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

We publish below portion of Mn. FILL.
MoRE's remarks to the people Of Albany who
had assembled to welcome his return:
Sir, you have been pleased to say that have
the union Of these Suites at heart. This, sir,
Is most true; for IL their be one object dearer
to the than any other II is the unity, prosper.
ity, and glory Of this great Republic. tGreat
cheering ] confess frankly, sir, that fear
i, is In danger. ] say nothing Of nny partic.
ular section, much less of the several candi.
dates before the people. presume they
are all honorable men. But, sir, whnt 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-.
senting 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 sui.
frages Of one part Of the Union only to rule
over the whole United States. [Cres Of
'shame, shame."l
Can It be possible that those who nre en-.
gagged in such measure can have seriously
reflected upon the consequences which must
inevitably follow in cases Of success. Can
lieve that our Southern brethren would
submit to be governed by such Chief Mag
istrate2 Would he be required to follow the
same rule prescribed by those who elected
him in making his appointments! If n man
living South Of Mason and Dlxon's line be
not worthy to be President or Vice Pres.
ident, would it be proper to select one from
the same quarter rs one of his Cabinet
Council or to represent the nation in n for.
eign country; or, indeed, to collect the rev.
enue or administer the laws of the United
States? II not, what new rule il 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 it! [Cries of "No"] No, not for
one moment. And do you believe your
Southern brethren less sensible on this sub.
jcct than you are, or less jealous of their
rights! II you do, let me tell you yon are
certainly mistaken. And, therefore, You
must see that it this sectional party succeeds,
it leads inevitably TO the destruction OF this
beautiful fabric, reared by our forefathers, &C.
mented by their blood, and bequenthed TO us
as priceless inheritance. Tremendous
cheeringl
tell you my friends, that speak warm.
ly on this subject, for feel that we are in
danger. am determined to make clean
breast of II. | will wash my hands of the
consequences, what ever they may be; and |
tell you that we are treading upon the brink
of n volcano that is liable at any moment to
burst forth and ovcrwhelm 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
another to the South. l should despse my.
self il could be guilty of such evasion; for
my conscience would still ask, with the dra.
matte poet
SIS there not some secret curse,
Some hidden thunder, with immortal wrath,
To his courtry's ruin!"
In the language of the lamented immortal
Clay, 81 had rather be right than be Pres
ident."
II 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 man respon.
sble 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 ia dissolved it will not be
divided into two republics or two monarch.