Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-19
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1856.
Reply 10 san old Clay wing"

"An Old Clay Wing" replied on Thursday
to our remarks upon his previous communi-
cations. His present article, heralded by
the publisher as a cap stone to his former
efforts, and an utter extinguisher Of US, is
nevertheless not impregnabIe. For six days
he has poised his blade above our head,
nervng his arm for the blow, which, at
last, instead Of our utter demolition, has
scarcely wrought dent in our casque He
was so good as to wreathe his instrument
with the flowers of compliment, and it may
be, that intoxicated with their fragrance,
we are inSensible to other impressions. At
any rate, weakened though we may be, we
will attempt another tilt, let the issue be
what it may
Before proceeding farther, an explana-
ton is due to him, both as a matter of JUS
tice, and because we think that his feelings
have been touched, and regret it. In our
first notice of his article, we labored under
q misapprehension as to his individuality.
We were informed that a certain gentleman
was their author We afterwards learned
through the same source that he was not.
w Lille discaiming the spleen and iIl-humor
which he a>rrbes to US in that notice, we
are free 10 adult that our estimate of the pa
pers was raised by this CLEAN Of light as to
Their authorship. We have no patience
with arrant knavery, and from their repuJed
author, we regarded them as such
Moved by oar intimation that the Amer
lean Party were willing to dispense with his
cooperation, he feelingly alludes to his sew
erance from old political friends, and has no
heart in his old age to dissolve lifelong ties
He fears too I'VE hope without foundation)
more painful consequences in the rupture
of personal friendships. But such emotions
must yield to high sense Of duty. The
responsibilities of citizenship in free re-
public have weighed heavily upon our
friend, aud impelled him, at the risk of his
heart-strings, to divorce old friends from
his affections, and fellowship with his former
enemies. Pity it is that one 50 sensitiycIy
alive to his duty, could not have had better
counsel or used sounder discretion.
He feels the disadvantage of addressing
Wings through a Democratic organ, and
laments while he cannot remedy it. He
reflects upon the spirit Of our article, by
charging us with haunting" him. We are
not 50 hard-hearted We would as soon
taunt a cripple on his crutch, or a beggar
in his rags. We would not insult weakness
We can pity him, and offer to relieve his
diStresses, but will not rdicule him. He es-
says to show our argument against his Sc
lection Of a Democratic paper as his mouth
piece, as "weak and iliberal, by asserting
that none other would have published his
articles. Did he ever offer them to any
other for publication or does he, as he
does many of his facts, assume it ? He in
ferS from our remarks that we would have
done so, but he was careful not to put our
liberslity to the test. lii future, however
he will remove this point Of our objections
to his course, by giving them to the word
through the Patriot. To this, at the pres
ent time, we object but will tell him, that
if in the sincerity of his heart, and in the
spirit of an old line Wing, 10th to leave
his old political associates, and yet in doubt
as to the propriety of following them, he
had presented to US papers setting forth his
doubts, asking expanl tons, and en-
forcing his views, we would readily have
granted him space in our columns. Had
he approached us as an honest enquirer after
truth, and not as a seli-complaccnt and un-
conditional rciectcr of truth. we would have
said to him as the great Apostle to the
unbelievers, Come, let us reason together"
We would have published hi, papers, and
accompanied them with answer aud anti
dote, as best we were able.
Bat how different the case He needed
not to be told that such articles could never
gain admission into an American paper In
his first issue, with affected anxiety, he
asked, "W,here am Ito 60 ~ aud forthwith
proceeded to demonstrate that he had al
ready gone. The struggle was over with
e N He had examined for himself, and
i,aeu position. He had reelected, and
was ready to suggest" lie had ponder
cd, aud vas prepared TO teach, aye aud to
exhort, as he does
- With al the zeal
whirn new ADD fiery converts feel"
We would lave been forced TO refuse !
such suggestions" For noyicate, they
have too much of the oracular and the f.
dogmatic. He claims the prcrogative Of /
priest aud law-giver, while he yet reckons |
his connection with the party by months, |
instead Of years.
In deigning TO glance at us aud our /.
course, be has been struck with the delicacy 1
which prompted us TO renouuce the name of /.
True Wing, when we could no longer adj /
vocate Wing principles. We hope our eN.
ample may teach him the propriety Of sur
rendering the title of "Od Clav Wig" |