The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-08
THE FACTIONS

| IlI1 FAO L lONS.
The New York Herald is holding up som,
very pleasant pictures before the countr,
about the condition of things at Washington
In late number we find the following:
a.! 1t is not, important to the present Congress
what enlightened men everywhere may think
of the government of the United States aI
this moment, but it is important to the Ameri
can people. They are utterly disgraced by
the proceedings of the House, which has
ceased to have Legislative character: and il
would be strange indeed if it should be re.
garded as otherwise than as n work of shame.
less prostitution by men high in public trusts
Over forty days have elapsed since the House
undertook TO organze-it is now, MS nearly
as possible, in the exact position it first as
sumed. 1t is divided into three factions; two
of them protesting adhesion to the constitu-
ton, and high and patriotic purposes to sus.
tain that divine compact; the other is the
black republicans, deep dyed traitors, not
only to the federal system, but to every other
rational and humane suggestion by which
mankind is likely TO be benefited 1t is the
latter force, led on by William II. Seward,
encouraged and aided by every monarchist in
Europe-by every titled enemy of the repub-
lie, every aristoerat whose power is menaced
by the advancing force Of popular govern
ment here, in England and on the Continent
IA combination looking to the mmolaton
Of the constitution, to an invasion, ultimately,
of the slave by the free States, the destruc.
ton of slavery, the amalgamation of the races,
and the final test of superiority of the one or
the other, as described by Mr.. Banks; it is
this force which has invaded Congress, and
has the criminal face to demand the control
of its Speaker!
An abolition Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives! The abolitonists-the disun-
ionists in majority in the popular branch of
the government Do the votes show this !?
No. Is there majority against the disun-
ionists? More than a hundred ballots have
so decided. What then have this majority
been doing that they have not elected a
Speaker of their own? What better are men
who so vote, having the power to save the
credit OF the House and tho honor and integ.
rity of the government, as to put into constant
jeopardy that credit, that honor and that
integrity, than those who make no scruple Of
their treason and no longer hide their shame?
Is it enough to defeat Banks? Owe they
nothing to the constitution, to the people, to
the world! May they set up in self:jnstifca-
tion their adhesion to this party or that, when
impeached for neglect of great and solemn
duties imposed upon them by the organic
laws of the republic? And yet who will say
that the democrats and Know Nothings are
not now exclusively, and we may add wick.
edly, bound to their respective parties? Has
any political analysist discovered in the
House, so far, more than one or two per cent
Of patriotism, and that so diffused through
the corroding masses of partizanship as to be
utterly undistinguishable? Seven weeks de-
voted exclusively to party-scven weeks ac-
ton at the public expense 10 build up the
abolition traitors Of the North, the Know
Nothings and the democrats How happens
it that neither of the latter interests has dis
covered that the movement, vhateverit it may
be, that shall defeat the dsunionisis and elect
a national man, will 90 far to recommend the
men and the party that shall be instrumental
in its execution? Do the friends of Richard
son and Fuller for a moment imagine that
they are doing n creditable business in thus
playing dog at the public expense! Is it
enough to grow and nose round amongst
each other, while the theving ours of the
Banks stripe, with no character to gain or lose,
are just about to enter the public Iarder!
If nothing is due to the spirit of the gov
ernment-nothing to the interests of the
people-nothing TO our honor as n nation, to
our staoity,to TO our unity and to our efficiency
in the eyes of foreign Statcs-would it not
be well to consult the condition of our foreign
relations, and see if there may not be found
in them reasons for prompt organization =?
If this folly is not to be perpetual, and is not
utterly blind to faith, to honor and to self
respect; if the House is not determined by its
proceedings to degenerate into revolution, to
disgrace its members and to fix upon the
country historical reproach, surely the ma
jority by and by will begin to feel the neces
sity of making legal Congress, and Of going
to the work they were sent to perform.
ty- 1t is stated that in England the hour