The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-09-26
SPEAKING AT BENTON.


a half in length, fifty eight minutes of which
was purely personal, attempting to vindeate
himself from the charge Of having elected
Nathaniel P. Banks, Black Republican, Spea,
ker OF the House of Representatives. The
zeal and energy with which the Col. entered
upon his personal explanation, convinced all
who heard him that his connection with that
affair renders him particularly uncomfortable
at the present time He said that the strug-
gle for the speakership was an exciting and
laborious one, protracted for two mortal
months, during which time Congress met
night and day, and every member that could
possibly be IN attendance, was punctual and
always at his post, He said that the coun-
try became clamorou, for an organization OF
Congress, and that he partook of that pat
riOtism aud lent his enernes to accomplish
that long looked for result. lie dwelt upon
his devotion to our American institutions
with melting pathos, during which time the
pronoun "I' was frequently used, with evil
dent pleasure to himself, but without meet
ing l response in the breasts of many of his
old democratic admirers. He said that if
there was honor due any one for having or
gained the House, that that honor was Just
ly his, and, on the contrary, if there was
censure merited by any one, that it must fall
upon his devoted head. He said that the vote
which was taken the evening before the cleo
ton was made, induced him to believe that
Mr. Aiken, of South Carolina, could be elect.
ed by plurality vote, and he determined to
offer resolution to elect by plurality vote.
He was very particular to exhonerate the de.
mocratic party from any privity to his inten-
tions, asserting most positively that all of his
democratic associates had plead with him not
TO offer the resolution, assuring him that if
it was adopted, that it was tantamount to
an election of Banks. Still he was willing to
risk his own Judgment, though it was in di,
rect opposition to the expressed and com.
bined opinion Of all his friends, and the con-
sentative feeling generally both North and
South. In further justification Of himself, he
said that Banks was great man; had de.
meaned himself with becoming dignity, and
had not dishonored the chair to which he
had been called. He next spoke of that let.
ter to his constituents, in which he charged
that all of Mr. Fillmore's appointees North
were Abolitionists and known to be such
when they were made. lie said that he had
examined the ''record" and made a tour
through the Northern States for the purpose
of obtaining the true state of facts that he
might also justify the assertions made in that
letter. He then exutingy held up in his
hand roll of paper containing about qnire
OF foolscap and shouted at the top of his
voice that there was the proof to sustain his
charge He did not however, read a single
name, but left the crowd to take his bare as
sertion that he held in his hand testimony
conclusive He concluded his harrangue
with the stereotype cry of mo chance for
Fillmore" asserting upon his own response
two States North Col. Smith then took his
seat enid silence still as death" sr
Mr.. Jarnagin answered Col. Smith in his
forcible and happy style, taking up in the
first place the election of Banks, as ten.
dered by Col. Smith. He commented upon
the resolutions passed by the Democratic
caucus Immediately preceding the election
for Speaker, and showed satisfactorily to
every one who heard him that they had de-
termined to preserve the organization of their
party: and that they considered that fact,
upon the eve of Presidential election, par
amount to every thing else. lie would not
let Col. Smith become the willing sacrifice |
upon the Democra ic altar, but held the
Democratic members of Congress- and through
them the Democratic party, responsible for
the election of Mr.. Banks. lie charged
and proved that the Democratic members
seven of whom refused to vote and lodged
the question, had made a head and front for
the Black Republican party, that was giving |
them so much uneasness in the present con-
test; and that, but for that fact, they would |
have continued small faction, and would |
not now have candidate in the field. Ills
argument upon this point was clear and con
elusive, and will have its due weight with |
the thinking men of all parties. He said that |
as Mr.. Smith had informed us that he had |
made a tour through the Northern States,
and had given succinct history of his tray
els. he felt it due to the Colonel to mention
one circumstance connected with his travels
that he had no doubt inadvertently omitted.
That was that while he was upon his errand
of love and affection for himself, to obtain
testimony to sustain the charge that he had
go recklessly made against Mr. Fillmore in
relation to his Northern appointments, he
made some new and pleasant acquaintance.
He said away up North there rs man by
the name of Martin Van Buren,, and that in
the course of human events the aforesaid
Martin begat son which lie called john ia
miliarly known as Prince john that the said
Van Burens had heretofore been the leaders
of the Abolition + rec Soil party, now known
as the Black Republican party; and that our
Congressman, Samuel A. Smith, had been
cheek by jole" with John Van Buren,, ma
king Buchanan speeches upon the same plat
form. This, he said, accounted for the com
plmentary manner in which he spoke of MIR.
Sneaker Banks. He then read the Hon. f.
p. Stanton's speech, made in New York, in
which he puts to the blush all charges against