The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-09-17
WING ELECTORAL TICKET.
Athens, Friday, Sept. II, 1852.
HASKELL AND GUILD AT ATHENS.


HASKELL AND GUILD AT ATHENS.
Monday was glorious day for the Wings
Of McMinn. The weather was pleasant, the
crowd large, and the Wings in the finest
spirits in the world. The fame of our gal
liant and eloquent standard-bearer had pre-
ccdcd him, and the friends of the old war
chief knew that his cause was in able hands
We had been told that Haskell was n bril-
liant orator, fervent, warm-hearted, and en-
thusiastic, but we had not been told the half
of what he really was. None can appreciate
his power his lucid and cogent reasoning, his
sparkling wit, his inmitablc action, his splen-
did defamation and overwhelming pathos,
but those who hear him for themselves. All
candid men who heard him on Monday must
agree that as heart-stirring, exciting, AMI
mating and brilliant popular orator, his supe-
rior cannot be found in Tennessee. He so
far eclipsed his opponent, Col Guild, upon
the occasion referred to, that the community
seem not to be disposed to accord to the
speech of the latter as much of merit and
force MS it really deserved. Indeed there is
no comparison between the two men as stump
speakers. Guild is, it is true, man OF re-
spectacle qualities, and manages his side OF
the discussion with as much adrotness MS
many others of his party in more humble Po-
sitions could do, but it is folly to attempt to
compare his cold, monotonous, stereotypcd
plodding, with the glowing eloquence OF
Haskel's warm, generous and brilliant genius.
1t is unnecessary to enter into detail OF
the discussion, for our readers are already
aware of the issues of the present canvass. -
The crowd was so great that our large and
spacious Methodist Church was filled to over
flowing. Gen. Haskell opened the discussion
i, beautiful cxordum, and enchanted at
once the wrapt attention of the entire mass.
His vindication of his glorious leader and
hero, Gen. Scott, from the foul charge of
Abolitionism and Free-soiism, was both mas
terly and complete-his comparison of the
measures of the two great parties as exhibit
ed in their platforms, and his contrast OF the
men who represent those platforms, were
equally able and unanswerable. His charge
upon Pierce of his niggard and contracted
career upon the subject of Internal Improve
ments and Pensions, was whitening, over
whe!r,:n., crushing. His narrative OF the
civil and military career of the candidate G.
She Democracy was entertaining and amusing
even to the Democracy themselves. But it
was when he took up the great life of Win
field Scott and presented it before his auditory
in all it's heroism, its long continued and con-
tinung grandeur and briIliancy-i was then
that the orator grew glorious, and bore the
multitude spell-bound at his will. His pero-
ration was sublime, and his last words, full
of pathos and deep feeling, drew tears from
many an eye not used to weeping. In word,
his whole speech was one Of the most perfect
specimens of genuine oratory and true elo-
oucnce, it has ever been our fortune to hear,
and was frequently interrupted by most en-
thusiastic bursts of applause.
But what shall we say of the effort of Col.
Guild! We said before that Haskell's effort
no far overshadowed Guilds that we are fear
full we did not appreciate the latter rightly.
We would advise Guild, if he wants to be
heard by the people of East Tennessee ia
yorably, he must not travel with such man
As Haskell. His speech was respectable
Democratic effort, just such an one rs we
have heard Samuel A. Smith make often be-
fore-no better-no worse. His charges
upon the Wing party, and upon Gen. Scott,
were the stale and threadbare ones that we
have heard and read an hundred times during
the present canvass only enlivened by an oc-
casional burst of oratory from the speaker,
clothed in sentiments such as these-"flat-
footed Democrat" "chicken pie and inguns,"
and one or two others we don't care about
naming in our columns. But we say that
Guild managed his side Of the controversy
ms ingeniously as usual-with face as hard
with conscience as void of offence because
entirely scared and with as much of unfair !
ness and dcmagoguism, as is usual to be
found amongst the speakers of his party
But to say that his address cqualled public
expectation that it had any of the anima-
ton, fervency, power, or enthusiasm of the
genuine orator, such as we would look for
from nm Elector for the State at large-we
cannot say it and do justice to truth. In the
elements that made up the greatness, power
md cogency of Haskell's speech his was al.
topethcr, in substance and in detail, eyre
giously deficient and the triumph of Haskell
was in every respect overwhelming and COM
pIcte'