The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-07-11
RATIFICATION MEETING.

and ]. c. breckenridge. 1t had been noised
abroad for some days, that John H. Crozier,
VIM. G. Swan, and Col. Jno. r. Nelson, of
Knoxville. would be on hand and make
speeches. The meeting was organized BY
calling J. w. Blackwell to preside, and ap.
pointing twelve Vice Presidents, and three
Secretaries. The Chairman made few re.
marks, in which the poor Know Nothings
were likened unto snakes in the grass, re-
membeHng, we suppose, the divine injunc-
ton that the seed of the woman should
bruise the serpent's head. A committee of
FIVE was appointed to draft preamble and
resolutions-which committee stepped out
and in due course Of time stepped in again
and reported, and the report, we are immea-
surably happy to add, was adopted without n
dissenting voice. AS we'll as we now remem-
Der the preamble and resolutions endorsed
the Cincinnati platform, the Cincinnati nomi-
nees, the administration of Frank Pierce, the
Kansas Nebraska bill, and all the acts of the
democracy from 1926 down to the 4th of
March, 1857, about which time, the general
impression seems to be, the institution will
sink, like bright exhaation in the evening,
and'never be heard of more. The report, with
the exception of being slightly rambling and
little Pathological, was very we'll drawn up
When read and adopted, Col. ]. C. Ramsey,
an ardent young democrat of Knoxville,
was called up and made one of his happiest
efforts, in which he announced that although
John Fl. Crozier was not present he was with
the democracy heart and hand and hand and
heart. We confidently expected this an
nouncemcnt would elec.rify the democratic
portion of the audience and bring down the
house; but truth constrains us to say that
nothing extraordinary followed. Perhaps
there was little Of the light of other days
still lingering around the democracy, when
John, in his own peculiar way, used to knock
the lint from the speckled- backs. Mr.. RAM
sey asserted that Fillmore could not be elect.
ed, that the Union was IN danger, and that
Buck alone could save tall of which, in
the simplicity of his heart, he no doubt be.
leves rs firmly as he does that democracy is
really good institution, is something more
than mere organization for power and
spoils, loaves and fishes. What decisions
sensible men sometimes fall into lie, also,
pitched into Know Nothingism-said it was
born of one Judson in the Sing. Sang prison
AN error we must take the liberty of cor.
recting. Judson was not the founder of the
order-Judson was not in the Sing Sing
prison--he was sent to Backwell's Island
for being concerned in n riot, for term
of six months, five years before the order
had an existence, and at the time it was or.
gained Judson was negotiating down about
Memphis, in this State, and Judson is ma.
tive Of Florida, and not of that northern
Nazareth, out Of which our young friend
seems to think no good thing can come
Mr.. Ramsey must be more cautious about his
facts, asitis always presumed by majority of
hearers that a speaker knows something
whereof he speaketb. He was, however, as
near right here as in most of the assertions
he made. Before closing he told an anec-
dote, in inimitable style, which seemed to
strike responsive chord in the democratic
bosom and called forth no little applause.
When Mr.. Ramsey had concluded, he intro
duced Col. Jno. r. Nelson to the crowd,
who proceeded to define his position. Col.
Nelson said, substantially, that he had al
ways been wing, was a wing still, didn't
like the know nothings, thought they were
bad fellows like the thugs of India, and he
couldn't act with them, that the country was
in danger, that it was the duty of every one
to vote ns they thought best for their coun.
try, and that he should vote for the demo.
Gratis. We have no sort of doubt our old
gray headed friend is sincere, and God forbid
that We should impugn his motives-we
simply think he is mistaken, and we have
great hopes he will see the matter in its true
light and return in time to cast his vote for
the only real national candidate in the field.
If the know nothings are as bad as the Col.
thinks them to be, it certainly should be no
objection to Mr.. Fillmore that they are going
to vote for him. If our venerable friend suf.
fers that sort of consideration to prevail,
Heaven help him when he comes to throw
his suffrage for the Federal nominee. Col.
Nelson spoke but few minutes, and was
several times applnuded-the first time, per.
haps, in his long, long life that he ever was
appauded by the democratic portion of pc.
ltical assemblage. "Lord, what have done
that mine enemy should praise mer'
Judge G. w. Rowles followed Mr.. Nelson,
making, as he always does, very pretty talk.
We have not space to follow him through it
His text was: al intend 20 lay party under my
feet today" and he stuck to it very WE'LL
The Judge alluded to Mr. Fillmore in com.
mendable terms, damned his administration
with little faint praise, and wound oil on
the stale and common argument that there
is 20 chance 10 elect Mr.. Fillmore, that the
Black Republicans are very bad fellows, that
the Unionis in danger, that unless the South
fuses and presents an undivided front, its
enemies will triumph, and then we shall
have civil and servile war with all the
dreadful concomitants, and that the dangers