The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-09-05
THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CON
If, says the Lynchburg yirginian' we are to
take the course of some few politicians OF
prominence, who have heretofore been Wings,
as an indication Of what others may be dis
posed to do in the coming Presidential cleo
ton, we are compelled to express surprise
that so weak an invention Of the enemy as
that which urges support Of Mr.. Buchanan
as the only means of defeating the Black
Republican candidate, should have had any
influence with them. From the first day oil
Mr.. Fillmore's nomination, before there was
the slightest opportunity of asceriain'ng The
acceptance il would meet with by the peo-
pie, his opponents raised the cry that there
was not the ghost ola chance oil MS eiec-
ton, and that every vote that might be cast
for him would be thrown away Piay'ng
upon the sensibilties of the South, as is
their custom, they steadily and sturdily assert
ed themselves to be the only party possess
ing both the ability and the means to pro-
tect the South from the aggressions of the
sectionalists. They did not feel, in this
canvass, the confidence with which they have
heretofore assailed the loyalty and trust
worthiness of opposing candidates, and so,
in addition to impeashing the fidelity of MIR.
Fillmore to the rights of the South, they
felt it necessary to divert from his support,
by other tactics, those whose reliance on
him they knew could not be shaken. The
vain and groundless assumption that he
stood 20 earthly chance of. being elected was
the most plausible and most available expe-
diept that occurred to them. Now why
caanot Mr.. Fillmore be elected! Not for
want of fitness for the office-for that has
been tested and approved even by the voice
of his enemies. Not for want Of integrity,
public and private, for they have never been
impugned. Not for want Of popularity Mt
home, for he has repeatedly carried the State
of New York against the strongest men his
an tagonists could bring into the field-and
in lS48 was put upon the ticket with Gen.
Taylor, as the surest means Of securing the
votc of that influential State-and but re-
Gently on his arrival there from Europe he
was greeted like n returning conqueror.-
Nor for want of popularity with the South
ern States--for he was the choice of those
States in 1852 and their nominee in 1866
Not for want of popularity in the conserva-
tive Northern States-for he is the embodi-
ment and leader of the conservative spirit of
the country. tits an utterly vain and IRA
tional conclusion that he cannot be elected.
He can be elected and we firmly believe he
piU be elected, If all who are willing TO see
him President will vote for him. The as.
That it is necessary for the South
to unite upon MIR. Buchanan to prevent the
election Of the Black Republican is absurd.
If Mr. Fremont is elected it will be by North
ern votes acknowledgements over which the
South has, and can have, no control. Ev.
cry vote in the South might be cast as u unit
for Mr.. Buchanan, and it would have no ef-
feet upon the vote of Fremont, unless il
were to increase It by making the selection
more purely sectional than il would other
wise be. Whatever strength Mr.. Fremont
has is positive, local, and independent of the
South. If that strength be sufficient to
elect him, the South cannot prevent il. lift
be not sufficient, he will be as certainly de-
feated with the Southern vote divided, MS
though il were united; for if the election is
thrown into the House it is an ascertained
and demonstrated fact that he would there
be in hopeless minority. The friends of
Fillmore and Buchanan would then have the
result in their own hands, and il would be
lime enough then for the supporters of the
Former to surrender If nothing else could be
Even then we do not believe
that would be necessary. 1t isnot at all i'm
probable, in that event, that he would be
chosen by the House, and by such means,
and under such circumstances, 40 would not
in the least compromise the independence
Of his position. If that should not be the
result, his friends by adhering faithfully to
him could throw the election into the Senate,
by which body Mr.. Breckenridge would be
chosen--a consumption that we should
greatly prefer to the election of Mr.. Buch.
nnan. We have carefully counted the posi-.
blites and probabilities of the election, and
we see nothing in them that should dis
hearten the followers and friends of the no.
bic statesman who leads the conservative and
patriot forces. Willard Fillmore has a gal.
ant spirit. Without calculating the chances
Of success, or defeat, he threw himself with.
,ut reserve or condition into the canvass,
lnxious only to be Of service in once more
'edeeming the county from the alarming
,erls that surrounded ii. He is entitled to
! generous and enthusiastic support-not
such support as takes time to estimate re-
'ults and feel for the strong side--but
hearty, united uncalculating support, that in.
'tinct, with the consciousness OF right, press.
IS forward with invinciblc purpose, and
caves consequences to take care of them.
selves.
RIcH.-To see democrats going round cir
,ulating what they are pleased to call the
great speech of the Honorable James C.
Iones"-the identical Jones whom they have
len nnnced all THAR luas-iha snma Innas