The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-10-10

'Oo""S 'e'lef VI heV. mr. Dalrd, we
give it below, and also Col. Keitt's reply,
tor the benefit Of our readers. '.' Ma.
From the Spartanburg Express. 2
The Politicians and the Churches.
fs"hcaP yeur dust on qnick and dead"
- .rs... - lSHAKEsPEARE,
lioS. L. NJ. KEIrr, Orangeburg, sc.
Sir: The maintenance OF the cause Of
truth and righteousness frequently imposes
on men unpleasant duties. The applica
ton OF this fact to the case before me, |
will now state
In common with thousands Of delight
ed citizens, hSd the pleasure listening to
The address delivered a. ,lie e>m.plimelary
dinner given recently in this village to
Col. Orr the worthy representative of this
Congressional district. Wien, that day I
took the position o. 'earing, nothing could
havS been farther from my miud than the
duty which now devolves upon me---thai
of calling your attention and that Of the
public, 10 certain statements made in your
speech. Had you confined yourselfto pol
iiics proper; or, as An episode, had YOU
been content with the humane act of inter
ring d,ccntly the remains Of the suppos e,l
defunct know nothing orsaizalion, Won
never should have heard from me. viii
matters Of that sort have nothing to do.
IL the language. however, of the "deatl,less
Shakespeare"--and Iquote from him as a
compliment to yourself and your bonored
compcers, for noticed that several of you
drew largely from his rich treasures lin
his language, | say, ye "heaped your dust
on quick aud dead" In other word your
statements respecting the Presbyterian and
tue Episcopal churches, as regarded their
a!ledged connection with aboliiionism. nj
though wholly without intention on your
part 10 do them injustice or injury. con-
signed their now strong and compact or
ganizations to speedy dissolution, IL not
an Infamous gave.
You will not understand me to deny ci-
ther the right or the propriety of referring
publicly to the Ceurch, in any Of its as.
poets, conditions or bearings. even in po-
Iirical speeches. Ii was your right. The
church lso plants her .elfbol,lly before the
world, aud iusites--nay challenges in.es.
tigati ~ o! her character, her cJuditiou and
leI work. What regret is that YOU had
not Informed your,elfn IRE fully of the facts
IN relation 10 the churches Of which YOU
spoke. And what complain OF is, tha,
your statements, uncorrected, place those
churces in n false light before the world,
and thus 10 them great injustice and injury.
in support OF your argument in favor Of
a Southern organization. you pronounced
the who mass f.he population north of
the slavery limits, with the rarest excep-
lions "tlorouGhty and hepeiessiyrGf6oiition-
ized!' stated that their conservation, their
teacl,iags, their books, and their nurse-y
lullabies, were all deerly imbued witll tho
"a execrable ntimeuts-thnt, in conse-
quence of this state Of things, division hal
taken place, years ago, in the Methodist
and ID ibtist churches--tha. the .Presby-
terian and the Episcopal churches were
in state Of deep agitation, were indeed
ON tie very 4 division and that di-.
vision, was inevitable!
Now, while freely admit that the fan.
atic.il element in that caion is large, that
portions Of it are so far gone that no reas.
Sonable hope can be entertained re. pecting
them; and while agroe with you that their
spirit and course Of action are highlily CEN
surable, dissent wholly from your infer
ences, rs TO what must be tho inevitable re-
sat Of their fanatical course; aud protest
against the occupancy; on the above named
churches, Of the position in which your
statements wsald place them. You s,read
cut before your hearers thosa isaihseme
masses, and represent them as aboaniiag
equally IN all ne churches. but the Bap.
list and Methodist churches, years ago, cut
foose from their portion ofthose conta:nin-
a,ing hor,les. and Of course, have, ever
since, stood forth besare the world, pargcd,
commendsbe and glorious; while the
Pr6byterisn and Episcopal churce are sfia
IN tht odiops eon,aet--stil! fraterisiug, or
striving 70 do so, with those on whom pol
iticians- always very fastidious in their
moral tastes--spit only venom, apdfrom
whose touch their pnrer spirits instructive
iy recoilE This. sir IS the positioa sn
wief you have placed Us!
Now, in relation 20 those divided church
es,I say, blessings on them in their deed I
They chose their own cause--hsd q per
feet tight to do sp--acted no doubt from
censciepdcas moiiges pursned the only
course, whieh, as they supposed, could he
takea. We took different eonfse and,
~ I shall show, reached fhe sasse Rot a
more dssin4bls resait.
AS regards also the Episcopal Church.
have. ia the above mentioned respect, noth.
ing 10 say. i,spsoper defenders will guard
rs honor. But rs minister Of the Pres
5ytssisn ciprel, located also 90 the ground
.upvn which yop spoke, and in the midst
oi the comnshnity before which you state
ulcnis Fefe insde. ! conSider Il incumbenl
| on me dee also to yonrself--to st,se ne
fdnfa q. fhav arr. goss,ortsr, 4, said cllurcloa