Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-09
Jul U NNIIN1
MAHALA JANE Gross.


/ P. s. By my sister, ISABELLA VALEETIA MAsIDoRE
| CRoss, otherwise called BELLE CROss for short.
Mr. Editor, can't say 1 altogether so well
pleased With Mr.. PREsTIcEs lecture as MAHALA JANE
seemed to be although own sisters, We differ in
some small things: for instance, MAHALA JAxE is
naturally inclined to hate men, WHILE just the con-
trary, am naturally inclined to love and admire,
| if not al men, at least some few. MAHALA JANE
accepts Mr. P's testimony as absolutely true, and
nothing now could convince her member Of Cons
grsss, or Of any of the STATE Legislatures would
! not steal horse, pick pocket or even rob hen
roost She would much sooner trust herself with
Yankee Pedar, or Tendon thief, than an N. Q.
As to myself, Mr. Editor, notwithstanding eli the
power of Mr. Prentice's rhetoric, and it was splen-
did in vituperstion, eloquent with seorn, singing
with bitterness, am not ashamed to declare
would just as soon marry Congressman, or Sen
ator, will even 60 50 far to say the President
himself, Gf he we're young and hanisOme) as any
man you might mention, whether merchant, or mes
chants clerk, lawyer, preacher, or planter.
To look at the matter in aspect Mr.. PEEwIoE's
abuse may appear merted, to look at it in another,
it don't amount to much The charges brought
against politicians may be true but, if true, retrus
of all humanity of the present time, say nothing
of the past, or the future.) We have no right to
demand that individuals be more honest, more pure,
more noble than the age that produces them. If
they are noble, let give them our heartfelt
homage, but to quarrel with them because hey are
not, is unwise, unphilOsOphic.
In times of profound peace heroic virtues Stun
Der. Men are merely commonplace, because in
merely commonplace positions. Our public men
buster about, and talk great deal of nonsense,
and affect to believe the country in danger, when
they kaos0 it is not, and get up agtstiOns internal
quarrels, about internal TRIES, because they love
excitement and noise, and also, because they love
notoriety and the applause of the dear peOple-the
dear people not whit more honest or sensible than
their dear representatives. That such doings are
foolish and wrong none will deny. Neither will we
deny other charges Of far more odious character,
but they are faults pertaining to our frail human
nature, and not as Mr.. PRENTICE asserted, e1eep-
tional with the Statesmen of America.
1t may be laid down as maxim, that the repre-
senatves Of people will be worthy of that people
neither more nor less righteous or heightened.
Mr.. P seemed to mourn that the race of lofty and
patriotic Statesmen had passed away, like the race
of the Behemoths and the Msstadons. 1t is a sin
gular and almost universal peculiarly of mankind,
to have most clear vision of the good and great
gone by, and an equally clear PERCEPTION of the
evil and littleness of existing times. The golden
age is always in the past Is it possible man of
Mr.. P's thinking abilities can really believe the
Statesmen Of to. day so immsasuresbly corrupt
than the Statesmen of yesterday? Does he not
know if the times called for that burning and "blaz
ing" patriotism Ito his own world it WOHld leap
to life and shed its light over every valley every
hill top, every mountain in our land? As said
BEFORE it is profound peace, it is absolute safety
that lulls to sleep the heroic virtues, but they only
slsep-tbey are not dead.
Should foreign foe rise up before our country,
foe worthy our steel, dare Mr.. Prentice doubt the
peoples Representatives would be true to man
Seventy six furnished one Arnold, and only one.
It would not be hazardous to assert fifty eight would
not produce even that number.
Does not Mr.. Prentice know, II our honor were
insulted our hearths invaded liberty in danger
there would be but one feeling burning in every
hearth From the North TO the South, from the At
lsntic to the Pacific, whether the heart beat in
Massachusetts, sbOlitonist or a Carolina disuniOn-
ist thers would be but one universal love of
cur country, hatred Of her foes.
Mr.. Editor must say differ with your cores
pondent from GAINESVILLE, Vsrtas, as to the Liter
ary merits Of Mr.. Prentice lecture. think IL en-
trsy worthy Of its authors high reputation il that