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

"'Subfeig 10 the massive uelence OF NelSoh,
and weep under the moving eloquence OF
Rowles-but Mitchsll's effort overwhelmed
us quite. We wish we had time and space
to report that speech in full, but we haven't
and can barely allude to it. He commenced
by saying that the speaking was badly ar
ranged, that it was usual to put the little
wheels before and the big ones behind, but
they had reversed the order. Whether he
was abiding 10 the gentleman who preceded
him, or the speaker to follow after, lisa ques-
ton yet to be settled. He next electrified the
audience with the announcement that the
democracy carried old Virginia last summer
in fact consumed most of his time in giving
a history of that election-which was no
doubt quite refreshing to people who don't
take the papers. He closed with happy
and suggestive account of the "Arkansaw
Traveller" accompanied with vivid and ex-
pressive illustrations, which brought down
the house. Friend Edwards mind seems to
be somewhat on the antiquarian and Stats
teal order, and We respectfully suggest to
the democracy that they file him away for
future reference.
Our fellow.county man, Col. DIV. Ballew,
was next called up, and addressed the meet
ing in his usual happy and felicitous manner.
The Col is at present engaged in agricultu-
raj pursuits, but, Cincinnatus.like, occasional
ly leaves the plough handles at the call of
his country. He made no points, adduced no
arguments that could not be easily turned
and refuted; still we always listen to him
with pleasure, because he is seldom offensive,
never tells vulgar anecdotes, and never gets
down into the mire and filth of detraction-
for which he has, at least, our respect, and
we shall not nnimadvert upon any thing he
said onSaturday last, except to remarkthat his
defence of Mr.. Buchanan was the weakest
and least impressive effort we ever heard him
make, mainly attributable, no doubt to the
fact that that gentleman's political his
tory is utterly indefensble. The Coils posi-
ton that the present prosperity Of the agri-
cultural interests of this section is owing
to Mr.. Buchanan's support ofthe suL-.reasury
system, was new and novel 10 us, as we had
been impressed with the belief that the
building Of the East Tennessee and Georgia
and other railroads had been mainly instru-
mental in bringing about the happy state of
prosperity now enjoyed by our farmers. The
sub.trensury system is no doubt working
well enough-doing what good many sa-
gacious minds predicted: furnishing metal
lie currency for the government and Office
holders and paper one for the people
However, we will let that pass now. When
men of Col. Ballew's ability are driven to
such shifts to make capital for their candi.
date we may conclude that the hunt is well
nigh up. The meeting was closed with
few remarks from the Chairman, principally
about the Know Nothings, of whom he
seems to have the utmost horror.
We have occupied more space with the
Democratic Ratification Meeting than we
should have done, perhaps; but we thought
the public ought to have correct and relia-
BILE statement of the affair, and we knew if
we didn't give it to them they wouldn't get
it at all. II is true, our neighbor of the
Cleveland Banner was present, but he was
so dumbfounded and bewildered by the per-
feet thunder burst Of applause which follow
ed when one of the speakers kindly mention
ed our name, that he will not be able to tell
the truth for the next six months. Indeed,
he never was very good at it, generally, like
other democratic editors, preferring fiction to
fact, romance to reality.
Considering the busy season the meeting
was as large as any enc had right to expect.
There was nothing like enthusiasm, although
there was some appauding, and two or three
of the older members of the party, who be.
lieve in the divinity of democracy, looked
rs happy ms if they had just been born into
the full fellowship of the church Militant
About one third of the audience belonged TO
the opposition party. The speakers were all
listened to with respectful attention, and up
on the whole it was very respectable rati-
fcaton meeting.
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