The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-05-25
A MARTYR WHO WILL NOT BE A MARTYR.

A MARTYR WHO WILL NOT BE A MARTYR.-
Sometime since, as the reader Of the COuri
sr will remember, Mr.. j. M. Clapp was romOv-
ed from the office of Examiner Of Drugs for
the port of Charleston. The Mercury imme-
mediately raised the cry Of prescription, and
shed an ocean Of tears over the remains of the
martyred Clapp. Mr.. ClaPp, however, is q
proud man, and, like Don Juan.
-" not at all disposed to be a martyr"
In fact, II he be such, he is not at all senSi-
bic Of II, an d will by no meas consent that his
remains shall be followed BY body Of pro-
f~essiOnal mourne rs, after the fashion Of Euro
pean funerals. He has indicted an epiStle to
his friend Of the Mercury, touching his alleg-
ed claims to the hOnOrS Of martyrdom, portions
Of which we subjOin:
DEAR SIR: / read your remarks yesterday
on a recent change in one OF the small offices
of the custom house here, with equal surprise
and modification. had distinctly expressed
my opinion and wish that nothing ShOuldbe said
about it, and l have at least a disposition, to
complain that l should thus, against my will, be
made a text for political discourses, and the
privacy of my little corner invaded for the
sake Of Ainging my books, inkstandS, and
CrucibleS at the heads Of the opposite party
| seem to myself to be Paraded before the pub
lie as an Office beggar, as a political sufferer
who having Lost his all by the Wing FIRE, Is
earn eslly recommended for cell in the po-
litical ~poot-house, made and provided for Su-
peranuated mendicants. I need not tell YOU
but am most reluctantly compelled to inform
the public, that / enact no such part, and that
Ireiect and repudiate the character with scorn,
/ never applied for the Office | held; l never
asked friend or enemy to aid me in keeping it,
and you can testify that whatever steps were
taken in my favor, were taken without my
knowledge or consent. 1t seemed to trifiing 4
matter to struggle for while it was in posses
sion, and now that it is gone, il requires an al
most miraculous ingenuity to discover IN 1t
plausible excuse Tor excitement.
=
Yonr picture Of me as q conscientious Off
Cial, devOtihg himself with untiring energy ant
s~leepless assiduity to the discharge Of his du
ties, is, per Sc, very affecting, but ! am corhpelI
to rob il Of much Of its charming warmth
and freshness, by cOntesSing that all the drug
and medicines imported into Charleston sine
was appointed have been somewhat less il
value than the amount Of my pay, and that
thew have been of such CHOICE quality, and 81
perfectly put up, that their examination cos
me almost as little trouble as it conferred ben
eft on the public. If it had not been tina
the duties of the Office, such as they were, 10y
in that path Of natural science where | an
fond Of strOlling, I should have been positive
" ashamed to hold it.
/ think the public will give me credit TO
not being fond Of this egOtistical sort Of Wi
ting, and l will allow that there is cause 10
il in this case. If so, | shall be grateful t.
them, as / am to you, Mr.. Editor, for giving
me a corner Of your paper.
Sincerely yours,
J. M, CLAPP.