Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-07-18
.8ellgllous 9epartn1ent,
NEOS EPISCOPOS, Editor.
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just,
but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him."

:" He that is first in his own cause seemeth Just
but his neghbor cometh and searcheth him."
SOLOMON.
Coz. SIMK1Ns,-My dear Sir: Although
this article is in the form of communica.
ton, prefer, for several reasons, 10 occupy
the corner to which have been accustomed
for some months past
You were not more surprised, | appre.
bend, at seeing my endorsement in the issue
of the 9TH inst, of Rev. Mr.. TucKER's letter
than was your editorial associate in reading
your article of the l1th inst, headed "Per.
sonal (which party had the best cause for
surprise will perhaps be seen in the sequel.
Allow me then first to correct an impres.
sion which your piece may have made on
the minds of some who "Know Nothing
Tin the natural way) of the manner in which
became connected with the paper 1t is
very true as you state that " a friend Of ours
voluntarily offered his services to conduct a
Religious Department in the paper;" but
unless my memory plays the traitor, that
friend did not knou you TN the transaction.
We did indeed have some conversation on
the subject, but not until after the arrange
ment was effected between myself and the
Junior Proprietor. 1t is much to be regret.
ted that this thought did not occur to you,
as it might in some degree have tempered
the tone of superciliousness which charac-
terised part of your articles
But that which has occasioned the most
surprise to myself, and to every one else
with whom I have passed word on the
subject, without distinction of party, religi-
ous or political, saint or sinner, was, that the
letter to which I,gave downright and
hearty approval" should have presented it.
self to you as such monstrum horrendum
informe, in all the hideousness of Anti .Catho-
lie Know Nothingism. 1 have however
worked ont solution of the. matter which
to myselfa at least is satisfactory, and to which
10 the spirit of charity shall adhere until
forced e different convic.ioa, ana :that,is,
that when you penned the article you had
not read Mr.. T's letter, but simply glancing
at it, and seeing that it called in question the
accuracy of some statement made by Mr..
STEPHENS, you concluded it to be "Know
Nothing" and hence your personal re.
Election.
shall not stop here to offer any COM
ments on the document which has given
offence to you and perhaps to others. That
has been widely published, and become part
of the history Of the times it can be seen
and read of all men where free press sends
the light of knowledge throughout our happy
country, and the flag Of freedom waves
"o'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave"
Thanks he to God, that flag still displays its
ample folds high above the sectarian stand
ards that would displace it, and under the
shade of the Palmetto all can meet aud build
the altars of their religious faith. Esso per.
petua, be the prayer of every Christian, the
sentiment of every patriot
All that submit in reference to the letter
and my own "approval," is, that the matter
discussed in it was of religious and not a
political character. The question at issue
was in relation to a point Of priority and
historical fact, respecting the establishment
Of religious liberty in America, and in proof
of this offer not my word, but refer you to
the document contained in the Advertiser
of the 4th July.
But Sir, the next thing which is presented
for your consideration, as an act of injus:
.tice to one who had right to expect better
things, is not mere matter of inference
drawn from what you have written, but a
pen and ink sketch placing me in the
ranks of political party, which, in your
expressed opinion is of dangerous tenden.
cies and especially useless to Southern inte.
rests" This is certainly taking bold ground,
and which, if put to the proof, you might
find it difficult to maintain. No evidence
can be found in any thing which / have
written or "approved" in this paper, and
my manner of life" has not been such as
commit me to the declaration of political
principles or preferences. There are few
men of my age who have had less tc do than
i in the strifes of contending parties, so
much so that have been reproved by my
friends for not exercising freeman's fran.
ehise. Unless actuated by considerations of
personal friendship, have seldom if ever
visited the hustings. The only exception
that now occurs to my memory, was in the
case of the last Senatorial election, when |
advocated the return of the then incumbent
for what honestly esteemed his faithful dis.
charge Of an unpopular duty. But Sir, I
am disposed to attribute this also to hasty
temperament, and not a design to injure one
who has never given you cause to do SO.
hold it to be the right however Of every one
II do not desire by this to make the impression
tiatI was Indifferent to your feelings on the subject
for freely acknowledge that had supposed there