The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-08-15
DISTRICT ELECTORS AT ATHENS.

son and Key. addressed large number of
the people of McMinn county. at the Court
house in Athens, on Monday last. Mr.. Key
ted of, and we must say, without intending
to dsparage his abilities in the least, that we
were disappointed in his effort. We are
free TO confess that generally we put but lit
tie confidence in any thing Of party charac-
ter that reaches the public through the demo-
cratic journals of this district, knowing how
deeply imbued their editors are with party
prejudice, and bow difficult it is even for one
like ourself, WHO constantly keeps in view
the sublime command to do justice TO oil
men, to rise superior 10 such things. But
the Banner and Advertiser had both so uni
formly reported their man rs achieving such
brilliant victories over Brabson, rs using him
up on every occasion, that we thought there
might possibly be something in what they
said, and we approached the speaking little
dubious as to the result. We had the plea.
sure, however, of finding our apprehensions
entirely groundless. We expected Maj. Key,
from what had been said of him, would come
forward with bold and impregnable array of
facts, unanswernble arguments, and fine flow
ing and impassloped oratory. Judge of our
disappointment then when he started off with
an elegaic display over the old wing party,
and closed with an appeal to all men Of all
parties to come up to the help of the demo-
cracy, which party he declared was today
victorious and jubilant all over the country.
He told us that the Know Nothings were bad
fellows, but he didn't tell us how he found
them out; he said DIR. Fillmore was Know
Nothing, initiated in Council of New York,
which is not true, assert it who maybe de-
Tended the foreigners md the Pope Of Rome,
and expressed the opinion that we had moth
ing to fear from foreign influence and immi-
grafton, Notwithstanding Washington, Jeffer-
son, Madison, Monroe, and Jackson had all
cautioned the country against them. But
the browning point Of Mr.. Keys speech was
charging Mr.. Fillmore with being m abol-
ZIONIST, and he attempted to prove it by read
ing portion of the Erie letter-we say n
portion, because no stump orator, no demo-
cratic paper, has ever had the candor or hon.
esty to read or publish the whole of that let
ter, and they never will. Mr.. Kew spoke
briefly, very briefly, of Mr.. Buchanan, for
which he is excusable, rs there is really but
little to be said in favor of the old gentleman
without palpable violation Of the truth of
history. He also spoke of the Cincinnati
platform, and said all men could stand upon it
without feeling cramped-a fact which has
been happily illustrated by the readiness of
Martin Van Buren, and John to adopt il. He
also, in thd course of his remarks, charged
the American party with being responsible
for tho present agitation on the subject Of
slavery-a charge so groundless rs to hardly
need contradiction. And We believe he closed
with the stereotyped remark that "there is
no chance for Fillmore!' and an exhortation
to support Buchanan, which, notwths.and-
ing the energy and enrnestness Of the spea-
Ker, fell as impressionless nmong the crowd
rs moonbeams on rock.
Brabson rose to reply with the air and
manner Of a man who feels that his cause
is good, and just, and is confident of his
ability to maintain it triumphantly under all
circumstances, and we knew before he utter
cd half dozen words that the democratic
papers had been reporting incorrectly. We
shall not follow him through his remarks,
nor tell our readers how he took up the
glorious principles of the American party
and discussed them with mastery power
how he triumphantly indicated the pnriy
from all responsibility in regard to the re-.
opening Of the slavery agitation, md fixed
that responsibility where it properly belongs,
upon the leaders of the democratic party
how he successfully defended Fillmore from
the charge Of abolitionism, and his .wilher.
ing -ebuke of those who make the charge
how he walked up old Bucks record, and
showed where he stood, what he had been
and where he now stands, and how eloquent.
ly he defended Donelson from the ghouls
and harpies who impugn his motives because
he had the manliness to cut loose from bad
men and declare himself for the Union. 1t
is sufficient TO say that Col. Brabson triumph.
antly sustains in debate the principles of his
party and nobly advocates the ticket at its
head, and our friends throughout the district
who have not heard him, may rest assured
that their cause is in capable and efficient
hands, md the result in November will prove
it.
II is proper 10 state that our friends here
were more than satisfied with the result on
Monday, and that with tho exception of one
democrat, who heard Key throughout but
who run like a turkey Ms soon us Brabson
commenced, We have heard no discrepancy of
opinion on the subject. The candidates
speak at Loudon today, and jacksonville 10.
morrow.
I#- Jno. Fleming, the talented editor of
the Knoxville Register, dropped in upon III.
a few days since. We were pleased to learn
from him that the national ticket is sweeping
every thing in his section, and that two thou.
| snnd minority in old Kpox 4. tba Go,,. ,,,o