The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-08-01
CONGRESSIONAL CANVASS.

Our government, is based upon the homes
~ and intelligence of the voter. and the
preservation of our institutions and laws
depends upon his vigilance and patriotism
When men filing elective Offices perform
their duties faithfully TO the best of their
ability, it is the privilege and province o
the voter TO bestow the need Of approval
when a public servant fail, in ,he perform
snce OF his duty or neglec's il, it is no less
the privilege aud duty Of the voter to re-
buke him and cast him out.
Two years ago the people of this Cons
gressionul district, after full, fair and i'm
partial consideration Of the principles and
prelensions of the candidates, elected. by o
large majority, Col. Josiah M. Anderson to
represent them in the 3lst Congress-
With the important questions before the
last Congress. involving the safety OF the
nation, oil are familiar. How our repre>
sentative discharged his duty during the
crisis is to be found upon the record. Pend.
ing the time the Compromise measures were
before Congress, meetings were held in diff
ferent parts Of the country approving those
measures and recommending their adoption.
These meetings were in most instances
composed of men of both political parties
in our own county we know such was the
fact, leading democrats signed the call for
,ha. meeting, and leading democrats took
part and participated in its proceedings
sSoutons were unanimously adopted ap-
proving the Compromise measures and in-
s'ruc,ing our Representative 10 vote for
them. The instructions were Obeyed-lh
every instance he was found voting with
the patriotic men whose votes saved the
Union. He discharged his duty faithfully,
rs nil who knew hin believed he would do.
He is again before the people Of the Dis.
,rict for reelection, and we are told bv
he opponents that he il TO be beaten. bad.
ly beaten, md that too by the members of
his own political Observation-Disclosures have
been aying abou, in every direction. that
he was losing ground, that the people
who voted for him before would not vote for
him again. but will repudiate him and cast
him down and rebuke him for having prov.
ed faithful 10 his trust. Some, forgetful of
ibe courtesies ane decencies due an hon
Orable opponent, have even got down amid
the cutters and sewers of personal detrnc-
ton to affect his election. 1t has been told
all over the lower end of the district that
Knox county would reject him. and sustain
his compe,i,or-Knox county. that has al
ways fought the cool fight, and kept the
faith, is now to lalter and assist in elevat.
ing a young man, whatever his personal
merits may be. who is inexperienced and
who in the canvass has furnished no EVIL
dences Of qualification further than the
schoolboy defamation incident to filth
rate 4th Of July Grafton. and who thrust
himself forward over the heads of older and
ADLER members Of his party in other parts OF
the district. From The opening OF the cam
eass 10 the present hour we have heard
these reports and rumors, interpreted with
false and prejudicial charges. rejecting up
on the honesty and integrity Of Col. Ander-
son and consequently upon the virtue aud
intelligence Of those who elected him.
Now, we tell our friends to heed them
no,-,hey are idle, vain and false-a game
adopted for tho purpose Of dragging" Col.
Churchvel into Congress-the last resort
Of desperate adversary. II Col. Ander-
son faithfully discharged the duties hereto
fore entrusted TO him. he is again entitled
to our hearty support. He has been tried.
and found trustworthy. He faithfully re.
flected The sentiments of his District upon
the most important issue ever brought be.
fore Congress, and it is worse than idle TO
expect the people to s i've up at this time
q tried and faithful public servant. for one
Of whose soundness upon vital issues they
have no tangible evidence. They won't do
it. Duty, patriotism, and justice forbid 1t.
THE FIRST DIsTRIcr.-We learn from
tho upper East Tennessee papers that the
contest between the candidates for Congress,
Coils. Johnson and Haynes, is Of the most
intense and interesting character. They are
both genuine democrats. and ,ae wav they
appear to be unfolding each others history
and hand.sawing private character, mus, be
very entertaining to the people Of the DIS
,rict generally. 1t is thought if The can
v.ss could be prolonged few weeks they
would Solh be e1ec'ually used ~. and
would retire in disgust. The GIeenville
Spy supports Col. Johnson. and a paper
has jus, been started at Jonesboro.' which
10 to be the organ Of Hsynes-so The war.
n 20 will not end with the canvass. IL is