The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-07-04
MIDDLE SMITHFIELD, July /, ls61

Mr.. EDITOR Your last week S paper
tells me that Captain Fair Play" who Of
late has been epdeavoring to marshal the
j, Secession forces Of this section, has sud
denly grown disguised with the res sel ser
vice aud has thrown down his sword pen
and resolved to give the traitors 40 fur
Their aid. 1t would have been better fer
him if he had core to this sensible aud
loyal conclusion at an earlier day, for be
should havo known that now, as of old, it
is hard to kick against the pricks He
maginee that I IN laloring for tie "laSt
aoord" But this is radical error, for
my whole object from the commencement
has been to ventilate, and show up to mer-
tied scorn, the secession sympathy and un
gentlem auly conduct which wore so eyi
IDENTIFY manifested by "Fair Play" and
his satellites, in the NJ. e. Church of this
place, several weeks since.
Ny wish was not to do them any harm,
but to DO them personal benefit by ef-
fectually remosing from their politically
blinded eyes fanatical delusion. by which
they were actuated, and which bad dFif
ted them, though perhaps unconsoiously,
into the very vortex of Secessionisro. This
deemed necessary iu order that a like
disgraceful scene might not again soon
transpire in our church, and his farewell
communication warrants me in saying /
have in part succeeded, for it tbroug bouf
Sreatbes spirit Of repentance; as be now
says, II cherish unkind feelings towards
40 one, aud believe that political oaria51
ceS should not disturb personsl and social
relations" Had Fair Play and hie
friends been aotuated By this feeling, they
most assuredly would not have let the
Church, just because the minister prayed
that the Government and Union right
be preserved at any sacrifice, aud then at
tempt TO justify their dastardly conduct,
by denounciDg the minister, ''as willy
abolitioDist and rasid fanatic," Eor this
act of loyalty on bis part.
Fair Play driven from every position
aud not having another stone to stand up
on, feels the lash and realizes his naked
ness, and endeavors to lull the enc aud
hide the other by resorting to the fools
argument. which is to ridicule that hich
cannot be confuted. But this garb he will
find is too thin to cover bis exposed
self, and that be must aud will stand be
fore your readers a condemned offender
of los city and Church propriety, and one
too ebo is believed to be most heartily a
sbaned of bic puerile and inexcusable
folly.
But at this juucture "Peace," new
character steps in the play, realizing that
his half PrOtege has got himself into an
ineztricable difficulty, which adds no lus.
ter to bis fame, magines himself gener-
al 10 chief, whose commands are or ought
to be decisive, and loudly declares that
be trusts 'there will be no more of it -
1t would De far better for him to bave
sent note to his friend advising bin in
the future to avoid nanifesting any SYM
pathy with traitors, and when he again
attends divine service to at least treat the
occasion respectfully, and not as though it
were bear-gsrden. This, I think
would better become the vocation of
Peace" than to in this halfway manner
advocate or apologize for Fair Play and
his friends highly reprehe nsible conduct.
Let loyalty and patriotism, as we'll as
gentiIity in the church, reign unntsrrupt-
edly. Has peace" any objection to this?
If be has not, then be should not infer
'fron Z the articles written and the reliable
inform alton receaved, that the controversy
should not have been brought before the
public But | presume "Peace" was &C.
tuated by charitaJle if not pure IL olive.
either of which is commendabIe, and thus
be is permitted to pass.
And now, friend "Fair Play" believe
ny say is almost said, and permit me to
'lose with the hope that the next time We
meet in church that you will reman there
Until services are over, even il the Minis
er should choose to invoke Gods choicest
blessings on the Union Cause, and call for
lis bitterest curses on the Rebels, and {
has believing and assuring you that I
ball endeavor to remain "a teen o5Se,Yer" :.
# Jour conduct, and if I should be COM
elled to make the painful discovery that :
III this has not suficed to improve you. t
bat will report accordingly; and now n
esssurlng you that my intentions we're y
ood and object charitable, and that Thaye b