The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-02-20
MoNoNA, Feb. 10th, 1857.
HAwKEYE.

against an article, which does not exact
ly correspond with my own private opin-
ion expressed publicly, and as
II rather sorter kinder like
The freedom of the Press
Thought I'd pen few lines
And set my heart at rest.
But as an Editors life, is not the life
should choose, l shall not therefore at
tempt to abuse, or dictate in the least, in
the management of your editorial affairs,
but would like to say a word or two in
reference to an article which appeared in
your paper, about month ago, under the
signature of "Monona," berating the
preachers for the bold stand they took in
the late political campaign, in favor of
liberty. Had "Monona" lived in the year
1851, at the time of the prosecutions of
the Ana-baptists and Quakers, in New
England, he would have been more severe
in his attack on the Ministry than the
Government of Mass. was on the Ana
baptists and Quakers. And even more SO
than they were in the case of Wenlock
Christson, who had been bsnished upon
pain Of death, came boldly into court with
his hat on, and reproached the magistrate
for Shedding innocent blood. He was ia
ken into custody, and soon after put upon
his trial. Being called to plead to his in
dictment, desired to know by what law
they tried him. When the last enactment
against the Quakers was cited TO him, he
asked who empowered them to make that
law, and whether it were not repugnant to
the Jurisprudence of England. the Gov
ernor answered, that there was law in
England that appointed Jesuits to be hang
ed. But Christison replied, that they did
not even acuse him of being Jesuit, but
acknowledged him to be Quaker, and
there was no law in England that made
Quakerism capital offence. The court,
however, overruled his plea, and the jury
found him guilty. When sentence of
death was pronounced upon him, he de-
ired his judges to consider what they had
gained by their cruel proceedings against
the Quakers.
Now | ask, what has "Monona" gained
by his vindictive attack on the Ministry.
Had he not forgotten, or at least had he
been conversant with the history of the
commencement of the Revolution, to which
we owe our liberty, he might have
brought to mind that "the cause of the
Americans had received such powerful
aid from many patriotic publications in
their Gazettes. and from the fervent ex.
hortations Of popular preachers. connect
ing the cause of liberty with the animat-
ing principles Of religion. that it was de-
termined by Congress. to employ those
two powerful instruments Of Revolution,
printing and preaching. to operate on the
minds of the Canadians. and complete
apparatus for printing Printer and a
Clergyman also were therefore sent to
Canada. If 'Monona' had not have let this
slip from his mind he would not have
thought that "a Minister could utter such
TRADE Of abuse" and that the Editor of
the Morning STAR" could be capable Of
heaping such loads of epithets on the
Democratic party, "a man who ministers
at religious affairs, who calls himself
follower of Christ, and an exponent of
virtue and truth" 'Monona' seems to
think that the Ministers have lost sight of
the true land marks of Christianity, and
gone to abusing the democrats with
general TRADE of abuse which was never
before thrown upon the democratic shout
ders.
Such assertions and such thoughts
coming from the pen of those who do not
profess to have. let alone possessing one
talent, should be hooted at by every lover
of liberty. and such instigators who find
fault with the "modus operandi'' of the
Clergy in this day and age of the world,
should take it in hand themselves and see
how long it would be before they would
loose sight of the land marks of principle
and fidelity, and bring St. Pauls writings
found recorded in ed Timothy. Sd Chap
ter and 18th verse, true to the letter.
PETER SNOUX.
RI An interesting letter from the
Editor Of the TINES Hon. A. p. RICH