Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-04-01
From the Arkansas Banner
The attack upon Rev. Mr. Maffitt.
Audi QLieraDl Ddrie1l.

Audj QHeram pariem.
@" Farce, Cc7aedy and Tragedy Hayden. Hal
derman and Prentice united at the same time
against one poor Purson, are fearful Odds
Horne IOoke.
MR. EDIToR--I had just concluded letter to a
distant friend when the last Gazette was handed
to me, and my eye fell upon an editorial, headed
- Lcctures--Mexlco.'' a After reading the article
added a postscript to my letter, of which the fol-
lowing is a copy. If you deem it appropriate TO
the occasion, It Is at your service for the Banner
ana such other papers as chosso to re-pubIish it.
The editor Of the Gazette has right TO COM
plain, fin return for his unprovokcd uncharla-
BILE, and drscourteous assault upon peaceful
Christian minister, on the eve of his departure
from the scene of his good works--he finds him.
self in the ungIoved hand Of JUSTICE.
"P. S. | have Just read in tho Gazette. a no.
anti-Uar- WUmot PT0UiSo-zcould-b be a.
1chig- -iH-diSgWise newspaper, of this place, what
ITS author evidently designed profound and
witty critiqUe, but what is really a wretched H.
rdde against the Rev. John n. Maifitt. And
wherefore. do you suppose such an attack was
made Why, sir, because, on last Friday eve-
ming, that gentleman delivered TO large, euligh-
tened and enraptured auditory, O. Lecture on the
Mexican Var; in which lecture he presented in
pictures OF glowing magnifcenCe the peerless
deeds of our army in Mexico-compared, with
philoSophc discrimination and power, the various
races of men, and demonstrated the almost I'M
measurable superiority of the AngloSaxon blood,
as developed under the American institutions
contrasted, with the hand of master and the
heart of phanthropist, the Press aud the Sword .
as The great moral and political levers which
move the world-and upheld, with more than
poets inspiration, and christians zeal. the Bible
doctrine of the overruling providence of God, in
the whole economy of the Universe extending
from the creation of the worlds to the fall of
sparrow" and embracing within its wise, benef.
cent, yet mysterious scope, the destinies of men
and nations, IN their progress decline and dissolu-
ton. Tho head and front of his offending hath
this extent more" And vet, for this, of
which any man of legitimate ambition might we'll
be proud, this 50 slashing'' Paul Clifford of the
Gazette, declares that - his cloth shall not protect
him from censure." That you may see and Judge
this " censuro" it is, send you the whole slip,
cut from its parent sheet. Could | present YOU
thea lecture, also. in all its fair proportions then
might bid you--'' Look here on this picture, and
on this - but, from your excellent taste and good
judgment, ind no cause 10 ask" Could you on
tins fair mountain leave 10 feed, and batten on this
moor 90
1t was my original purpose merely 20 call your
attention TO this specimen of false taste and vulgar
temper, on the part of one who has usurped the
place OF Il Censor mOrum et iiteratunl and, abus-
ing his s. little brief authority" has fully estab-
ed his rank among those poor devils'' that heed
lessly ''rush IN where Angels fear to tread.'-
But since my hand is in, | cannot forbear, small
as the game undoubtedly is, to Indicate something
even worse, on the part of this Soi-disant critic,
than false taste and vulgar temper. You will OBJ
serve that he says" the Rev. Gentleman Is an
indifferent lecturer, in all respects, finished
elocution." And yet, this accidental Jeffrey, on
ly thirty days before, characterised the lecturer
as " the distinguished Divine ana Orator - and
that, too, after he had heard him lecture. Again
week afterwards, he says ''05- Rev. Prof. Maj.
fit gave able and eloquent lecture, last night to
a crowded house, And still, again, one other
week later, we'll known correspondent. generally
regarded a second-self of the editor, in his first
editorial column, and from the tripod speaks
approvng y of " the Rev. Prof. Maffitt in has Sc
ries Of brilliant lectures; and urges the citizens