The true Democrat., 1856-05-06
Letter from MT. Davidson

chaiieilSeS mankind Tn general, and myself in particular to "a friendly discussion based on the American platform or any article of it." and have since read editorial speculations about the issue of the proposed discussion, and remarks aboutthe parties expected to engage in it. Be klnd enough to allow me space in your columns for reply to the communication of Mir. Chap man.
 Having taken no part in political. affairs for months, and being merely an interested obser- yer of the movements of the times, confess was not a little surprised to find myself the object of so pointed an attack, and the subject of newspaper comment. It is true, I had re- marked 1t as one of the peculiarties of the age that in some quarters the pulpit had taken the lead of politicians and the press; but did not calculate on seeing in Tennessee an Irish Pro- testant preacher entering the lists as the first knight oI the great political tournament of '56 1 cannot say that regret it, for being an admi Ter of christianity, 1 rejoice that the affairs of the Redeemer's Kingdom are so much advanc- ed that they can afford to be held for while in abeyance, to allow one of his ambassadors time for conflict about the governmental affairs of this world
 The conflict having been determined upon, l am still at a loss to conjecture why the Rev. James l.. Chapman took 1t into his head to throw hls glove at my feet" and to invite me to the political arena My acquaintance with him Is very limited, extending only to an in- troductlon and conversation for some hours at the city of Memphis ill the fall of 1852. Our relations were friendly then. We were on the same platform, if 1 remember well, and have no recollection of saying or doing anything to interrupt the current of our reciprocal national affectlons-except, perhaps, it might be this, that, in defending myself before the good peo- pie of Memphis, from the charge of being an Orangeman, l spoke too harshly of that society for the taste of Mr. Chapman, and was somp- what too liberal in my notions about Catholics But, surely, Mir. Chapman has long since for gwen and forgotten sentiments that were not intended to have an offensive personal applica- tlon. have not heard of the Rev. James L. Chapman since, except in the occasional indul- gence of prochvlty for controversy; and, but for your very opportunc introduction of him, he would have been to me an "unknown | knight"
 confess am somewhat reluctant to accept the challenge of Mir. Chapman, not because am under any serious apprehcnsions about de- feat or demolition, but because 1 have my doubts about any good that discussion will effect, and for the reason that I am very sure both sides would claim a victory Besides. am apprchensve that, by portion of our all dltors, MT. Chapman and myself would be regarded rather in the light of foreign gladiato- rial combatants, and they would feel very little concerned If We destroyed each other dis like very much, to afford to the public the spectacle of two Protestant Irishmen who know the blgotry and intolerance of the old world, debating about religious freedom in the new.
 But the contest Is not of my seeking, and shall not decline it, when the proper time ar rives. If Mir. Chapman will await little lon Ser" he or any other representative of Know Nottingham, that longs for public entertain ment at my expense, can have it. My engage ments are such that l can have nothing to dc with politics before summer, at which time have promised to take part in the presiden- tlal canvass. When that time arrives, any man who represents Know Nottingham, whether he be native or foreign born; be he national Ame- rcan or black repubcam;a member of d secret couhcll, or an alder and abettor of the cause can have fair division of whatever time have to dispose of. 1 shall be perfectly willing for any one ot them, day after day, for three months. to demonstrate to the people of Ten nessee, by me IS an example, that 1t takes at least twentyonc years residence to qualify an '''H 'Ni N''<-SiiohiP F III biIc CuIlcu SUdtcS They must allow me- however on my side tc show, if can by them and their ,rncipes that there are some men whom no soil or eli. mate, no length of years or training. could ma k, acquaintance with the genius and spirit of oui free institutions
 II Mr. Chapman and myself are to have ; discussion, let him define the basis on which ne wishes fo trund Il. He says, Ion the Ame 'ncAn pIatt"rm" but having in my possession about twenty hve platforms that profess to bt \" American" adapted to every meridian and tc every parallel, and each one claiming to b. better than the others, and perfect of its kind am unable to "iocate" my respected Irisl friend. tie must also specify the blanks he wishes to discuss; for, surely, he cannot expect me to debate the hNtsms thatappear in the so- called "American' platforms The publj, would hardly thank Mr. Chapman and mvsell for discussing Wie bei1lq ana 1yerruliao Pm. pidence of Gol" whether we should have a, . attachment Q cQnRtrQ;" whether "He Tqios o"9ht 10 6e preserUei;' whether "tie constjt,tio, a,M tbe 1atrs d,0,Ad be reuereatloly obeyeI, whether ' corruption in politics iS e q,eot e,jl; whether "d'sy4si JoJ Mc m,li hunt atter ofice' Is great virtue; whether " etucstioa js e 0,ea 6lessng;" or, whether "the L1aitei States 0ll1bt 0 deal justly lrjh aN nations." 1 would have to be real knos0 nottlng to deny such things ana therefore ask, most respectfully, to be al- lowed to decline the discussion of them
 also beg leave to decline controversy about the respective merits of the Protestant anC Catholic faiths As Protestant I cannot al low myself to De placed m such position, but leave It for those to whom it appropriately be- longs. ln a word, let Mr. Chapman state wha he considers the diSlincttUe characteristics o '1 \ in nn of ,,,i, tions and let him give them "questionablc shape" l wish to see his declaration before can pyeaa to it-both are necessary to a proper issue.
 There are some references to myself in Mir Chapman'S communication, which demand no tlce. He says that am a pupil of the far famed Chalmers" If he is not mistaken
 have been pupil of Chalmers however un- worthy of that great teacher. 1 caught none of hls inspirations, and remember but a smal part of what he taught. He appears to me however, through the vale of wears, as the founder of the free church of Scotland anc the advocate of Catholic emancipation-mor, glorifed and ennobed by his advocacy of each than by his sublime disqusitions on the me chanism of the starry heavens He was the author of the mlxms that Ca1to1ic disabilities ore dead t0egtt on tue holy cause of Pyotesta,at ism; " that !" Statut0ry attachments tor tue protec tlon cf truth, become tormidaJle aur,Lia,7es fo .talsehood;;" and that The spirit aM Word Q Goa @e tue only Heaven- sanctioned instruments for tue propagation of the christian Jaih." must cease to remember Chalmers ere can re- member the Pope, must forget the banner o the covenant ere dread the banner of the cross l must lose faith in the religion of my fathers |" the holy cause of Protestanism'- deem it necessary to defend it by legslating against Popery.
 Mir. Chapman says he has "learned that have espoused the anti-American cause" If by this is meant that I am in favor of any in- terests antagonistic to the prosperity and per petuty of the United States then MT. Chap mans information is untrue 1 yield to no man, foreign born or native, in my good wishes for this country, its institutions and its people, Again, the term anti-Amercan is sometimes applied to designate the democratic party I lo, tho cfr;o af