The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-03-22
MIR. CALuOUN'S SPEECH.

This is one of the most remarkable pro-
ducions Of a most remTEabse age an"
Written IN the calm retreat OF
his studies, without the excitement OF de-
bate or the sting of retort, we may sup
nose it contains neither more nor less Than
the precise views Of its great author. No
doubt but he was deliberate. and thoughts
rullv penned VIA, his heart felt; and thus
committed it to pos,etty, knowing that
lheil opinions of him were to be influenced
by the very words IN which he clothed his
ideas. If it is true, as our statesmen tell
us, that the country IS in danger-'hat a
crisis has come, the movements of so con.
sDicuous a parsonage must be regarded
with interest. His opinions are now be-
fore the world, and they are part 81 ou'
history. Though not written IN blood
they are, alas, written in a bloody splrl'!-
He sounds the alarm note, and deprecaies
the evils now threatening our Union; bu
he does it in tone of reproach and drtI'
,nce. He shrlnks from The task, and says
the North must save the Union; they mus,
concede all and do all, because he has nc
compromise to make. From very com
nlacenl remark we may inter he has arrlv.
ed at his ul,ima,um. 81 have exeried my
self, during the whole period, 10 arrest 1t
Ohe aslrauon.) with the intention OF saw
ing the Union" SC. 1t is elsewhere re-
marked-"By satisfying the South. she
could honorably remain in the Union;
and even in,imaies that all tina, endeared
the Union 10 the South has passed away,
The mos, Iabored point shows the equll'-
brium between III. two sections has been
destroyed, and complains that the North
has more votes in Congress than the South
This Is true, but certainly the constitution
of nature had more 10 do in this than the
of line United States. More
free than slave States have been admitted
and consequently they have more Senator'S;
but no one contested their RICH, to admis
sion. The North territory. now
embracing several of the most flourishlng
States, was coded by slave State, and ac-
copied by Southern Senators, although
slavery was excluded in terms. Mr. Cal
houn calculates the probable future in
crease Of States, and concludes that the
natural progress of events will soon give
the North forty Senators and the South
only twenty four; and thus in ten years tie
equilibrium of the government will be ir-
re,rievably destroyed. On this account he
thinks 1t impossible for the South TO remain
in the Union Hilh honor and safety. The
inference from Mr.. Calhoun's argument Is,
that this increase Of the North is unconst.
tulional, and il the South could secure a
majority in both houses Of Congress there
would be no need TO amend the Consti,u-
ton. Some one said many years since
that he would rather reign in he'll than
serve in heaven. We do not believe Mr..
Calhoun would push matters quite SO far
in the next world; but in this one he clears
ly shows parta!ily to The sentiment.
1t is true, the North has The numerical
strength. which will increase SO rapidly
that in few more years they will double
US. But this is not fault 10 them. On
The contrary, our own citizens flock in
thousands 10 The Northwest and swell the
Ide of Free>soilers. Mr.. Calhoun sees and
;nows these !hinss-he feels item, tool
But because he is mortified and dIsap-
pointed, shall we hazard all TO crafty his
ceilings? Our position is, "To stand by
he Constitution" and preserve our rights
n sensible way.
Mr.. CAIROuN's HEALTH-We are
lad TO perceive the following in the
correspondence Of the Column