The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-09-09


cause of much feeling in our community,
ard has been perused by few only OF
our citizens, against whom its slanders
are now well knowG to have been direct
ed. 1t is said that the Rev. G. Nj.
BLAZE, pastor of the Presbyterian
Church of this place, has make corfes-
sion of its authorship to his immediate fol-
lowers. We some tine since commented
on portion Of it which we found in an
exchange, mailing its principal and un-
bmshiDp uis-statements to the wall with
Record statistics; and we now reprint
the entire communication to crafty the
wish of Il large majority Of our citizens
who have been unable to read it because
OF the few copies of the PrestYtersaa TAX
en- in this place, and tle pertlnacious de-
sire of the Rev. writer's friends to hide
away the evidence of his cowardly stab
as we'll at then selves as their fellow -clti-
/
zens, We also desire to make brief al
fusion to the last paragraph allowing
the libelous insinuatons against the
private character OF our citizens, CON
tanned i'll the other paragraphs, to con-
denim themselves by their Own grossness
and evident intention to reflect the Cos
siping jealousies and personal animoslties
OF meddling Ceramics" A discussion
Of them in these columns would only
give them significance which they do
not now possess. 1t is with his fling at
the independent minds Of our citizens we
propose to deal now.
We are we'll aware that the disposition
of the people of this place---and, indeed,
of our entire county,-is to think for
themselves, independent Of the supercil-
ious arrogance of leaders either in the
Church or State. We are also well aware
of the fact, (aS are also all our citizens
that the sentiment put forth by this cor
respondent of the Presbyterian was en-
gcndered by bis failure to warp the minds
Of our people to his desires--to subject
them to his dictatorial assumptlons-rath
er than any desire on his part to convert
those minds from secular to religious
communion.
We pass over this, however, to reach
directly the real issue we desire to meet
him upon-the ''ultraisms and extrava-
gances" which he charges upon our cit;-
zens as ''emanating from the New York
| Tribune, sc" In order to be brief as
possible, however, we set out with the
assertion that his objections to the "ul-
traisms" of the Tribune, emanate from
his sympathy with the Slave-power, of
which, indeed, he may we'll and truly be
~aid to be a part and parcel, Judging
Kim by his sermonizing and his arrogant
manifestations towards the people of this
village and vicinity. Our citizens are
anti-Slavery in feeling and habits-they
will not submit, either religiously or po-
iitically to domineering creeds, or to as
suming leadership-they prefer to read,
think and act for themselves; and if the
sentiments put forward in the Tribune
or any other newspaper meet theirappro-
baton, they are free to adopt them for
Their own, in whole or in part The
time has not yet arrived at which the
people Of this county can be made to sub
NIT to papal-like censorship in the choice
OF their reading matter--tjtey are too IN
teliigent-too capable Of Judging and act
ING for themselves.
The Tribune has many firm friends in
this county who are in the Presbyterian
connexion-friends who cannot be won
from their friendship for it by pastorate
dictation. They are men, too, who occu.
lpy high moral and social position, and
who are deeply chagrined and mortified
by the unfriendly, unchristan and un-
gentlemanly character of the above COM
munication. 1t is insulting 20 cur citi-
zens, and injurious to the cause of rel-
sion; and we sincerely regret, in their
behalf, that we have been compelled to
notice its aspersions with so much sever
.ty. But human nature is combustible,