The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-27
=. -, -,,n.ramndallad. sosuel to the

nerdept anu uHSInluhhonSo SosPs
peonle of Richmond? Who Is to 40 H.
Tby. Mr.. Mitchell has come down to tne
city Of Senegambia, to this deYoteo CITY
Of sodom, in the opinion of q man who IS
a iudge, to give us some speclmeprs u I gosi
ma, nrcaching-to show us, that st. Paul
hos at least one representative IN the Guy
~ Richmond in the person OF Kew. MT.
Mitchell. Why, ask. should this gentle
nan consider himself a paragon OF minis
tnr;al excellence! Why should he assume
tho4 be and his colleagues are the eagles
that soar TO the sun, while the Methodist
n-eachers of the South are the moles that
bnrrow and the bats that tlutter in the
dark? Such presumption public sentiment
will rebuke, and all refined minds sink
| from It with utter detestation.
It is time-it is high time-that the Rev.
Mr.. Mitchell had learned that it is poor,
mean, and contemplate way FOR man to
build up his own reputation by seeking to
pull down that Of another. And l will
here take occasion to tell this gentleman
that he will never be able in this or any
other southern city to build up his cause
by abusing southern preachers. AND "hen
this gentleman pirates about preaching an
independent gospel it would De well lot
him to bear in mind that he IS the repre-
sentative of Church which has gained as
much notoriety bypersecuting their breth-
rem of the South as it has by preaching an
untrammelled and independent gospel. He
is aware, I suppose, that his Church has
sought to avail itself Of the strong arm of
military power to drive our preachers
from their pulpits and to inaugurate a
wholesale coniscation of our Church
property. Mr.. Mitchell is not ignorant
of the fact that some Of these preachers
of an untrammelled and independent
gospel have recently been imported into
East Tennessee for managing this eccle-
sastical raid upon our people and pro-
perty, and that they are very independent
and antrQmmeNed in this line Of things,
having actually got ahead of Caesar in the
work of confscation. Indeed, they are so
independent and untrammelled IN preach
ing the gospel that they can violate its
plainest precepts by taking that which does
not belong to them, treating the opinion
of Chief Justice fancy, Mclean, and
others of the Supreme Court Of the United
States, settling the Church Property case
in our favor as trilies light as air. Weare
inclined to think that proper regard for
stubborn facts would have suppressed all
this unmeaning cant about preaching an
independent and untrammelled gospel.
The Rev. Mr.. Mitchell is not satisfied
with his own sweeping denunciation of
southern clergymen he has to call on
Governor Peirpoint to help him out
in his ignoble and humiliating work.
He quotes the Governor as saying :
"There is great need of the church
building above referred to; it is one OF the
necessities of the times at this point. The
spirit Of the southern pulpit is thoroughly
disloyal, active in the propagandism OF
rebel sentiments, and in cherishing hope
that the 'lost cause may be regained by
the destruction Of a republican. govern;
ment in this country" 0 Temporal! q
mores! This, believe, is the, first In
stance on record in which Governor OF
| Virginia has turned his attention from the
proper functions of his Office to engage in
denouncing the ministry of tho State.
| Governor Peirpoint is mistaken; and
unhesitatingy say that his assertion can.
not be sustained by facts. Governor Pelr.
point is politician, and it looks as if he
| is using the Rev. Mr.. Mitchell and his cir.
cular as political capital. The circular
would make very effective political
document, and it would not surprise us to
sec it extensively circulated just before
the next guhernatorial election.
The next witness called TO the stand Is
Mr.. Mitchcll's friend, Judge Underwood.
In the circular he quotes the Judge as
Enthusiastically saying:
"The fashionable pulpits Of this city
have all been false TO their trust and tc
the claims of humanity, and as o natural
result the general conscience is almost pa
ralyscd. Povcsty and sin abound"
We are not surprised at this eiluSior
from Judge Underwood. Since that me-
morable charge to his grand jury we have
entertained serious doubtsas to the sound.
ness Of his judgment.
In conclusion, would ask, is this Mr.
James Mitchell, who thus scandalously
abuses southern preachers, the same Mr.
Mitchell who spoke in words Of such ho.
neyed sweetness before the Young Mems
Christian Association Of this city on the
beauty of charity and the Importance Of
brotherly lover If he is, may God give
those who heard him then the grace tt
forgive him now. T. NJ. PETERSON.
Richmond, July &c, 1867.