The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-06-13
METROPOLITAN CORRESPONDENTS.
NEW sERIEs-LETTER V.
KNOXVILLE. June 10. 1856.

1
To the Editor Of the Post -
1t is somewhat curious to observe the ef.
feets upon the human mind. of prsadiee-not
to characterize it by harsher name--in mat
tiers pertaining to religion. We find that
many members Of the Roman Catholic Church
conseientiously believe that all Protestants
are irrevocably doomed--while, on the other
hand, it would not be difficult to prove, by
the reasoning of many Protestants, that a
Romanist can, by no possibility, enter the
Kingdom of Heaven. The question naturally
arises in dispassionate mind, whether this
thing is or is not, TO some extent, befogged
and covered up with can't If we take the
pains to refer to our historical knowledge on
this subject, We shall not fail to discover that
persecution for religious opinions sake has
existed from the earliest ages Of the world
1t !" not surprising then, that we should now,
in this enlightened age, stumble upon some
thing of this kind For the "revival Of learn
ing" did not bring with it any large increase
Of federation on the subject of religion-and
that, by the way, is a strange thing to me
because have always been taught to believe
that the martyrdom suffered by the early
christians, on account of their religious belief,
was designed as a warning to succeeding ages
ever to beware of this speciesof intolerance.
But the evil does not stop with the breach
between the Roman Catholics and the Pro-
testants. Unfortunately for the latter, they
are divided amongst themselves. very much
fear that some Baptists have serious doubts
whether Methodist can be finally saved
And, as for the Presbytenans, they are SO
split up that it is difficult to tell which party
constitutes the true Church" But l must
say that the rivalry-I had almost said enmi-
ty-existing between the "Old' and "New
Schools'-is not productive Of such feelings
as we are accustomed to ascribe to those who
call themselves christians. If / mistake not,
| know some members of these churches who
would greatly prefer being found sitting UNI
der the droppings Of Father Bieman's sanctu-
airy. to having it said that they listened to a
sermon in presbyterian" church Of the
opposite school. am told that when the
pastor of either one Of the Presbyterian houses
Of worship in this city happens to be absent
on Sunday. the members Of the congregation,
instead of repairing to the other Presbyterian
church, invariably betake themselves to the
Episcopalian Church, or perhaps to the Bap-
fist. or, strange to relate, to the chapel of the
Roman Beast Suehis prejudice. Is it need.
full to say more on the subjecti 1t is very
fruitful, but | am apprehensive that l shall
bore your readers IL undertake to exhaust it.
So that. for the present. We will "let it slide"
You doubtless noticed, by fhe Register of
last week, that it is proposed to commence
work at this place. on the Rabun Gap Rail.
road. Contractors would do we'll to answer
these proposals, as understand there is some
Charleston people seem determined to carry
out the grand design Of HAYNE-a direct and
speedy connection between the Atlantic sea.
| board, at their port, and the Ohio river at
Cincinnati or Louisville The President of
the Knoxville and Charleston Railroad" Mr..
Swan. is deserving of more thanks than he ,ciH
ever receive, at the hands Of the citizens of
Knoxville, for his efforts in this behalf thrust
that he and Judge FRosr, the indefatigable
President of the Blue Ridge Road, will, ere
many years shall have passed, enjoy the proud
satisfaction Of hailing the advent into Knox
yile of an Iron Horse" direct from Charles
ton. Then may we hope to make our escape
from that Unsuitable yampyre-the Western
d Atlantic Railroad-which has too long been
fattening on Tennessee blood Let us. wher-
ever it is practicable to do so, put an end to
monopoles. Railroads should form no excep-
tion to the maxim competition is the life Of
tradel" And when that "consummation so de-
voutly to be wished" shall be accomplished,
we are not without the hope that IL will find
the cars Of he"Knoxville and Kentu cky Road"
ready to put through to the Ohio, the mails and
passengers with which the Southern" trains
will then be daily overfowing. With such
men as CnuRoHwELL for President and MosEs
for Secretary, Of the Kentucky line we are
unwilling to admit the slightest chance Of the
ultimate failure of THE grand enterprise. The
road will be made, and (pardon my plain
speaking) no thanks to the lower East Ten
nessee members Of the Legislature whose
petty jealousy" defeated the transfer Bill''
"a measure which, while it could not posi-
bly, have injured the East Tennessee and Geor'
gia Road. would have given material aid" to
the other, thereby appropriating the States
treasure to its true, legitimate use-the de-
velopment Of her resources, by the opening up
Of new lines of rail road in every direction.
The only argument ever adduced against this
transfer" was such an one as q school boy
ought to be ashamed Of, to wit: that the East
Tennessee and Georgia Road was about to pay
a small dividend, and it would be long time
before the Kentucky road would yield any
return AS If the State issued her bonds to
build railroads simply with the view of
making money by the dividends which the
roads might be able to declare But we
had better stop this discussion. 1t can serve
no good purpose now, and besides, I am afraid,
Mr.. Editor, Of threading on your toes r.
Well, we have at last got pair OF candi-
dates nominated for ourold friends the Dem
ocratsl Now thenl Pitch in, gentlemen of
the Know Nothing persuasion, and give us the
very "best you have in the shop" You have
several first-rate "points" to make on cold |
Ruck ~ md IL ia In ba bonad vou will not La |