The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-07-11
MR.. FILLMORE.

MoRE's remarks 10 the people of Albany who
had assembled to welcome his return:
Sir, you have been pleased to say that have
the union of these States at Heart. This, sir
is most true; for if their be one object dearer
to me than any other it is the unity, prosper
ity, and glory of this great Republic [Great
cheering. ! confess frankly, sir, that | fear
il is in danger. | say nothing of any pariic-
ular section, much less of TIE several candi.
dates before the people. | presume they
are all honorable men. But, sir, what do
We see! An exasperated state of feeling
between the North and the South on the
most exciting of all topics, resulting in blood
shed and organized military array. But this
is not all, sir, We see political party pre-
sentlng candidates for the Presidency and the
Vice Presidency selected for the first time
from the Free States alone, with the avowed
purpose of electing these candidates by suE-
frages of one part of the Union only to rule
over the whole United States. [Cries Of
"shame, shame."l
Can it be possible that those who are en-
gagged in such measure can have seriously
reflected upon the consequences which must
inevitably follow in cases of success. Can
they have the madness or the folly to be-
eve that our Southern brethren would
submit TO be governed by such Chief Mag
istrate! Would he be required to follow the
same rule prescribed by those who elected
him in making his appointments! If man
living South of Mason and DIxon's line be
not worthy to be President or Vice Pres
ident, would il be proper to select one from
the same quarter as one of his Cabinet
Council or TO represent the nation in q for
eign country; or, indeed, to collect the rev.
enue or administer the laws of the United
States! If not, what new rule is the Pres
ident to adopt for selection to Office that the
people themselves discard in selecting him?
These are serious but practical questions,
and in order to appreciate them fully, it is
| only necessary TO turn the tables upon our
selves, and suppose that the South, having
majority of the electoral votes, should de-
clare that they would only have shareholders
for President and Vice President, and should
elect such by their exclusive suffrages to rule
over us at the North, do you think we would
submit to il! Cries of "No"l No, not for
one moment. And do you believe your
Southern brethren less sensible on this SUBJ
ject than you are, or less jealous of their
II lVu NV itt liC tcli lOu 1uu NIC
certainly mistaken. And, therefore, you
must see that if this sectional party succeeds,
it leads inevitably to the destruction of this
beautiful fabric reared by our forefathers, &C.
mented by their blood, and bequeathed TO us
as n priceless inheritance. Tremendous
cheering.]
tell you my friends, that speak warm
y on this subject, for feel that we are in
danger. | am determined TO make clean
breast of it. | will wash my hands of the
consequences, what ever they may be; and
tell you that we are treading upon the brink
of a volcano that is liable at any moment to
burst forth and overwhelm the nation. |
! might, BY soft words, hold out delusive hopes,
and thereby win votes; but can never con-
sent to be one thing 10 the North and
anothe&o the South. | should despise n.y.
self if could be guilty of such evasion; for
my conscience would still ask, with the dra-
matte poet
It's there not secret curse,
Some hidden thunder, with immortal wrath,
To blast the wretch who owes his greatness
To his courtry's runt"
In the language of the lamented immortal
Clay,"I had rather be right than be Pres
ident"
1t seems to me impossible that thoes en-
gagged in this movement can have contempla.
ted the awful consequences Of success. If
il breaks asunder the bonds of our Union
and spreads anarchy and civil war through
, the land, what is it less than moral treason?
Law and common sense hold a man respon.
sible for the natural consequence of his acts,
and must not those whose acts tend to the
destruction of the Government be equally
held responsible! And let me also add that
when this Union is dissolved, it will not be
divided into two republics or two monarch.
les, but broken into fragments and at war
with each other.
But, fellow citizens have perhaps said
all that was necessary on this subject, and
turn with pleasure to less important but
more agreeable topic 1t has been my for
tune during my travels in Europe to witness
once or twice the reception of royalty, in all
the pomp and spendor of military array,where
the music was given TO order and the cheers
at the word of command. But for myself
prize the honest, spontaneous throb of af-
fiction with which you have welcomed me
back to my native State above all the pageants
which royalty can display. [Cheers.-'rhere-
fore, with heart overlooking with CRATE
full emotions, return thousand thanks,
and bid you adeu.
/