Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-18

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH |
IN DISTRESS sUPPLIANT FOR THE !
avrrE sPOuss" OF POLITICAL SERVICE.
RfrssRs. EDITORS have always understood that
the Methodist Publishing House was established for
the purpose Of publishing Methodist works for the
South It was for this purpose, that ''you and !,
and all Of us" contributed our money to procure
sta and put this concern in motion. When the
Printers and BookBinders Of the city, contributed
towards its establishment, they did not for mo-
ment suppose that they were assisting to build up
huge rival that would go bidding about the city,
and underbid them with their customers, to take
the means Of support from their mouths for the Pur-
pose Of paying Doctors Of Divinity large salaries.
They did not suppose that out Of this Mammoth
Publishing House for the South, would spring
''job Office convenient to do sl the little work OF
our Merchants, Mechanics, &C., which could be
brought in through the influence Of the Methodist
Church South, or BY Agents. Yet these things have
come to pass You recolleot the job office OF val
lette Co., that recently became part Of the Ns'''
enterprise2 This concern was owned BY the super
intendent Of the Methodist Book Concern ana was
established with view of catching the drl0f'
which came through the Methodist Book Concern
influence.
Recently. MesFrs. Stevenson & Owen, Agents. have
,,snorio1izad the Legislature to take portion Of
the Public Printing away from the Public Printer
reguIarlv elected and give it to them. Politicians
are vile fellows enough during political canyasses'
and the Bulls of Methodism have been pronounced
nnon them unstintingly. reoOllect hearing Ne
bodigt preacher say, in pulpit in this city, not
lonv ago. that their circulars and documents, for
contributing to publish which he was scoring the
faithful in his flock, were nine times out Of ten,
lies, But when there is a chance to beg little filthy
lucre from them, though it becomes neeessaryto IN
dermine and underbid neighbOr, their squeamish-
ness vanishes like mist This circular of the Me-
thodist Episcopal Church South, represented by
Messrs. Stevenson & Owen, commences as follows ;
oYour msmOrialists respectfully represent that
kapfug established hensspss in the city Of Nashville,
| to carry on the publishing business" &c. That's
/ cool Established themselves" indeed They
were established by charity, and some Of 1t Wrung
4 from the sweat of the broWs Of the very men they
are thus seeking to rob of legal contract, by IN
dsrbiddipo. And this from the Methodist Episcopal
| Church, South. Out upon such Methodism 1t Is
even worse than the worst political intrigue.
What would be thought of the contractor, who,
knowing that a competitor had secured q job OF
work and closed the contract, would insinuate him
self into the presence of the employer, and attempt
to break forth between the two, by undertaking
and ranting the superior merit Of his own work
He would be hOoted from the city. The circular
goes on to say after speaking fthe large sum which
then have invested in buildings, type, presses,
&C., that they are prepared to stereotype, print
and bind for your Honorable Body" &C., and then
goes on to state their terms. They propose to print
the Revised Code for ten cents copy less than the
nrees fixed by the State, and contracted to be paid
to the Public Printer They are evidently sincere
in their opinion Of politicians, or they would moi
hope that they would attempt to violate legal con
tract to save ten cents copy on the RevisedCod
have not written this, Messrs. Editors, because
thought it was necessary to prevent the success o.
what consider mean and contemplate attempt t'
rob a contemporary in business Of legal right
The political press is entitled to the public printing
and has always had it in this and all other States
| and from the Federal Government. If the success
Of this religious experiment is so doubtful 1T
/
at salaries much larger than publishers and editors
Of the daily press can secure,-hss become SO doubt
full as to make it necessary to resort to such IN
worthy tricks to keep it alivs,-we shall despair
the Methodist Episcopal Publishing House. an
aware that in peouniary point Of view, this nam
moth concern has been failure. 1 never knew
similar project managed by others than practca
printers, to be anything else. Even the Revised
Code the profits on which according to their terms
would scarcely pay months salary Of one Of tina
precious pair of Agents, Of that beautiful sPeci
men of a Superintendent, oannet save them.
In conclusion, have suggestion to make. Sup
pose you, Messrs. Editors, send the General Con
ference of the NJ E. Church, which is to meet in th
city in May next, proposition to print their jour
Hsl, and publish daily reports of their proceedings
You would stand about as good chance to get i
as they do to get the Code. -
A MEMBER.