you represent so feeling
ly, are the principal holders of American
stocks-that the chief loss from deprecia-
ton and reputation will fall on Reverend
spectators, Clerical stockholders and
Ecclesiastical Shylocks.
1t is written "my fathers house shall be
called the house Of prayer; but ye have
made it a den of thieves" From the poor
Curate ofthirty pounds year, to the lord
ly rector or princely bishop of thirty thou
sand, you are all money brokers, stock
jobbers and mere worshippers of mammon.
And then the Christian resignation with
which you bear your losses, proves that
you are sincere worshippers of the yellow
god
"Whose blush can thaw the consccrated
snow
That lies on DAMS lap"
You say you have lost 40 per cent. on
your American speculation, and therefore
you threaten to retire "with sulky indigna-
ton" from the field of speculative enter
prise-because you did not gain 40 per
cent. This is quite hasty in you, and
shows clearly that patience is not one oil
your virtues. But you have not told us
the whole truth. Did you not buy the
Pennsylvania bonds when deprecated 10
80 dollars in the hundred? And if you
chose to sell them at 60, the fault is not in
Pennsylvania, but in your own rash and
inconsiderate haste. 1t is true you lost
by the transaction $50 on each share OF
your stock; but some one Of your coun-
trymen who is better financier than your
self, has gained the amount which you say
you lost. Risk is incident to all specnla-
ton as we'll as 10 all other species of gam
bling; and II is the duty Of every stockjob'
ber-especially if he be christian and
genileman-not to boast when he wins
and not to grumble when he loses.
Your choleric letter of complaint at your
losses, puts you in the position of that sold
fox" in the fable which you quote. Like
him you huve been caught in the snare Of
YOUR own avarice--and should your mis-.
fortune become known to the poultry Of
your parish; what cries of exultation would
be heard from the barn-yards! The hens
would cackle their shrill notes of triumph
the geese would hiss their contempt
the ducks would jabber their joy--the tur
kes would gobble forth their exultation--
and old Chantcleer with his "cock-a-doo
dos" would not be the least noisy of YOU
insulters. The sounds Of triumph would
would soon reach the hog pens and COW
cribs; the cows would low with delight
and many an old porker would grunt forth
his sulkv satisfaction at the fate OF the
"old fox" so renowned for the taking O.
tvthe pigs. While you with the sanctl
monious air of an old vulpine poachel
would modestly address them, "My friends
why all this morbid hatred Of an innocent
parsonf What have ever done 10 oil
fend you'll" They of course would reply Il
YOU as their ancestors did to Pifpay's fox
"Uou old rogue, where are all our LITTLE
ones, our wives, our husbands, our sister
|, and our brothers whom you have slain BY
annual defamation to glut your voraclou
appetite? Have you not every year muir
dered one.tenth Of our whole families, ant
do YOU not still claim right 10 decimat'
the rising genoration"
Itwould puzzle the wit of tho Oldest TO-
f whether clerical or lay, to frame a rcpl,
. 10 this remonstrance. But TO be serious
/ You have amassed large fortune out o
I the hard earnings Of your countrymen
} your ill.gotten gain has been wrung from
, the hard hands of starving industry; ant
not conten, to enjoy your large income IL
/ the luxurious idleness of your order, you
. must needs turn stock broker and specula
I tor. without either the education or expe
, rience necessary to insure success oil
chanre--and as your letters prove, with
out that GOODNESS which is necessary t
success in any department. And as
I may be taken for granted that your cleri
r cal education has not fitted you to make
D Girard or Rothschild, you need not b
: surprised at sustaining small loss in you
!. first attempt (fitbe your firsO at stock
v iobbing. You are not first and will not b
i the last who has suffered and will SUITE
!. loss in that gambling department. But TO
e your consolation beg leave to inform 20
a that although yOu may have lost in you
o attempt at speculation in our state bonds
e others Of your couutrymen have game
:. in much larger ratio. And can turn
G ish proof which even yourself cannot cor