The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-06-19
COMPASSIONATE

CONGRESSIONAL"
We find The following specimen Of loco
foco argument In the Cleveland Banner Of
last week:
"But to cap the climax the know nothing
party Of that county Monroe1 has, en- masse,
announced WIN. Heiskell--a very clever man,
but whose age renders him incompetent to do
the nrduous labor Of Congressional race
But that's no business Of ours, rs we are 60
ing for Sam. Smith, and if "Uncle Billy" does
run FOR Congress we hope he will have fine
time of IT,"
This paragraph 10 in perfect keeping with
the policy Of the leaders Of the locofoco par.
ty-which is, to assume superiority for their
candidates in all things, and to ridicule every
opponent who offers for office or presumes to
question the soundness and infallibity Of
what they are pleased to call democratic
principles" So much has this been the poll
cy Of these same leaders and SO rigidy have
they pursued it that il has proved destructive
to every thing like independence in their own
ranks, and no member Of the democratic party
can now offer for an office unless he first con-
suits them without subjecting himself to the
charge Of treason, disloyalty to party and
disposition to pander to the opposition. This
thing is now beirg practiced in this State.
The game Of the two or three self-instituted
leaders in each county is, to ridicule the pre-
tensions Of every political opponent who Of
fers for popular office, and TO choke down
every one of their own faith who has the in
dependence to become a candidate for the
suifrages Of the people without the endorse
ment Of clique. Understand us-we are
talking about the leaders-the mighty few,
who believe they are authorized to do all the
thinking for the party, and that the honest
masses have no other duty than to carry out
their behests.
But to the paragraph above. The Banner
was never more mistaken in its life. Col.
Heiskell enjoys degree ofhealth and pow.
er Of mental and physical endurance that
would wear out and exhaust a half dozen
such effe,e and dilopidated samples of mas
culine mortality as Sam Smith and the editor
Of his organ. He is plain, practical farmer
"A man Of strong natural sense, with mind
well cultivated and improved, and his physical
and moral stamina would enable him to 90
through the "arduous labors" at Washing
ton, which prove fatal to so many gentlemen,
uninjured and unframed. Every body in
the Third Congressional District knows that
Col. Smith personally is a favorite with us,
and that years ago, ere the Banner made its
advent into this breathing world to startle
nature and astound the natives, we said more
and prettier things of him than anybody; and
we claim to have some regard for him even
now, notwithstanding the enormous political
sins Of which he has since been guilty. We
know that the four years "arduous labors" at
Washington must be telling upon the health,
physical and mental, OF one of his trail Or
ganizaton, and we honestly think it would
be bordering upon cruelty to send Col. Smith
back there to mingle in such exhausting and
enervatipg scenes rs attended the election of
Speaker Banks and the passage Of the Com.
pensation Bill. We therefore oppose his re-
election from considerations of personal
as well as Of political character; and we be.
lieve majority Of the people will coincide
with US md determine TO vote for Col. Heis-
kell. Let the Banne. strike some other chord.