Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-08-13

ana loyalty the nation which has so constant
ly honored me-
The closing paragraph of the report is a
tribute to those who fell and a recommendation
OF their families to the generosity Of the Re-
bubble.
From the Washington Union
The singular correspondence, quoted in the
following article from Saturdays tPensylva-
man." between Mr.. Peter a Brown and Mr.
McCalla, it appears, was first published in the
Philadelphia Sun, "a leading paper of the par
ty known as the " Native American partv,)
as long ago as the 2lst of June last. Of this
Native American party, we understand,
Mr.. Peter \. Brown is member. The charge
that the President had in conversation with
Mr.. McCalla, declared that he had appointed
two Catholic priests "chaplains, nominally,
that they might become SPIES was so absurd
and improbable story, that, though more
than month elapsed after It's first appear
ance IN the " Sum- it does not seem to have
attracted public attention until its recent re-
publication in the " National lntellgencer,"
1t certainly did not attract much of our atten-
ton We perceive it is now going the rounds
OF many other papers. We forbear to remark
upon the m0tlve or object of the parties be-
tween whom this correspondence passed. 1t
is scarcel y necessary for us to say, as we are
authorized to do, that the President never
conceived such an idea-much less could he
have conveyed such an one in conversation
with Mr.. McCalla-as is attributed to him by
that person.
1t is proper to state, also, that neither at the
time the Revs. Mr.. McElroy and Mr.. Rey
went to the army, nor at any prior or subse-
quent period, was there any conference or
communication with them by any member of
the administration, nor between the President
and the cabinet or any member of it. nor any
thing IN any communication with Gen. Taylor,
to whose headquarters they went, which
sanctioned, in the remotest or slightest manner,
the idea that they were expected to act as
"spies."
From the Pennsylvania.
The federal papers are just now luxuriating up
on tho acquisitions of the Rev. w. L. McCalIa, as
contained in the following from the National In
telligencer:
Chaplaius IN the Army.-Hon. Peter A.
Brown, of Philadelphia, lately addressed the fol-
owng letter to Rev. w. l.. McCaila, late of Lex
ington, KY, and now of Washington:
"'DEAR SIR: | earnestly but respectfully re-
quest you to answer truly, candidly, and fully, the
following questions:
"' LIST. Were you not recently an applicant for
the situation of chaplain in the American army
now in Mexico?
"'2d. Had you personal interview with his
excellency, James K. Polk, on that subject!
ed Did the President tel YOU that when he
appointed two Catholic priests chaplains, he knew
he had no right to make any such appointments,
as there was no such Office within his gift but
that he had appointed them chaplains nominaly,
that they might become spies
To these questions Mr.. McCalIa returned the
following laconic answers at the conclusion of a
long letter, rejecting severely on the Catholic
church, which has nothing to do with the particu-
lar point under consideration for which reason it
is omitted:"
"My answer to your first question is, | was to
your second, had; to your third, he did,
60 Respectfully, yours,
"W. L. McCALLA'"
These same papers, few days ago, were
DESTROYS of convincing the country that the
administration was opposed to the Catholics
and now they are laboring to degrade them,
by attempting to prove the charge contained
in the above wicked calumny We presume
that the Catholics will be found to be deeply
sensible of this new favor at the hands of the
federalists. The reader will not fail, in this
connexion, also to observe with what skill that
portion of the letter Of the Rev Mr.. McCalla,
"refecting severely on the Catholics" is sup
pressed as if, indeed, the insult upon the re-
spectacle and exemplary clergymen referre
to were made any less pointed by such a
course.
The Rev. Mr.. McCalIa' is known as a
somewhat sanguineous clergyman-a person
as fond CT battle as of books-in a word, a
sort of bigotted knigh -errant, always on some
hair enterprise intent. The N. York
Commercial, with a great deal OF archness,
says be 6 bears name not unknown to the
citizens generally, or now heard for the first
time" A very questionable construction
might be placed upon terms so equivocal.
Of the two Catholic clergymen sent by the
President to Mexico, enc (Mr Rey) sacrificed
his life to his God and his country; and the
other (Mr McElroy) has recently returned tc
his home. Mr. McElroy is a patient and ex,
emplary person, and will no doubt take al
early opportunity to defend himself against
the aspersions cf his slanderers.
| In the meanwhile, we beg TO say that The
whole accusation, as quoted from the Nation
al IntelIigencer, is a fabrication manufactured
out of the whole cloth. 1t has not even {
suspicion upon which to rely. Upon the
highest and the best authority, we pronounce
it unfounded and untrue. The President il
too cautious to make a confdant of ;
leaky and cratic clergyman like Mr.. Mccall
la, and he has too high a sense OF his own du
ties. and appreciates too keenly the rights an'
feelings of others, to indulge design SO baS
and degrading as that alluded to in Mr.. Nc
Calais letter, and by him alleged to be enter
tanned by the Executive in regard to the Cath
olic chaplains.
1t is the province of the chief magistrate o
this great country to submit to abuse withou
the opportunity to reply. But, in the presen
Instance, the charge Is one that demands tn
answer that we have given to it, if only as a
act of Justice to the intrepid men who accep
ted the appointment conferred upon them b
the President, and discharged its duties in s
noble and christian splrlt.
An old blind man having shrew for hi
f L