The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-12-04

name. We propose to devote Z few more
words to the consideration Of his case - il
stands before the public, and then let him
retire upon his lsurels. determined. like his
iliustrious prototype. Calhoun, to rule in the
regions Of Pluto, rather than come under
proper discipline in . state Of beatitude.
We are inclined to this course of proceed.
ing. from owledge Of the circumstance,
that the President OF the Young Mems Lit.
erary Association of this place, has been ia
voyed with q note, couched in most courte.
Gus terms, similar to those sent 10 various
literary bodies throughout the North, and
declining TO appear a. lecturer for reasons
therein assigned-which note may or may
not reach the public eye, according as the
good or bad taste OF the immediate recipient
may prevail, seeing ihs, BY the character Of
Ar. Simms' refusal, en- unjust reflection is
cast in advance uton community which he
has never had sn opportunity OF coming in
eon,ac, with. and where uniform courtesy
has heretofore been extended TO all public
speakers.
Who is w Gilmore Simms. iorscoth,
that be should thus withdraw his august
presence from the whole North. inconti nent-
i, break up a series OF engagements. and
ioarish his literary yx;ta pescaa over our de-
voted hesds. merely because in New York
10 was greeted with empty benches upon
his second lecture and had dealt out to him
from the press generous and manly erisi-
eism Nothing more. We opiue. than eae
Of the would-be ssrsas, afflicted with ca
oetass srri5endi. which has been productive
al few works Of fiction. hardly known be-
youd his own immediate circle OF friends
and The wider provinces Of the 'runk-msker.
together with several scraps of gitve Po-
etry A man who, with Irving and Long.
fellow, with Prescott and Whittier. or even
with the ll-educated men of the South,
inferior as they generally are to those ms
king preteusions to literature Nsrth, can
hold no real companionship, in the estimate
made by the truly discriminating in the Re-
public of letters. The reason of his being
invited to address northern audiences. no
doubt arose from the feet that there is dis
position with US to conciliate our fiery breth-
rem, who live and breathe stoutly encased in
the panoPly of the peculiar institution
and who are constantly made sensible OF
their deficiencies as q race in many Partic-
ulars-not from any extraordinary merit at
tao. ing itself to w. Gilmore Simms. And
why has this scribbling FIRE eater chosen to
pursue course SO unusual rs to turn his
back disdainfully upon everything beyond
the pale wherein an oligsrchy rules SUI
preme, making US eli unhsppy-very
In answer to this latter question, it has
been suggested by friend, and we think
with gres, truth. that, whatever other excu-
Sc. might be needed. the man was primari-
" Influenced in his action by the feelings
OF demsgogue. He saw, that in the pres
ent excited state Of the Southern mind, by
eonspicuously repudia,ing all Northern as
.oeis,ion ana subjecting himself to the GEN.
sure of its press and ito people, even though
the proceeding nigh. be shabby one in
grain. sill be would be corr espondiugly
broueh, into notice and perhaps elevated in
the estimation of the erer-grate.ui South
that, from an obscure literary position. be
might assume the Laureate. by merely using
the preludicee Of those around him as step
ping stones 10 the summt OF his ambiiion--
the ambition Of welding absolute literary
supremacy in Charleston and parts thereun-
to adjoining, together with ell intensely
ehiyairous communities, such - that which
showered it's choicest gifts upen the ruf5an
Brooks, and ignobly reelected him unani-
raously to watch for and perhaps find an
other Sumnerian victim.
Let honors then, almost divine. be show.
cred upon w. Gilmore Simms by our mer-
curial neighbors. Bsnquets and bannerstri-
| umphsl arches and garlands OF flowers for
the literary hero OF The Soulh-snd in prose
| Or rhs me, II matters but little hieh, let him
not only recount his manifold dangers and
hair. breadth escapes from an iniuriated nor.
thern pgpulaee, bu, how brsyeiy he folded
bis rohe sb.ut him and stniked home * ard
jus; rs any pink Of chivalry should nave
done under the circumstances.
We have no fear Of the earth's being in
haencgd in is orbit b. this redou5table act
| q W. Gilmore Simms, whatever msy be
ti.e advantage to him personally und how.
ever s,renuossly his admirers msy sc, 10 the
| premises, 10 Sustain him in his endeayors 10
gain notoristy. But we do know that man
| who would cater to such feeling as that
hch influences a mere demsgogue, in or
der 10 promote his advancement in the field
gf literature, can have, in the end. but little
Of that fame awarded TO him which men Of
citers obtain by other AID more legitimate
means