The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-04-19
The Nebraska RiIi...smith Miiier...
Rev. i. MCMaSierA.


his moderate abilities would allow, by totally
disregarding their expressed will. Some
time since, and during the tendency of the
"fraud bill'' in the House of Representatives,
previous to its reference to Committee of
the Whole, the citizens of Gibson county,
embracing very large and respectable por-
ton of its people, saw fit to memorialze
Congress against the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise, and against the passage of the
then pending bill. This memorial represent
ed, as we are reliably informed, the senti-
ments of at least three fourths of Mr.. MiIler's
constituency. The memorial anticipated Mr..
Miller's opposition, and called forth reply.
In this he says-"Your petition against the
Nebraska Bill was received and presented
by me, is my duty boand, although as
you anticipated, am friend to the meas
ure." His reply abounds in evasive lodges,
interspersed with few crude and new-fan-
gled ideas of no practical Importance what
ever, which, he says, in view of the respect
he entertains for the high character OF the
Reverend gentleman who forwarded the petit
ton, land the other petitioners he felt constrain-
ed briefly to state. He tells his constitu-
ents very politely, that they don't understand
the matter, and that it grows better the more
you look at it, and informs them of his con-
clusion that he intends to do just he
pleases. This letter of Mr.. Miller's was not
at all satisfactory to his constituency, and
calls out a rejoinder from the Rev. J. Nc
Masters, of Princeton, showing up his incon-
sistency and his cowardly evasion of the issue
presented by the petition.
The Enquirer then boldly steps in to the
rescue OF Smith Miller, and tells the Rev. j.
McMasters and his co-pettioners that their
hostility to the Nebraska bill is founded in
ignorance. "Indeed, (says our neighbor,) ii
requires remarkable degree Of Ignorance to
enable one to oppose the Nebraska bill on
conscientious grounds" Really, one would
think, from reading Smith MiIler's nilk-and-
water letter, and the Enquirer's apology,
that the people OF "Old Gibson" are set of
arrant fools, because they have dared to
think for themselves, and exercise the high
prerogatives of the right of petition. This is
a pretty principle of self-government tina,
Smith Miller and his apologst inculcate.
The moment the people attempt to speak
and protest against the per6dy of dema-
gcgues, they are tod that they are all fools
and they "display remarkable degree of ig-
norance when ever their consciences prompt
them to speak," Hear our neighbor again
address himself to the Rev. of Gibson:
We believe the REVEREND Mr.. McMAs
TIERS, is Democrat and !"for the sake Of
aud lang syne" we desire to brush away one
or two of the cob webs which have envelop.
ed his brain. We regret that any layman OF
divine who has Democratic tendencies shoula
oppose the Nebraska Bill, and, as ignorance
appears to be at the bottom of all such oppo.
sltion, we cheerfully volunteer to explain al
knotty points.
As the Enquirer arrogates to itself the
position of tutor, to the Rev. Mr.. McMaster!
and the citizens of Gibson, we will invite
their attention to its instruction, most atten
lively, assuring them at the same time tina
if they have the least doubt about the Ne
braska Bill being the most contemI tibl,
humbug of the age, this impudent and pomp
Gus teacher will remove them at BREATH
If there is anything 10 make its Geformit,
appear more hideous, it il. the assertions an,
sophstry of Douglas, Smith Miller, and las
of all the Enquirer.
Our friends in Gibson, whom our neghbo
says "display such remarkable degree of ig
norance," will find this apologst of Smit
Miller, arguing matters as foreign from hi
text, as the man he volunteers to Defend
Hear him:
Their great organ, the heart of the VIII
party whose pulsations give life to its re
hottest members, the NATIONAL INTELLsGEN
GER, denounced Secretary Marcy's doctrin
OF protection to foreigners who had declare
their intention to be naturalized, and IN
Wings very generally approved OF this COZ
demnation.
Now, of this, all we have to say, is, that it
false from beginning to end-and were it tru
1t Is utterly irrelevant IN the defence of Smit
Miller, or in support of the Nebraska Bill
The Enquirer raises this cry to shield itse
from the scorn of the foreign people in OF
midst, who have publicly resolved to no
the editor of that paper in utter contempt, (,
openly and wilfully condemning the prime
pies contained in the Marcy letter. II
Journal advocated those principles from Il
start, and the Enquirer opposed them.
Lest the editor may have forgotten VIII
he said, we will quote from his own column
"Foreigners come to this country urih their b
les mortgagsd rih debts ,rhich they are unp,
ing to pay, and claim its protection" He tn
referred to the debt of military service viii