The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-11-03
The Press ON AIcorn,s Letter 10 the
Faculty Of the University
From the Brandon RepubIican.

rom the Brandon Republican.
The reply of DIR. WaddeH and his col
lesgaes- of the University of Mississippi. 10
Judge Hudson, of Yazoo city, has drawn
from Gov. Aleorn a letter-a letter charac-
teristic of the man. If the ''dashing hero.
who plpnged his fiery and foaming steed
into the "Rubicon" ia 1861. has weakness
for one thing above another. il is for writing
letters. Ii we may be allowed 10 use a slang
phrase. Jeemes is 1-ritist, bur such an one
as has not won a very enviable reputation,
the truth of which is clearly demonstrated in
the production above referred u. which per-
haps. in this line. is the browning acmpf his
folly.
It's too often the case that party friends
and changers on" in their intercourse with
one occupying high position and welding
power. are profuse in their flattery, and say
only TO him that which they suppose he
likes to hear. This course. no doubt, has
been pursued towards the s.Sage of Coaho-
ma" and has been the innocent cause of his
attempting TO appear as a learned man.
which in the estimation of some, has pro-
duced pity and regret, and with others at
least disgust if not contempt.
Now, the letter from DR.. Waddell to Hud-
son is not marked by any great parade of
scholarship but plain, frank answer 10 a
plain question prepOunded to him-just such
an answer as the profound scholar, great
educator and Christian gentleWan would
make.
Jeemes saw this letter in print. and felt
called upon TO publish one himself, and TO
lecture DIR. WadGcll. The lecture part di-
rected the attention of the public TO his let
ter. and showed the weakness of the man.
When he received the learned Chancel-
lOr's letter, why not say, Your favor Ia
hand. In the main / agree with you, but
in view OF present surroundings we had
better say as little as possible about it; but
sively for the white race" Instead of this.
he commences in his usual turkey strut man.
ner: ''Your answer is in the form of the
sis. Allow me to PREMISE" etc. Now,
Jeems ought to know that sensible and
educated people are disguised with such
arrogance and tomfoolery.
Now, Jeems, you Don't take our paper.
but in our judgment if you were to consid-
er your interest you would send US 50 and
ask the honor to be placed on our subscrip-
ton list. You would find that the Repub
lican dealt in stubborn facts We would
say to you, Jeems, by virtue of Ames' bay
onets and negro votes, you are Governor
Don't suppose for an Instant that you can
palm off on the public kind of metaphys.
ical mysticism for learning. And, Jrems,
we would admOnish you that your imagin-
alton is not as fertile as some, and therefore
you must draw sparingly upon it.
You will observe. Jeems. from the fore
going, that some people have a cultivated
taste and some have not, and it is said that
those who are the most learned and highly
cultivated are the readiest to excuse the
shortcomings of the less fortunate
If you, Jeems, as plain James l.. Alcorn.
planter of Coahoma and a lawyer of very
moderate cdpdcity-a man of good sense aud
limi.ed education-wOuld send your State
papers and public letters to the country
couched in language that you fully Under-
stand and without attempting to show of
as a learned statesman, an intelligent public
would be much mora generous in its criti-
cismS.
There is no question, Jeems, but that you
are clothed with much authority, and that
you are a aceiQity man we mean in an avoir
dupois sense;) but il ould be well for you
not TO become common offender against
good taste and prOpriety. Now, in your
division OF nlOietieS, you differ very widely
from several gentlemen til 1t wrote diction-
aries. and the difference is so palpable. UNI
accompanied by any reason, that if these
eminent authors had not passed away and
there was no law against dueling, and you
were not the renowned fOrder of that classic
stream, the Rubicon, they might possibly
demand what is called satisfaction.
Now. it is no doubt true that the late
Revolution, in which you bore so cOnspicu-
Gus a part, produced some social effects de-
trimental to society, still words are supposed
to have the same meaning they did ten
years ago, and scholars are thought 70 still
understand the force of language; and tor
you, Jeems, to undertake to lecture Chan
cellor Waddell, is right hedry operation.
The truth is that many well informed per-
sons who have been close readers of your
are a success in using language to conceal
ideas; but granting this to be true, decent
regard should be paid to the memory of
Noah Webster; for, il history be true, ii
took him longer to complete his dictionary
than it did you, Jeems, to grow famous.