The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-07-31
LAST WORD OR TWO.

To a few days The people Of Tennessee will
be called upon 10 comic 10 the ballot-box and
exercise their dearest FIGHT as honest and IN
teliigent voters. Will they intelIigently e1-
anime and carefully decide, each one fot him
self, upon all the measures proposed Tor their
consideration viii they come, aud honestly
east their votes for the men who advocate
those measures which they know are best
calculated to promote ihe public good! There
are questions involved in the present contest
Of more than ordinary interest--questions,
which are of infinitely more Importance than
the mere success of political parties or party
men. And it assuredly becomes US for once
TO cast aside party prejudIce-throw of the
impenetrable harness OF political warfare, and
march up and took these questions straight
in the face. IF the question Of Distribution,
for instance, was brought before The people
Of Tennessee disconnected with politics; If 1t
was to be voted on simply as question
which was to stand or fail upon its own
merits, and not as party measure, how ma
ny would be found to oppose ii! Could
there be found, in the whole State, one SIM
gle intelligent man, who, after examining the
effect produced by the grant of land to the
State of Illinois, would oppose the making
of a similar grant to-lhe State of Tennessee!
We hazard the assertion that such a man
could not be found. Then, if the advantages
arising from the distribution of four or i've
millions of acres to each of the States are so
overwhelmingly convincing, why is it that
we nre told that il would do no good to give
TO each State its full and fair proportion Of
our immense public domain! Bat it is use
less TO discuss this question. The people of
Tennessee are for il, and could an unbiased
expression of their honest opinions this day
be taken, the result would prove the truth OF
what we cay. And this expression is all we
want. But can we have it, or can the people
of Tennessee be induced to violate their hon.
est convictions Of right, and act in direct op-
position to the dictates Of their better iudg-
ment? We think not For once, we believe,
they will break the shackes with which
scheming politicians seek to bind them and
dare to think and act for themselves.
Another question before us, ofalmost equal
importance, is the doctrine of"Aien Suffrage"
And now upon the eve of the coming cleo
ton, let us ask candid men Of all parties, who
are acquainted with the laws requiring the
right of voting in our own State, simple
question. If the public good and the purity
of the ballOt-box require you to remain six
months in any county before you can vote,
when you have, it may be, only moved across
the county line, is it fair is it safe, is it right
for aliens of every hue and color--the refugee,
vagabond and felon-so soon as they are
dropped upon the soil of our territories, to as
sumo the prerogative of making and execut-
ing our laws! If not, then put the seal of
your disapprobation upon this doctrine in the
approaching contest.
Consider these questions, not alone as they
relate to yourselves and present interest, but
in all their broad and comprehensive bearings
upon the future, of your children, your State
and your nation. Aud if you decide that the
measures, advocated by men who bear dif.
ferent political name from your own, are best
calculated 10 promote the great end for which
we all ought to labor--;he peace, prosperity
and happiness of our common country
then have the manly independence to advo-
cate these measures. Think not that each
one may shift the responsibilities upon anoth-
er; if you are convinced Of the Justice and
propriety of any measure, and vote against il,
or fail to vote for it, you are recreant TO your
trust as freeman. If you vote for a man or
n measure, feeling that you are doing wrong,
merely from the force of party drill, you are
unworthy to exercise so sacred right. All
VIC ask is, and this much We have n right to
expect, that each man for himself shall de-
eide upon all the questions before us, and
having decided, let each one vote for what he
believes TO be right, in defiance of the threats
of party drivers and the persuasons Of pol!i-
cal demagogues.
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