The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-07-24
FROM SEQUATCHIE.
PIKEyILLE. July nth, 1857.


Dear Post:-Our Circuit Court has just
adjourned, having been in session since
Monday. On that day the candidates for
Congress, Coils Heiskel and Smith, address
ed large crowd Of the sovereigus at the
Courthouse. They discussed Alien Suf-
frage, Distribution and the Compensation
Bill Of the last Congress. You have heard
them, and through your paper your readers
are "posted up" on the points made between
them, so it is only necessary for me TO al
lude to the general opinion Of the result Of
the debate as expressed by both parties.
Col. Heiskell is a plain, farmer-like man,
but is a correct and effective speaker, put
ting his arguments in clear and comprehen-
sive manner and illustrating them SO that
the simplest can understand what he means.
Our people are well pleased with him and
will do all in their power to elect him to
Congress. His appearance bssPeaks an
honest man, and we all think that should he
be elected he will not make one Of the ttoo
thirds Of the members whom Col. Smith de-
signates as gamblers, loafers and proAigates,
who have no other use for their pay except
rs nightly stake at the gambling saloon.--
We think too-for he promises to do So
that he will aid in repeating the odous
Compensation Bill, which givesa quadruple
stake out Of the public treasury.
Col. Smith, for whom personally I enter
tain a sincere regard, did not seem himself
did not come up to his former standard as
speaker, and ! am sure very greatly disap-
pointed his ;riends-he disappointed them
knoW in his attempt to justify his vote in.
creasing the pay of members TO Congress-
They expected him to explain away the very
justly odious features in it, but, instead, he
boosted of his fundamentally and influence
in pushing il through Congress-asserting,
but not showing by argument or figures, that
it was saving to the country, and not
treasury plundering act as alleged. Ills po-
siiion does not satisfy his friends, although
many of them who were loudest in their de.
nunciations of Josiah Henderson for takinga
few hundred dollars mileage extra, will vote
and use their influence for him. Some of
them justify him in his advocacy of the bill
itself, but condemn his action in making it
retrospectve-in taking pay from the 9TH of
March IS, to the 4th of August, FIVE months,
when he was not member of Congress at
all, and for four months from the election to
the meeting of Congress on the LIST Monday
in December. when Congress was not in ses-
sion. With oil his sophistry he cannot satisfy
the people on these ponts-he cannot, like
the lawyer who proved that black was
white, make the people believe TINT by CIV
ing member quardruple pay you thereby
decrease the expenses Of the government
No, sir, he cannot do it, and do not be-
lieve the people will endorse his action.
The speaking on Tuesday between the
candidates for the Senate, Messrs. Burch and
Trewhtt, resulted pretty much as it always
has done between these two gentlemen, in a
sort of draw game-nary single sovereign
on either side has ever dared to decide be-
tween them. Trewhitt will run good race,
and il he is not elected Burch will have moth
ing to boast of.
Our friends are sanguine of the success of
our entire ticket, and are working with a
unanimity seldom witnessed amongst us in
these latter years. Our candidates are good
men and true, worthy Of the confidence and
support Of the people, and confidently be-
isve they will be elected if vigorous and
energetic canvass will effect that end.
SEQUATcHIE.