Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-09-12

New Yofk Tribune, declines - occ1u1 the
bad esninence" to which the public reports
Of HE connection with the forty parson-
esrrespoudenee have assieasd him. He says|
he knew nothing Of the memorial until IL
was presented to him for hi. signature
when he--aetnated, q we are 10 infer. by a
spirit Of complaisance-"added his name to|
tue list Of his respected fellow citizens -
Professor S'lliman believes that every
American citizen has "a right to protesi
( ,alnst any act Of the government Oh n'e
country which lac dssaproscs And I'e sasc
believes IL is time to disclaim any P"'' ~
he orieen Of that memorial.
REMARKS Prof Sillimsn does not
|deny signing that ridiculous prot~t|
zen, 10 President Buchanan, but SINCE
|,be publication OF the Presidents reply
the position oil those signers is made to-
appear SO ridiculous, absurd ard false,
hat Prof. Siliman is endeavoring 20
rapfh by asserting that his name
was affixed without reflection, and that
ae did not see the memorial until pre-
,ented for his signature. Prot SillimaD
HAD better have remained silent, than
to thus expose his folly. A man Of
his age, whose reputation as a sayan
lis lustrious the world over, whose
travels and geological researches have
been eqnalled only by few, and supass
ed bv but three or four;-that such a
man, Of such age, with such a renown-
ed reputation, should plead Moughtless
ness in signing memorial, which in
effect charges the President with per
Jury, in violating his oath Of oiFice--i'
is impossible 10 believe. He canno'
escape from an unfortunate dilemma
by any such pucrllc excuse. He j,
heartily ashamed Of the position b,
occupies ss one Of the signers. Thu
Presidents letter shows him and hi
reverend associates, the folly, the false
hood, and the absurdity Of their char
res. Where they expected to Obtain
a pleasing notoriety by the prcscnta
ton Of this memorial, and get thci
names heralded, in the journals frou
one end of the Union TO the other
they find, when too late, that they have
only covered themselves with disgrace
and will receive no sympathy from TIL
people, under the severe chastisemen
inflicted by Buchanan. The whoi
nation sees Mat The Prestdtnt is RICH
md that they arc @roaq, hence Mei
confusion. These mere abstract think
crs, whose whole life has been engage,
in the study OF a particular science o
theology, are almost wholly ignorsn
Of political science, or our own polltica
system; hence, every attempt the
make in the arena Of politics is
mistake. Clergymen have by this tim
learned that the surest way to brin,
religion into contempt with thepeople
is to mix it up with questions of polit
cal expediency in matters of govern
ment. More infdelity has resulted from
this cause in ten years, than from al
Other causes combined. The secula
press snecrs at these white cravattc
politicians, and the entire party again,
whom they preach, spurns them an
their preaching, and ultimately, frol
hating them for their pulpit polite
learn to despIse them in their religiuu
character, and look upon them as hyI
ocrites. Such clergymen can do n
good in their calling. Such as d
demonstrated tacf. We think the Reput
ican party has erred in accepting tn
aid Of clergymen in the discussion c
politics. 1t will ultimately postrat
religion at the feet Of open lnfdclit,
and thus destroy one of the chief pi
lars Of the Republic. 1t is true tina
good men of the Republican party Sc
.his evil and are trying TO overcom
II, hut il Is now too deep rooted to b
overcome. Not II single body of clel
gvmen meet in Convention at tn
North except those OF the Roman an
Episcopal churches, which does nc
discuss the question of Slavery regu
larly, and more vehemently than the
do that of religion. The thing hs
become chronic. Inidelity is sweep
ing over the land with the devastin,
power of q simeon. Still professin!
christians are blind to the conseauen
ces.