The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-10-24

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Of the compromise Of conflicting opinions,
: Republic "p'ang into existence, unrivole
by all governments either ancient or mod
ern be'rn similar oppela.ion.
1t is well for the des ponding patriot to re
cur, now and then, to '',Le clouds and dark
ness" which rested not only upon The path
} way of those who in II civil and military
capacity Brought abnUs, and successfully
prosecuted and terminated the revolution o
l776, but also upon The Efforts of the true
hearted, who ubored increasingly to shap,
its results into the form and consistency o.
u Government of Union and of Law. II
the one case they had to contend with
comparatively small force, scantly clothed
and fed, and poorly armed, against the
bristling hatal'ions Of n mighty empire; ani
in the other, with timid counses. open o.
secret opposition, and opinions as various
as the different linls of . Northern win'e
aud So l;hern autumn. The unnatural foe
tbe vic.yil IL . hundred .Gnropean battles
were beaten il many al ensangnined field
and finally overcome; while in the civl
contests the irresolue; the despondng un
the reasonable yielded to the power OF per
suasIon, Of argument. and truth, or slun
AWAY to more congenlnl scenes.
Even after the establishment of our Gov
ernment, and especially during the admin
isiration OF the elder Adams, the fears o
many good men were excited for its eff
cheney and continuance. The spirits .
party assumed almost fiendish aspect
and in the bitterness of elimination arc
recrimnalion, went far beyond the epithet:
and slang Of modern political warfare. Blu
the patriotism and good seuse Of the Amer
can people carried them safely through this
purlentous period, as well as through sub.
sequent aad alarming trials, aDd unII
recently the whole country had come IL
believe ha! smooth and easy path was
before US to perpetual peace, prosperity
and renown.
have referred to these epochs in our
history fellow citizens. with two fold
objec,-lo show tina, even our Government
Heaven favored as it waS-dld not come
into existence, or continue Tor any length OF
time, without dlllicu ty. danger and trial,
and that through all, we passed safe and
united, by the aid OF Providence, and the
good sense and patriotism of the people
themselves>W ho being the rulers as well as
the governed, are the persons TO suffer from
anarchy, discord and disunion.
Another epoch oil danger and difficulty
has been upon US.
II would i'll become any man OF sense
and observation TO deny, that in the last
two years, a monentous crisis has arisen
in our country, Que winch has caused the
henrt of the patriot 10 sink within him, and
was we'll calculated TO dampsn the ardor
OF even the most hopeful. Excitement and
apprehension pervaded the land. and tie
3lst Congress assembled amidst 1eSpon-
dency aad gloom. But fcrrunsrely lor US
ald or~ c.iI!d!s", ."nd Of !houahttul,
patriotic, and wise statesmen was found in
that body, who gave their days and nights
TO the " ork OF ev"kng from the disc0rdant
and alarming elements around them,a spir-
it Of reflection and Cancellation, which
might spread abroad its benign influence,
and rescue our beloved country from the
horrors that lhrralened it. The celebrated
compromise n casures were the result OF
their labors; and we in Tennessee, whose
citizens yield TO no portion OF the country
in devotion to the Union, should be ready
10 render all honor to tie statesmen and
patriots who projected and carried them
through; and to the present Executive OF
the United States. who has SO nObly sus
taned them. He has proved 10 be the man
for the crisis Calm and thoughtful. firm
and decided, he rose above the exciting
scenes by which he was surrounded-above
| all sectional considerations, and guided BY
the polar star of his political iailh--lhe
constitution of the United Siates-and
looking alone to the great interests Of The
whole country, he announced his adher-
ence TO the "Compromise" in terms which
could not be mistaken. and which were
| unplatabIe alike to the "higher law" men
of The North, and the secesssionss and
| dsnnionisls a, the South, but which pour
ed aladnGss and Joy INTO the hearts OF the
moderate and patriotic where. All
honor, therefore. TO Mlllard FilmoIe, and
his abe and distinguished cabinet!
Ireioice to find. that since the passage
OF those measures, reason is again assum-
| ing her throne, and that the people are
eyncing the intention TO maintain Ike Con
slurion and the Government as they Were
established by their loretalhers. And how
| could this be otherwise, when their calm
Judgment had had time and opportunity TO
ocl2 Who are e. be the sufferers by dis,
union, and anarchy. and civil war2 No, a
royal dynasty, from whose cruel and op-
pressiye hands scepre is TO be wrested;
not reigning monarch, whose crimes are
TO be punished, or whose inefiiciency or
weakness is the cause Of existing evils; not
a hereditary nobility, whose Offices and
honors are beyond the hope Of all not be.
longing 10 their favored class; no, no-bui
ii is the people themselves. II is upon their
heads and ihs heads of their wives and
children that the structure must fall-ii
fall il shou!d-whose foundation was laid
amidst privations and trials, by the lore.
,hought and 6rmness of their ancestors,
and which have since attained such mag.
nifcent proportions and so towering a
height, as 10 attract the attention and admi,
ration OF the whole world.
When we look calmly and thorou ,h!y
al the matter, il must strike US as idle aud
insane to talk about seeding from or dis
solving the Union, in quiet and 10 peace.
by consent. This is impossible. Civil
war will inevitably and naturally follow
the one ur the other. Secession Is separa
lion. and, disguise il as you may. il Implies
and intends separate organization and a
separate government. Should our Stat.