The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-10-05
THE FUTURE.
(From the Memphis whig)

Whatever may be the proper degree o.
Importance attached to the new issues pre-
sented by the American party, nothing i:
more apparent than the fact that the Slave.
ry question transsends all Others in the
magnitude of the results of its final solu.
| tion.
We have every reason to congratulate
ourselves that our party has assumed on this
question, the only position which eau insure
the safety of the South, and the perpctuity
of the Union No Van Buren, Sumner,
Chase, Hale, Reeder, nor Wilson, can find an
abiding place upon the American PLATFORM
We have accomplished more than any poti-
cal organization has hitherto done in driving
from us all such men. We have, it is true,
exhibited greater devotion to principle,
truth and justice to the South, and to the
Union, than we have policy. In adopting n
pro-Slavcry platform, we have given up all
anti.SIuvery strength For this very reason,
when our position is thoroughly understood
and we are relieved Of the prejudcial forms
which still to some extent cucumber our par
tsan mode of organization, we will surely re-
ccivc the support of all honest men, who
caring naught for mere partisan success, have
patriotism.
II is hard for an American to believe that
men in this land Of freedom, where all the
hopes of our county are centcred in the viz
tue, honesty, intelligence and patriotism of
our people, that her men will desert party
because it may be weak, or act with one
simply because it is strong; yet we see every
day in the anti American press the idea ever
advanced that the American party has and
can have no strength at the North, that it has
been defeated at the South, and, therefore, it
is unworthy the aid and cOuntennnce of
Southern men. Contrast, if you will, the
Johnson Platform adopted here in Memphis,
n Southern city, by the so called "Democrat-
ic" Club, and published in the Appeal, with
the American Platform adopted at Phladel-
pHll. i Hc luIlitI HtICAl otAbSo AlIdh Att
creed and principles Of the Democratic Balti-
more Platform of 1852 are re-asserted and
Reimbursed. How does his Southern Demo
cratic Platform dispose Of the Kansas-Ne-
braska act, which has come into being since
1852, and ut this moment involves the desti-
ny of the Union. From the platform adopt
ed here, no living man can tell whether the
Johnsonite Democracy of Tennessee Rre
with the Syracuse Softs, or Bronson and
Dickinson Hards, of New York, on the pres
ent issues arising out of the great slavery
question.
Any honest man must see, feel, and know.
that the sole object in view when these non
committal platforms are adopted is, TO secure
the support of both the Hards and the Softs
to hold on to the purchased strength of
the Administration, and still to effect n cor.
rupt and deceptive alliance with the Bronson,
Dickinson and Stanton Democrats of the
Union. In other words-strength, success,
the spoils, are invariably the producing causes
of such partisan conduct and policy, while
truth, principle and patriotism are utterly ig-
nored The meaningless Memphis "Dcmo-
cratic" q platform is simply designed to
sweep Tennessee and the Union with the FL
thy besom of Johnsonism in 1856.
So different has been the conduct of the
American party, that even in n National Con.
vention, whose action involved the result of
a National contest, that to-day there is not n
Van Buren, nor Wilson connected with our
party. The Abolition and Freesoi attaches
of the original Know-Nothng "Order" have
abandoned the American party, and with
Chase and Seward at their head, have assum-
ed n new name; and "Abolitionsm," and not,
"Amercanism," is their war cry, or are, with
the Appeal, ndhering to the fortunes of the
Pierce Administration.
For the first time in the political history |
of our country, n party has been organized |
which, regardless of success or defeat in any |
State or throughout the Union, has dared,
through its National representatives, TO speak |
plain, unequivocal truths in regard to this
slavery question For the first time there
has assembled at Philadelphia political Ma
Iioual Convention whose enactments betray
fidelity to the rights of tho South, as undeni-
lble and as unimpeochable as they do to the
whole American Union.
| advise no step backwards; | would not
sacrifice an iota Of principle for the most
brilliant partisan or personal success but
hat right and justice may triumph, that un'
nitgated demagougeism may not IongerruIe
,ur political parties and control the deslinics
If our State and nation, that we may secure
he rights of the South, and the perpetuation
If our institutions through all coming time,
ct us so remodel our mode of organization
hat we may be freed from those insane pre-
udices which have everywhere deprived us OF
members and strength.
While it is undeniably true that il every
lmorican citizen, and every subsequent gem
ration of Americans, would take the oaths'
nd abide by them, said to be administered to
Members of our party, the Constitution OF
ur country would remain forever unlmpalr-
d. and our laws, institutions and Union
would retain all their primeval strength and
urity; while this is all true, yet it is now the
art of wisdom and of PATRIOTISM in the