The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-04-26

and myself for discussing "hc being and orer-
ruling providence of God !" whether we should
have an "attatAment TO conntry;" whether
"Mc Um;om ought TO be preserved J" whether
+" The constitution and the Macs should be REFER
emioNy oJcycd !" whether corruption IN pol
itics is a great ern :" whether "disgust for
the wiM hum after o6ice IS a grcat rirtuc +"
whether educotion IS q great blessing;" or
whether "Mc TniteM States ought 10 deal just
iy wiM all nations." would have to be a
real knoao-nothing to deny such things and |
therefore ask, most respectfully, to be allowed
to decline the discussion of them also beg
leave to decline controversy about the res
pectivc merits of the Protestant and Catholic
faiths. As Protestant, cannot allow my
self to be placed in such position, but leave
it for those to whom it appropriately belongs.
In u word, let Mr.. Chapman state what he
considers the distinctive characteristics of
Amcricanism in the form of plain PROPOSE
tions and let him give them questionable
shape" wish to see his declaration before
can piead to it-both are necessary to proper
issue.
There are some references to myself in Mr..
Chapman's communication which demand no.
tee He says that | am "a pupil Of the far
famed Chalmers" if he is not mistaken.
have been a pupil of Chalmers, however unwor-
thy of that great teacher | caught none of
his Inspiration, aud remember but small part
of what he taught lie appears tome, however
through the vale of years, as the founder of the
Free Church of Scotland. and the advocate of
Catholic cmancipation--morc glorfcd and
enabled bv his advocacy of each than by his
sublime disquisions on the mechanism of the
starry heavens. Tie was the author of the
maxms that "Cothoic disubiHties nre dead
reigM on lie ho/y canse of Protcstanism;;" that
"statuary cnoctments far the protec,ion Of truth
became formidoM auriiaries for faisehood," and
that "Nc spirit and rord NJ God are The only
Ueorea sonctioacd instrument far The propagation
ofHe Chrjaiaa faH" must cease to rcmem-
Der Chalmers ercI can fear the Pope; must for
get the banner OF the covenant ere dread the
banner Of the cross. must lose faith inrei-
gion of my fathcrs-"the holy cause of Protes-
tantiSm"--ere deem it necessary to defend it
by legslnting against Popery.
Mr. Chapman says he has "earned that |
have cSpouSed the ant-Amcrican cause" If
by this is meant that | am in favor of any in
terest antagonistic to the prosperity and pcrpe-
tuty Of the United States, then Mr. Chapman's
information is untrue. | yield to no man. for
eign-borr 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. | am not
a democrat in the strict sense of that word
profess to be a whig-an od-linc whig--a Clay
wing am one of those wings that did not
follow their file leaders to offer sacrifice at secret
affairs. ! am one of the "ten thousand who
have not yet bowed the knee to Baal" | acted
with the democrats in the last canvass, and
expect to do so in the approaching one. As
Il southern man, ] can see no other organized
party that can oppose northern aggression; us
lover of liberty, | know of no other party
that is likely to preserve and to extend our glo-
rions free institutions. In addition to the fore
going, have personal reason for supporting the
democrats They stood by the rights offorcign-
born men when former friends deserted u.s.
MAY my right hand forget its cunning
may my tongue cleave unto the roof my
MOUTH ere forget the arms that sheltered
the foreigners in the days of their persecution!
Bntifby the "anti-Amercan cause" is meant
simply, opposition to know-nothingism then is
Mr.. Chapman's information truc-l am, head
and heart, anti-American. | have opposed all
manlieStlcns of in the past oppose all shades
and varieties of il now eXtant; and | shall
continue to oppose ii in all new phases that
il may assume by way of adapting itself to the
exgencics of the times. In every shape, form,
fashion, and color that have yet seen it,
consider it rcpagnant to the character of
true Amcricanism--the Amcricansm of the
founders of this government 1 lure seen II
once mhcn ii hod assumed "the Hreyy Of Hearen,"
ANIL eren then ii nus nat attlaciire
Yours respectfully,
j. M. DAVIDSON.
FAYETTEVILLE, TENNESSEE, March 81, 1856.