First Mr. Murray, then Mr. McLean, Federalists, attempted to respond but the people would not hear them. [pg 289] Mr. McLean said something that incensed the crowd. In a high state of excitement many rushed at him and he would have suffered bodily harm had not Nicholas, Clay and Calvin Campbell prevented it.
The two Democratic speakers were lifted first upon the shoulders of several of the crowd, then into the wagon from which they had spoken and drawn at the head of a very noisy procession through the streets of Lexington.
The week that Nicholas and Clay spoke in Lexington, only one voice was raised in support of the Union; and that was at the Presbyterian Church, where Calvin Campbell, reading as the Scripture Lesson Matthew 22:15-22 and Romans 13:1-10, preached on citizenship: “Render therefore to all their dues, custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
The Kentucky Gazette published a notice of and summary of the sermon, in which it was said:
“The editor never misses an opportunity to hear Rev. Calvin Campbell. On Sunday he spoke on ‘Citizenship’ to a great crowd at the Presbyterian Church.
“I know of no man who can as quickly transform a partisan Democrat into a Federalist. At least, all of Sunday afternoon after his sermon, I felt it my duty to support the present federal administration.
“The first thought when you hear him is: ‘What a great statesman he would make,’ then your better judgment suggests, ‘He is better placed for service; he is doing greater work; he is the ambassador of Christ and I believe, lives up to his credentials.’
“It is regrettable the whole city did not hear that sermon; it would have created a fairer spirit towards the federal government, and each who heard to question: ‘Am I as a citizen responsible for the very things I condemn in the government.’
[pg 290] “I quote the beginning of the sermon:
“‘A. D. 30, Rome was master of Jerusalem; the city had a Roman governor, but the Sanhedrin ruled the temple, which to the Jew was the seat of government; and Rome was too wise to interfere with the religions of her conquered people.