Squatter sovereign., 1855-08-14
President shanuon,s Gard.

derers and base calumniators, who have
been engaged for sometime past. in vilifiy-
ing and abuseing him.
Their attempts to ruin the character OF
this exemplary man, will 'sfall like brittle
shafts on armor." President SHANNON,
is too well known in Missouri, and through
out the entire South. to be injured by the
innuendoes, and'insinuatiens thrown out by
Abolitionists of the ROLLINS and SwITz-
LER school. Were we In his situation,
we should desire no greater honor than to
be denounced by the enemies Of the South,
for so manfully defending her institutions
from the gross attacks of such worthless
traitors as hover in, anu around the Colum-
bia Statesman office. But to the card, it
speaks for itself:
"Having resolved, long ago, that I would
take no notice Of the malicious Freesoil
calumniatiors, who, week after week, hurl
their envenomed shafts of detraction
from behind the ramparts of a fictitious
signature, owe it to the people of Missou-
ri, and to the interests of the State Univer-
ty, to publish this card.
Nearly six years ago, without solicita-
ton on my part, the Presidency of the
State University was rendered to me by a
Board of Curators, with not one of whom
had ever enjoyed the pleasure of a per-
sonal acquaintance.
During the last five years, have devo-
ted my best energies to the promotion of
the educational interests of the State, rare
| ly condescending to take any notice of the
vile anonymous ISLANDERS that were indus
triously circulated. With what success l
have acted thus, the wide spread and grow
ing reputation Of the State University ftp-
nishes the best evidence.
Why, then, am assailed increasingly
In the public journals by anonymous ca
lumniators with such fiendish malignity,
and with zeal and perseverance worthy
OF better cause?
To the intelligent, many of these as
saults to which allude, furnish of them
selves ready reply. For making pub
lie speech in defence Of the institution of
domestic slavery, have been assailed as
''The political priest, who is at the head
of our State University madman'
l-"Our politico-religious priest 1.-THE
| bigoted and fanatical President of our Uni
| versity," &c.. &c. have neither the in
clination nor the ability to respond to such
polite epithets; nor to honor, even by kick,
those who use them. But have a few
suggestions to make to all honorable men
for the public good.
AS President of the State University, it
has become my duty, among other things,
to instruct the young men of the State in
principles of Moral Science. The text
book here, as in American Colleges gen.
orally, is Wayland's Elements, a work Of
high merit, except on the subjects of War,
the Sabbath, and Slavery. It is well
known, however, that Wayland exerts all
the powers of his great mind to prove that
slavery is "ser,der ct ubique,' always and
everywhere moral wrong.
Had I been satisfied to teach Wayland's s
views, without note or comment, and thus
corrupt the minds of the students commit
ted to my trust, I would no doubt thus fa1
have secured the appreciation of my pres
ent calumniators. But whether fortunate
ly or unfortunately, have committed an
objectionable offence, by believing, and
teaching in the lecture room, and on "the
hustings," that slavery is sanctioned alike
by the Bible, the Laws of Nature, and
the Constitution of the United States; and
that Congress neither has, nor, were i
even a consolidated central despotisn
could it possibly have the right to impair q
vested right of property in slaves in the
Territories, the District of Columbia, o.
anywhere on earth, to which the authori
ty of the Federal Government extends
Now, submit it to all honest minds
whether in slave State, this should give
offence to any, but the most ultra Free
soilers and Abolitionists, and whether thos,
who assail me on this account, do not prov,
themselves the most shameless hypocrites
when they profess to be in favor of sustain
ing the institution of slavery.
! To those who agree with me respecting
! the lawfulness of slavery, but doubt tn,
, proprlety of my discussing it publicly. i.
amy such there be. I remark that hav,
been impelled to the course have takeI
by the following considerations.
I have long believed, that God had rails
ed up these United States, as his own cho
sen instrumentality for the regeneration O
the world; and regard the preservation
of the Union as indispensable to the &C
complishment of the sublime result.
Nevertheless, / am fully convinced tha
no created power can save the Union fiv