The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-12-05
THE REASON WHY.


The Lynchburg Virgiuian says, Mr. Bu-
chanan's bate Pacific Railroad manifesto has
cast spell upon the Democracy more potent
than any of the supernatural agencies EN-
ployed in Arabian fable. The unterrfed are
horror stricken and dumb before the monster
PrVet evoked from the inky easket of the
magician o: Wheatland. Self constituted
teachers of the federal prerogative, they
stand aghast amid the ruins of their most
dearly cherished principles One after ano-
Their of these principles have crumbled into
dust. Squatter sovereignty, openly avowed
by Cass and endorsed by Buchanan, goes I'M
reproved; the non-extension of Slavery, pro-
mdlgated by Mr.. Breckenridge, is received
with meek submission; internal improve
ments, passed by Democratic Congress over
the veto of the heroic Pierce, excites scarce
a murmur; and now-the gigantic swindle of
the Pacific Railroad, as Democratic moralists
have denounced it, is swallowed in silence.
How is thisl Where are the thunderbolts
that annihilated Jefferson Davis when he first
proposed this scheme! Where are the "gal-
lont few" in Virginia, who put tie adminstra-
ton to ignominous route in SO! Where is
the Coolies of the ETamner, the Spurius
Lartus of the Enquirer the Herminus of
the S0uthSide Democ raj, who stood forth so
nobly to defend "strict construction" in the
brave days of old? Where are these heroes,
now that the citadel of Democracy is so
grievously assaiIed? Echo answers "Where"
Alas! the enemy is no longer without but
within the gates, and neither Ramsican nor
Titan blood avaiIs to crcumvent him. Fill.
busters of South Carolina. and Free Kansas
Democrats Of Pennsylvania are equally mute
witnesses Of his paricidal act.
Must we, therefore, conclude of railroads,
as of murders, that the crime is in inverse
proportion to their magnitude! Yet the Pa.
cifc Railroad of Mr.. Buchanan contemplates
an outlay quite as enormous as did that
Of Secretary Davis, and the opening forpec
lation is the same. Are Democratic principles
self adjusting, and do they adapt themselves
to the widest vagaries of the Presidential in
cumbent! Is the theory of SO radically diff
ferent from the theory of '53, and are we to
have new democratic theory with every new
almanac!
In fine, what are VIC to make of the silence
of our democratic brethren in Virginia, and
how account for it?
The task is by no means difficult The
spoils hare not been divided. The hungry ex-
pectants dare not open their mouths until the
division has taken PLACE. One untmel y woid
might cost fat otfice--a single injudicios
sentence postpone all chance of plumber for
at least four years and perhaps forever. Thus
our Locofoco Esaus sell their birthrights for
bare prospect of a mess of red pottage-
But wait until the Ides of March, 1857, are
past Then we shall have patriotism, boldness,
independence, pure democracy, in the largest
abundance. Such howl will be raised as
never has been heard since Satan encountered
the hell hounds at the internal gate. Such
how'll Meantime where will pure democ-
racy have drlfted!
MAIL BAG MISREPRESENTATION CIRCUMSTANCES
We find the following in the Atlanta In
telligencer of the 3d:-"We learn that some
two or three weeks ago brass lock mail bag
started from Knoxville to Nashville, Tenn,
failed to reach its destination. 1t was either
last or stolen, but no clue as to its fate could
be found until few days ago. man named
William Smith, formerly drummer" at Loyd's
Hotel, in this city, but who has for some time
past been employed as Mail Guard ,on the
Western Il Atlantic. Rail Road, was known
to have a good deal of money-was handling
and spending much larger sums of cash than
appeared consistent for one in his station of
life. The circumstance was brought to the
attention of the officers of the Road, and one
night last week, Col. II. }. Cowart called up
on the young man at his lodgings, and sue
ceeded in obtaining from him $3.50 in bills on
Tennessee banks which he said he had found
in purse or pocket book on the cars about a
month ago, and was keeping it to see if any
one claimed it, AS the mails between Knox
Vile and Nashville pass from Dalton to Chat
tanooga over the State Road, it is reasonable
to suppose that this Smith knows the fate of
the missing brass lock bag.
"Col. Barclay Martin, from Tennessee, Spe-
cial Agent of the Post Office Department, ar
rived here on Sunday morning last, for the
purpose of investigating The matter but We
understand Smith is missing.
\"Gen. Frerson, Special Agent for the De.
partment for Georgia and Florida, is also here
looking into the affair"
The RESULT IN New YoRK-OFFIcIAL.-The
returns from all the counties have been re.
ceived at the office of Secretary of State. and
those on electors footed. The votes cast for
State Electors for the several parties foot
thus:
Fremont. .274,7O7
Buchanan, 1886
Fillmore, l24,6O3
Gerrit Smith. 100
Total vote polled 595,333
OFFICIAL VoTE OF MIoHIGIS,-The official
vote of Michigan in the late Presidential
election foots up as follows: