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

70 ratify the nominations of Jas. Buchanan
and J. c. breckenridge. Il had been noised
abroad for some days, that John II. Cros,sr,
VIM. g. Swan, and Col. Jno. r. Nelson, Of
Knoxville, would BE- on hand and make
speeches. The meeting was organized by
calling J. w. Blackwell to preside, and mp.
pointing twelve Vice Presidents, md three
Secretaries. The Chairman made few 70.
marks, In which the poor Know Nothings
were likeued unto snakes In the grass, re.
Numbering, we suppose, tho divine injunc.
ton that the seed Of the woman should
bruise the serpent's head. A committee Of
FIVE was appointed to draft a preamble and
resolutions-which committee stepped out.
and in due course Of time stepped in again
and reported, and the report, we are immea.
surably happy to add, was adopted without
dissenting voice. As well rs we now remem.
Der the preamble and resolutions endorsed
the Cincinnati platform, the Cincinnati nomi-
nees, the administration Of Frank Pierce, the
Kansas Nebraska bill, and all the acts Of the
democracy from 1925 down to the 4th Of
March, 1857, about which time, the general
impression seems to be, the institution will
sink, like bright exhnlation in the evening,
and. never be heard of more. The report, with
the exception Of being slightly rambling and
n little Pathological, was very we'll drawn up
When read and adopted, Col. J. c. Ramsey,
an nrdent young democrat Of Knoxville,
was called up and made one Of his hnppiest
efforts, in which he announced that although
John H. Crozier was not present he was with
the democracy heart and hand and hnnd and
heart. We confidently expected this an.
nouncement would electrify the democratic
portion Of The audience and bring down the
house; but truth constrains us to say that
nothing extraordinary followed. Perhaps
there was little Of the light of other days
still lingering around the democracy, when
John, in his own peculiar way, used to knock
the lint from the speckled. backs. Mr.. Ram.
sey asserted that Fillmore could not be elect.
ed, that the Union was 10 danger, and that
Buck nlone could save tall of which, in
the simplicity Of his heart, he no doubt be.
lieves rs firmly as he does that democracy is
really good institution, is something more
than a mere organization for power and
spoils, loaves and fishes. What decisions
sensible men sometimes fall into! lie, also,
pitched into Know Noihingism--said it was
born of one Judson in the Sing. Sang prison
An error We must take the liberty of cor.
recting. Judson was not the founder of the
order-Judson was not in the Sing Sing
prison-he was sent to Blackwell's Island
for being concerned in riot, for a term
Of sixmonths, FIVE years before the order
had an existence, and at tho time It was or.
gnnized Judson was negotiating down about
Memphis, in this State, and Judson is ma.
tive Of Florida, and not of that northern
Nazareth, out of which our young friend
seems to think no good thing can come
Mr.. Ramsey must be more cautious about his
Jacts, asitis always presumed by majority of
hearers that speaker knows some hing
whereof he speaketh. He was, however, rs
near right here as in most of tho assertions
he made. Before closing hs told m ancc-
dote, in inimitable style, which seemed to
strike responsive chord in the democratic
bosom and called forth no little applause.
When Mr.. Ramsey had concluded, he intro.
duced Col. Jno. R. Nelson to the crowd,
who proceeded to define his position. Col.
Nelson said, substantially, that he had al.
ways been wing, was whig still, didn't
like the know nothings, thought they were
bad fellows like the thugs Of India, and he
couldn't act with them, that the country was
in danger, that it was the duty of every one
to vote MS they thought best for their coun.
try, and that he should vote for the demo.
Gratis. We.have no sort of doubt our old
gray headed friend is sincere, and God forbid
that we should impugn his motives-we
simply think he is mistaken, and we have
great hopes he will see the matter in its true
light and return in time 10 cast his vote for
the only real national candidate in the field.
II the know nothings are rs bad rs the Col.
thinks them to be, it certainly should be no
objection to Mr.. Fillmore that they are going
to vote for him. IF our venerable friend suf.
fers that sort Of n consideration to prevail,
Heaven help him when he comes to throw
his suffrage for the Federal nominee. Col.
Nelson spoke but few minutes, and was
several times nppluuded-the first time, per.
haps, in his long, long life that he ever was
applnuded by the democratic portion of pc.
litical assemblage. "Lord, what have done
that mine enemy should praise me!''
Judge G. w. Rowles followed Mr.. Nelson,
making, as he always does, very pretty talk.
We have not space to follow him through 1t
His text was: 81 intend to lay party under my
feet today" and he stuck to it very welI.-
The Judge alluded to Mr.. Fillmore in com.
mendable terms, damned his administration
with little faint praise, and wound off on
the stale and common argument that there
10 no chance to elect Mr. Fillmore, that the
Black Republicans are very bad fellows, that
the Unions in danger, that unless the South
fuses and presents an undivided front, its
enemies will triumph, and then we shall
have q civil and servle war with oil the
dreadful concomitants, and that the dangers