Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-04-12
Wilmington, April 9, 1866.
(Corresp ondence of the Delaware Republican
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.

The New Jersey Conference that has but re-
Gently adjourned, closed its last days business
in provoking verbal quarrel on resolution
which WAS introduced by the Rev. jefferson
Lewis. The body OF the gentleman's auathema
consisted in the improperly of a clergyman of
the New Jersey Conference having attended a
theatre. Let me promise. The Rev. Mr.. Van
note, the editor of the Trenton State Gasstte,
had before bis accession 10 the editorial chair,
been appointed by the Methodist Board Of
b shops To act as missionary in China. Mr..
Vannote happening in Washington on the llh
o April last, being on visit TO City Point,
heard that thu lamented Mr.. Lincoln was to
attend the theatre that evening. Hs never
having seen the President, and thinking that
his visit to China would forever prevent him
seeing Mr. Lincoln, purchased a ticket and
went into Fords Theatre, where he stood for
almost fifteen minutes gazing at the form OF
that great man. Mr.. Vannote then retired /;
shortly after this he heard that the President
| had been assassiuated and he returned to pass
| through the box where he had been sitting
| Then the gentleman retired, and nothing more
was thought Of it, until Jefferson Lewis belit-
tied himself by dragging it up before the New
| Jersey Conference. 1t is best at this juucture
| TO inform you who the. calumniator and tn
illuminated claim to be. Mr.. Vauuote is a man
OF considerable ability as a writer, not distin-
guisned for any great quality unless II be his
| burning devotion TO his country. Ne is q
radical Republican, and hater OF evil cor
ruptionists hefs the head aud front of the Re.
publican guard ia Trenton, N Jefferson
4 Lewis, is a rank, dyed-in-the-wool Copper
head, a man who has in several sermons quo.
ted from the Age of this city, and who has ac
| ted in the double capacity rs agent for tina
paper and preacher of the gospel. As preach
| or he is very unwelcome aud 1t is with th,
| greatest difficulty tue presdiug Bishop car
| lind place for hum. During the last years
| he has been filling the position of presiding
| Elder, aud as the current year will be tue lag
| disciplinary year, he will be compelled to b,
| placed on the supcraouuated list His rebel
| lion sentiments have made him haled even b,
the people Of New jersey, who are sometime
tractable in those things. When he brough
| up his resolut ton, it was intended not as a Gu
at a theatrical ATTENDANCE but II thrust at tn
| Union loving sediments of Mr.. Vannote. Til,
l,aTsuments OF Lewis were really the weakest
rhave ever heard, and as the dotine old gentle
| man shook hrs head upon the astuteness OF BIZ
| logical lore, he impressed every one tavorabl.
| upon his grow ing senilIty. There Is scarcely
| Clergyman In tue United States but who woult
nave willingly beer seen in the theatre on tb
| night OF the assassination | have heard
score OF clergyInen say the same thing ; aut
| when Mr. Jefferson Lewis or any ott er accuse
party on such foolish point as this is it no
we'll to inquire # there is not something be
htud the scenes and whether the character o
th0 assailantis not also to be weighed in tn
| accusation r Let Mr.. Lewis become a Iowa
man TO his country and then let him talk abou
theatres, and II President who hiss gene to Aver
| Jus because he WAS shot while looking on
| play. could I'LL column of your paper wit
he sutjtct, but choose To refer to it AT an
| other time
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