Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-16
Response to the Rev. Mr.. Tebbs.

ton from Mr.. F. @. Tebbs, to the editors OF TINS
paper. We are personally unacqualnted WIN
Mr.. Tebbs, but are informed that he is Rev
erend gentleman of the Methodist Episcopal
Church on the Churchville Circuit. 1t must %
admitted that he introduces himself rather rough
" to entire strangers, and peppers us pretty So
verely considering the range of the thsrln0ine-
ter; but in consideration of the friendly counsel
which he so literally interrningles with his cen
sures. we find it impossible to be agitsted' we
take it for granted that Mr.. Tebbs is g very gooo
fellow. as we have generally found the Metho
dist clergy TO be, aud would not have our read
ers estimate either his temper or his talents oy
the cratic ebullitions of temporary excitement;
Controversies we avoid, even those of political
character, and controversy with the Rev. Mr..
Tebbs in regard to the advantages or disadyan-
tages of camp meetings We cannot undertake IN
the midst of the "dog-days." lnasmuch, howeV-
or, as the Reverend gentleman has travelled en-
tirely out of his circuit to assault the editors Of
this paper, we are compelled to say word IN
Justification of our course. In doing so we shall
confiue ourselves to Mr.. Tebbs and his affection
ate letter of reproof and advice, as we baye
nothing to say in regard to the Methodist Church
or its meetings, or even the brethren OF the
camp-meeting Committee"
Mr.. Tebbs brings specific charge" against
Us, viz: that we have allowed our paper to be
used for the purpose of attacking the Methodist
denomination and It's "meetings" and says, VI
hold you, gentlemen, responsible for the publ
cation of that article.n The article Ia question
was written by highly respectable and respon'-
sible gentleman of the county, and sent to US
with q request for its publication. The writer
complained of camp-meetings generally, as pre-
judicial to the public morals, and lamented 1.-THE
fact that one was about to be held IN certain
quarter of the county. We conceived thst he
had right to entertain and express, nor did we
feel at liberty as conductors of public journal,
to decline to publish his views in regard to the
matter. The fact that it was Methodist meet
ing or that orr subscribers in that region were
Methodists, had nothing whatever to do with
our decision of the question. We published 1t
because we recognize the right Of every man IN
this 'sland of the free and home of the brsye,"
to discuss freely any matter in which ne may
conceive the public interests or the public NOR
ais to be involved, no matter whose toes III
piuches. We should have inserted itjust as tree
ly, if it had been an assault upon al Episcopal
Convention or Presbyterian Synod. 1t does
us no manner of harm for Mr.. Tebbs to hold US
responsible. If we held ourselves responsible it
might give Us some trouble; but we don't, nor Is
it the habit among gentlemen Of our profession
to hold themselves responsible for the statements
of their correspondents All the satisfaction that
we can afford Mr.. Tebbs, therefore, is to let him
follow theexample of Tom Brown and "hold on to
his holt.n Every man at all familiar with the dn-
ties and responsibilities of newspaper EDITOR
knows that the position taken by Mr. Tebbs is
not only uutenable but absurd. The author o.
the article is alone responsible for its sentiments
and its statements His name is in our posses.
sion, and desired by those offended for the pur-
pose of seeking redress, viii be cheerfully given
ND when demanded. In the meantime, his state
ments may be denied or his arguments refuted
by any friend of the Methodist Church, our COL
umns being freely opened for the purpose, as is
manifest by our publication of Mr.. Tebbs' assault
upon ourselves. If the Methodist Church has
been Enthusiastically misrepresented," Mr.. Tebbs
might have been more probably engaged in
correcting the misrepresentation, than in manu-
featuring thunder-bolts to hurl at US.
We have nothing to say in regard to the num-
her and strength and influence of the Methodist
Church, whose name is Legion" and who. have
not showed the knee to Baal" Doubtless it is
all true enough We have never written line
derogatory to that denomination, and have in
this instance only published an article, which,
according to Mr.. Tebbs' own showing, was mere
" "a source of amusement, atordlng an oppor-
tunity of merriment over the ignorance, not to
say impudence, OF its author" 1t seems to have
been very harmless affair, therefore. More
over, Mr.. Tebbs should remember that 1--WE are
enjoying the civil and religious liberties for which
our fathers nobly fought aud bled, that cannot
in any sense tolerate prescription either in re-
gard to the EXPRESSION OF OPINION or the hold
ing of camp-meetings;" and that it would have
been intolerant in US to have denied our CORES
pondent the privilege of expressing has opinion.
Perhaps our fathers nobly fought and bled" for
the express purpose of giving Mr.. Tebbs the
privilege of expressing his opinion.
We are much obliged to Mr.. Tebbs for his sug-
gestion in regard to the proprety of letting "the
Methodists and especially their camp-meetings
alone" but inasmuch as we have never yet dis
turbed either we do not stand in need of his sd-
vice. We do not know whether we are his Sc
niors or not, but judging from the puerility of
his conclusions in regard TO our responsibility for
other peoples saying and doings, we should not
take him to be very mature. At any rate we
have had a little more experience in editorial
ethics and etiquette than our respected cores
pondent, and he must not think hard of US if we
continue to decide questions of professional pro-
priety for ourselves.
We are equally obliged to Mr.. Tebbs for his
kind tender of cordial welcome either at
Churchyie or the csmp-meeting. When we
commenced his sentence-"The aathor of this
resides in Churchyile," we supposed that be
meant to inform US where we could find ''pistos
and coffee for two," and no one can imagine the
sensation of relief we experienced when the par
sgrsph was concluded, and we found it but an
invitation to tea. If possible, we shall visit the
camp-ground, when We hope to hear Mr.. Tebbs
in his appropriate sphere. We are sure that his
pulpit performances will far surpass his newspa
per effort in logical cogency, and, we trust, be