The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-03-01
DISSOLUTION OF THE UNION.


any of these articles, and have refraned
from INDUCING in any remarks Of our own
on the suhjec,-not because we did not
think it had assumed sufficient importance
to elicit public attention generally, or that
our readers did not leel as much interest
10 the matter as the people of any other
section, or that they were Indifferent to the
de, ,lorab|e contingency alluded to but
simply because we have always been a.
verse to the discussion of question which
seemed to look, even remotely, to Dissolu-
Ion, and taught to regard such calas-
,rophe with horror. and as being impossl-
ble while love Of country continued to be
the predominaling principle in The hearts
of the American people. We recollec'
some years ago when Notification reared
its Gorgon head. and lew ambitious AID
misguided spirits talked about secession
and dissolution, with what Indignation their
disorganizng sentiments were received IN
every direction, and by men of all parties;
and we thought the experience Of that day
and the feeling manifested on tina, move
ment hy the patriotic masses throughout
the Union, were Of character sufficiently
significant 10 prevent another contemp'a'-
inc similar result, al least during the suc>
ceeding fifty years. But in that respect,
with many others, we were mistaken, and,
., mi; time in various sections "Dlssolu.
ton Of the Union" is becoming familiar
tonic of conversation, and certain charac-
,ers ere beginning TO speak of i's value
with the same seeming indifference that
they would cpeak of the value OF the Cot
ton crop of the South, or any other matter
of dollars and cents. And what is 1t that
has caused the idea Of "Disso.u!i0n" 10
lose half its ,e,.ors, but the frequent recur-
renee to its possibility Ly portion OF the
public press, by parlizan speakers on the
stump, and aspiring and hearlless dema-
rosues in the halls Of Congress? Had an
opposite course been pursued. had The pub
lie press aud public men who pretended to
espy the danger arar Off, when really there
was no danger, had they less frequently
alluded 10 il, or when abiding 10 it regard
ed It as contingency not likely to happen
and not even seriously to be thought Of.
we should not now hear the cry daily com
ing from the South and the North, "lhe
Republic is in danger" "lhe Union will
be dissolvedi" II is the unceasing cry of
the alarmsls that is precipla'ing what
ever of danger there may be gathering
over our country, by familiarizing the pub,
lie mind with its contemplation and imper.
cep,lblv leading i, TO regard il as an event
which must come, with all its horrible
evils, sooner or later. In our opinion. the
true spirit Of patriotism would dictate
dlIcren, course and teach 10 leave unut'er>
ed every sentiment which might have II
tendency 20 weaken the bonds Of Union.
But is there really as much danger that
the Union will be dissolved" as the cries
of the alarnisls would seem to indicate
Positively we think not. That there are Sc
rious difficulties ahead, perhaps close Al
hand, is not TO be denied, and that there
are men high in the estimation OF the
country. who are looking, and it may be
laborine, for dissolution Of the Union, we
III ink quite possible. But that their object
will be effected, we will not allow our
selves 10 believe Tor a moment. The spirit
of compromise by which the Union was
formed and cemenied together. is not en-
rirely extinct. AMI love Of country is still
the prcdominating principle in the hearts
Of the patriotic masses. II some of The
prominent men in the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United States
are willing 10 give up the UNION, the
people are not, and when the question as.
sumes a tangible shape, and is brought
home to them, as it must be before the
foul and reasonable act caa be consum-
mated, they will be found ralying around
It's standard, unfolding and sustaining il.
Tie Union was framed for the people-lt
is their inheritance, it belongs TO them, and
they alone can dissolve it, and until Mey
shall give evidence ,ha, they desire its dis
solution we will not believe there is any
real danger. No matter how dark and
the clouds may be, we have full
confidence in Their power 10 preserve,
and uphold.
Ia our immediate section we know there
i. but one sentiment. Wings and Demo-
Gratis, men, women, and children, are ALL
for the UNION, and none, TO not one, Sc
riously conump!aes its dissolution.
New ORLEANS, Feb. 2O.-Three thou
sand bales Cotton sold yesterday a, an ad-
vance of an eighth Of cent. The de.
cline since the reception Of the Europa's
accounts fully recovered.
The loss by the recen, conflagrarlo1 has
been much exaggerated. 1t is now said
that the total loss only amounts TO $780,
900.