The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-07-29


discussion Of the mer ef Fashion and Conseq
but simply to take sssne with the author upon the
rights and privileges Of citizens and 70 attempt show
that even ministers are not exclusive class, and
when they transcend their legitimate sphere are amen
able to social law and any breach of decoruEn or good
taste their part should be properly reprehended and
rebuked.
We have been taught from our infancy to respect
ministers Of the gospel and long they deIneau
themselves ministers, it will always be our pride
and pleasure to respect them But when they forget
their high calling and tlrUgate To themselves dica
torshp only the morals but over the thoughts
and actions and opizons Of men, that independence
which is nherentin the breast of human nature breaks
out in open rebelion and dare proclaim opin-
ions and assert ghts free thinking, free acting
and responsible agents. Shall man, because he
wears ministerial roles and breaches upon the Sab
BATH outrage every sense ofpropriety and insult
mon deceney with immunity? Shall he say to the
world, you all arant fools, incapable of thinking
for yourselves Your ntelects decrepd to guide
your feeble footseps2 Follow me- the infahbe index
OF rght-like the sovereign of England [ can do no
wrong. am the light set upon li-not one of YOU
sublunary moftals, whose name is fitY " brimful OF
ain and the d., for whom Savior died on Mount
Cavalry; but have descended direct from Heaven
clothed Ike an angel the Panoply ofthe sky. Gods
chosen ambassador-I am of the imInortaIs who
have come down from the heights Of olympus and
you must follow IN nay footprints. kiss the hem of my
garments and you dare nod or to wink or to con
ceive single thought unless at my bidding I viii
pronounce You base hereto, an ap0state to Heaven
and me, and with all the daboIical thunders of es
communication, will osracise you from nv gracious
favor
Who but the author Of Fashion and Consequence
would hesitate to declare such reasoning as this the
ultimatum of folly Yet he, with presumption that
is objectionable and unparalleled boldly asserts that
'the who claims the right to censure minister
ought to be sharply rebuked for his duBlcity and duly
punished tor his lmpertnence and opposition to the
will of Heaven '
Now whether it beaduplicity' to censurea minister
is question which We leave for phoogists to deter
mine. But would like to know BY what right
civil moral, minister IS privileged to write book
whose only merit consists i'll its vulgarty and disri
butte ltln respecabie community? Is it Opposition
and impernence to the will ofHeayen to censure the
author OF such enornity? Shall he with unbridle1
license perperate wrong upon wrong insult every del
icate and refined TASTE BY fishing up and publishing to
the world all the yulgarty be found in Eng
lish literature, and SANDER wives and sisters and
daughters by telling them they goat over such obseen
ty and then tofsoon our ncensed decency gives vent
to its indignation shall he fly to the sanctuary Of lis
peculiar privilege and himself behind the sa
cred affairs Of the church? Shall he say to the com
munity. commit the grossest violations of good
breeding; outrage every sense Of proprey abuse you
your faces and force foul SANDER down your threats
and you craven hearted sycophants must taelv sub
nit and lick thehand that srites you-for am Min
lister Of the Gospel commissioned by Heaven and am
exempt from the laws of society and Irresponsible to
none but the Annual Conference and the civil author
ity."
Are ministers so nallfble that we must WELD implicit
obedience to their dlcta? Are we priest-ridden PEG
pie that must ucEe before the pAmpered arrogance
of inflated dogfnatist! Are our opinions to be
srangled and throtled BY the fiat of sanity bully?
merely because he has "ReUerenf' 1oreixed to his
name! Oh out upon such vile sophistry; out upon
these sestFled autocrats of the pulpit! We can tell
the author OF 'Fashion and CONSEQUENCE that he has
mistaken his latitude in which to play dictator Free
dom of speech and freedom of the press are constitu-
tional ghts guaranteed TO every citizen, and when
ministers overlap the pale Of their ministerial duties
let them be scourged with the lash of public opinion
and they are npervous to this cstgation and still
insist upon helrpecuar privileges let them be taught
the virtue OF d remedy more eticacous
But says our worthy parson, "a minister of the Me-
thodst Church is responsible for his words and to
the Annual Conference and the civil authority" Now
who was prepared torthis admission? From theknown
OF the reverend gentleman, thought
he had supreme disdain for every thing and every
body earthly, except .he author of Fashion and Con
We fully expected that he would trampe
Conference, play tar-ball with bishops heads, and
with the most bclIic0ae air in the world spit right in
the face OF all civil au5hority.
But even with this admission he is prodigious man
still. Alexander Plunging into the Granicus with
the Macedonian banner waving over his head never
his tayorte hobby, viz: the Minister of Many Ira
vels." He has ptucked every flower from Parnassus
md the hill IS barren blackberry patch in
nld-winter. Modern poets have been furnishing for
years in consequence -four author having drunk Hell
con dry. And poor Pegasus since he bore the Min
ster Of Many Travelt'' to immortality has become
broken winded, tagged out and let down.
Our ecclesiastical friend need not be so rampant to
herald his greatness There is no danger of his
lane floating down the cold stream Of time TO FL an
,biyous grave If the present age is too stupid to
appreciate his excellence an eXpectant and grateful
7osterity willreceiye Kim with open and do his
memory justice. Ahundred years hence and his say
ngs viii be honored like those Socrates now are his
portrait will dangIe bm the sign post of every cross
Dad tavern, and repertant Fame eager to atone for
past delnquences, with her silver trumpet will ring
lis praise all over the land. OUT NUNC?
For the South Western
Messrs Editors-TAe democratic convention, held
IN Saturday July 25, A. D. 1857, will be long remem-
Jered by all who had the happiness of being present
Is the most unique exhibition OF modern 'hGrmoni0us
ever convened within the limits of Caddo
PARISH. The convention consisted of some 80 friends
If Mr.. Buchanans administration, and like number
# democrats who could altogether sustain the pres
dent and governor Walker in their crusade against
he south and slavery in Kansas. The entertainment
vas opened, by calling the venerable DIR. A Flournoy
the chair assisted by two vice presidents and like
lumber Of secretaries. Mr.. n. Z. Wright, laboring
lnder the impression that he good democrat,
hen offered resolution to the effect that in conse-
luence ofthe democracy having responded to the
all by appointing delegates coming in person. that
he convention adioura to sometime in SEPTEMBER
The resolution abb supported by Mr.. Wright and
Is ably opposed by tlehon Roland Jones, Judge Land
md MIR. Marks The:question being demanded and
he chair unable to decide the point, division was
aed for, when it appeared that the resolution was
ost DIR. Marks then moved that the convention nom
nate all parish candidates. from representative down
o assessor. Messrs. Wright and Howell opposed the
notion whlstit was warmly supported by MIR Marks,
Judge Land and the hon. Roland Jones. Mr.. Wright
gain obtained the floor, and stated, that as it had
oeen nsinuated during the debate that he was not "a
good party man, or democrat he considered that he
lad no right business in the convention and rnme
lately withdrew fromthe house notwithstanding the
amons trance the chairman. The next scene remind
ID me of Abraham Offering up his son Isaac on the
tar Isaac said behold the fire and the wood but
chere is the lamb for d burnt oferinq?" Judge Land
hen nominated Mr. Marks as the democratic candi-
late for the house of representatives. Mr.. Marks re-
pended to the compliment in few happy remarks,
tating that judge Land and himself had long been on
erms not only Of intimacy but friendship and there
ore he surprised that his honor should attempt to
tfer him up as sacrifice on the altar of democracy
nd respectfully begged to decline that honor Mr.
larks then nominated Mr.. Geo. Williamson, which
proposition was received with loud demonstrations Of
pprobation, which continued until that gentleman
lso declined to accept. Mr.. J. n. Howell was then
roDCScd to the evident Of ,,-,n,-