The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-08-22
SPEAKING AT ATHENS.

people here on Thursday last. There was a
large number Of persons preseut-a third
more than usually gather on such occasions.
It was Mr.. Folks day to lead of, which he
did, and consumed his hour and a half-howl
Discussing great principles, and advocating
the claims Of his candidate for the Presidency
upon the confidence Of the country? Not n
bit of il. But in reckless assertions made in
a bullying manner--in unwarrantable charges
of abolitionism against Mr.. Fillmore, which
every intelligent democrat present knew were
untrue-in telling stale and pointless anec-
dotes, in terspersed with buffoonery and gri-
mace of the motley school. We have heard
great many stump speakers in our day, but
we never heard one make such decided
failure-we never knew man to fall so far
below the expectation Of his friends. In fact
and in truth, his political friends here were
not only chagrined and mortified, but frankly
state that Polk did not begin 20 make as good
a speech as Major Key made on the Monday
preceding--an opinion in which every one
who heard both gentlemen will readily coin
eide. The democracy numbers among its
adherents some of the abest men in the
State, and why they should have placed
man of Mr.. Folks inferior qualifications on
their ticket for the State at large is ineom.
prehenslble, unless we take the fact that they
never expected to carry Tennessee for the
Federal nominee, and preferred to offer up
small sacrifice rather than great one.
In abiding to, Mr.. Maynard's speech, we
are confident every man who heard it, whe-
Their American ordemoerat, will readily con-
cede that it was splendid effort-bold, man.
ly, argumentative, and convncing--in places
pleasant and amusing, at Others whitening
and overwhelming He defended Mr.. Fill.
more against the charge of abolitionism which
Southern democracy is trying to fasten upon
him-he showed that he was more clearly
entitled to the support Of the good and pat.
riotic men of all sections than either of the
other candates-tlat he was the national
candidate, and the others were sectional. lie
convicted the democratic leaders OF fraud and
dupicty to the South-showed that Buch-
anan was not the choice of the South, that
his nomination was effected by Northern
votes, and that, though designed to secure
Northern support, he was now without par
ty even ut the North. He showed mp Buch-
anan's Federalism, his opposition to the war
of 1912, his advocacy of low wages, dsre-
gard of the claims Of the widows of merito-
rious officers; and as to the Cincinnati plat
form, of which Mr.. Buc hanan claims TO be
the embodiment, Mr.. Maynard made such an
exhibition of it that, had the builders been
present, we venture they would never under.
take to construct another. He also took up
Mr.. Buchanan's anti.slavery record and salts
fed every urprejudiced hearer that, by the
sort of testimony relied on to prove Fillmore
Freesoier, he could convict Buchanan of
the grossest Abolitonism. In word, II was
the most complete "shucking" we ever wit.
messed.
When Mr.. Polk come to reply he was evi.
IDENTIFY in bad humor---pretty mad-thought
his competitor was getting personal, and
wanted an explanation, which he got in way
that completely overwhelmed him. He foun-
dered along through his half hour in the
same stale, flat and Improbable manner, and
seemed much relieved when his time was up.
Maynard's close was very felicitous and per-
tinent, and he dismissed the crowd--his
friends delighted with the result, and democ-
racy with its underlip in close proximity with
the ground.
1t is no exaggeration to say that Maynard
is one of the ablest men We have ever heard
upon the stump, and we regret that the De.
mocracy did not send out its ablest champion
to meet him.