The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-12-28

and often wrong, in it's speculations gives us
the following in rs issue of the nth.
II has come TO ths--that in Congress there
is substantially but two partics-the black re
publicens on the one side, united with the
anti.twelfth section Know Nothings ready
and anxious to form n great Northern aboli-
tion party, aud the democracy, standing firm
ly upon the Kansas law and upon the princi.
pies Of popular sovereignty, on the other side
Between the two are the national Know
Nothings, giving their votes steadily for Full.
ler some Of them perhaps somewhat hostile
to the Kansas legislation, but oil Of them, it
is believed, regarding that act as altogether
OF secondary Importance, and ready aud de-
termined to maintain the integrity Of our
national compact on all occasions. The gulf
between tkess men and the black republicans
is as wide and rs deep as that between the
black republicans and the Old Guard Of the
democracy. They can hope for no existence
as party by falling into the Seward ranks.
They are chiefly from the Sonth, and though
not formidable for their numbers. they hold
the balance Of power not only in the organi-
zation Of the House, but in the election of
President in cass Of a failure to do so by the
Electoral Colleges. This latter fact imposes
upon them high responsibilities; for there is
certainly prospect more or less remote,
that upon the present House the duty of Sc
Letting an executive to succeed Mr.. Pierce
may devolve.
Counting the members who sustained Banks
on the highest vote as sure to support the
black republican candidate for the Presden-
cy, that party will have thirteen States, viz {:
Indiana, New York,
Maine, Ohio,
Massachusetts,, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Rhode Island,
New Hampshire, Vermont,
New Jersey. Wisconsin.
Connecticut.
The democracy, judged by the Same rule
by those voting for Richardson-will have
twelve States, wiz
Alabama, Louisiana
Arkansas, Mississippi
California, North Carolina,
Florida, South Carolina,
Georgia, Texas,
Illinois, Virginia.
Iowa is equally divided, and radically, upon
democratic and black republican lines.
Then we have the following States, lin
which the Know Nothings, with hardly an
exception, vote against Banks,) controlled
either absolutely or holding the balance of
power by the American representatives in
Congress:-
Kentucky, Missouri,
lthUesste, belaWaIe.
Maryland,
Allowing that the vote of the latter can
be controlled by the black republicans, they
are still short of the power to elect their
President-and that power is lodged with the
national American representatives from Ken.
lucky, Tennessee, Maryland and Missouri
-four slave States. So the power to make n
Speaker, and the possible power to make n
President next year, is in the hands of the
conservatives Of the American party, that
little nucleus surrounding Mr.. Fuller, and
who as steadily adhere to him ~ that immor.
tai band of seventy.iour, acting subs antial-
ly from the same motives, have continued to
cast their votes for Col Richardson.
PosTPosEMENr OF A NATIONAL CONVENTION
The President of the Virginia State Coun-
ellis Of the "Amcrican Party of Virginia" has
published nm explanatory statement MS to the
proposed National Convention to be held in
Philadelphia on the 22d of February next
He says there is no power TO postpone the
Convention save by the vote of the delegates
composing it, Delaware and Missouri 90 for
postponement, and it is thought that the
meeting of the Eastern and Western Coun-
ellis Of Virginia, to meet at Richmond on the
18th of January, will also insist upon post.
ponement. North Carolina some time since
expressed n desire for postponcmcnt, and Mr..
Moors says, as far rs he is informed, there is
no State Council which does not desire n
postponemcnt until June or July.
GEN.CAss DESIRES TO BE "CoUYTED Our"
The Detroit Free Press publishes the fol.
lowing important little note from General
Cass.
DETROIT, Nov. 90, 1855
Gentlemen--1 have received your letter
asking mo it am n candidate for the office
of President of the United States, and ex-
pressing the qualification it wonld give you to
support me for that high station.
While thanking You for this manifestation
of your kindness and confidence, of which |
shall always preserve grateful recollection,
reply that am not candidate for the Presi-
dency, nor do desire that my name should
be presented in connection with it to the con-
sideration Of the democratic. party of the
Union.
l am, gentlemen, with great regard, truly
yours, LEWIS CASS.
Andrew ]. Webster, Esq, and others, Phil.
adelphia.
NJ n.