The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-06-26

who had planted the tree, founded the gov.
eminent. and watched over and nurtured IL |
In it's infancy. lie would not have them with
ruthless hands tear down and destroy what
had cost 40 much blood and treasure to build
up. Mr.. Hatton referred to numerous demo.
cratic authorities to sustain his position, and
in RECITATION Of that Of his competitor, on the
question OF alien suffrage. He also referred to
the qualification resolutions introduced into
the Legislature by Gen. Harris, providing
that II Congress passed certain laws they
should be resisted. His competitor contended
that those resolutions were the mere expires.
sion Of political sentiment. but IL was the
sheerest notification. such as Gen. Jackson had
threatened to hang the South Carolinians for
In reference to State aid TO railroads, his com.
petitor had arraigned him for voting for the
Memphis bond bill, although his competitor
had signed memorial asking him to give
that very vote. Gen. Harris had arraigned
him for the Normal School Bill, which he had
introduced into the last Legislature. If there
was any thing he had done Of which he felt
proud, it was this. The press Of both parties
throughout the State had approved and advo.
Gated the passage Of that bill, IL was support
ed by the most influential members Of the
democratic party in the Legislature, (among
whom was Mr.. Carlock, Of McMinn,) and on
this question, as on some others, his competi.
tor occupied the unenviable position of stand.
ing in opposition to his own party. For him.
self, he felt proud Of that bill. Give us such
On institution and our share Of the public
lands, and the benefits wonld be ineslculable.
Col. Hatton's time having expired. Gen.
Harris appeared on the stand. He commenc.
ed by saying that he was there not from any
seeking of his own, but by appointment Of
the democratic party, and after some face
tious remarks about broad and narrow plat
forms, he proceeded ITO the questions" He
said an old question which had long been
dead and buried had been revived, and was
now an issue Of the country-Mr. Hatton
was in favor Of distributing tile public lands,
he was opposed to it, A portion of the pub.
lie domain had been acquired by eession
from the old States. and the other by pur.
chase--that portion first acquired had been
largely disposed Of and of the other a large
amount remained, and was in possession of
the general government for the common ben
eft Of the people, The lands attained by
purchase cost large sum Of money, and were
in debt to the general government. Congress
had no constitutional power to distribute the
public lands. and he read some isolated ex.
tracts from speeches Of Clay and Webster to
prove he was right. In regard to his vote on
the Arkansas Swamp lands, Gen. Harris said
it was not donation, but q sale. Large DO.
dies Of land were observation-disclosures TO
these were rich dry lands, unavailable from
the minsma rising from the swamps Arkan.
sas was to ditch and drain the swamps and
make the whole available, and was to have
the swamps and certain portions Of the dry
lands for her trouble. As a matter Of policy,
1t was wrong to distribute the public lands.
II the plan was adopted, conflict of title and
numerous other evils might en.ue. General
Harris argued Mt length and with more than
ordinary plausibility to sustain his position
on the land question, but he showed plainly
that he felt he was at the laboring oar. and
that no amount Of ability and adroitness
could affect or weaken tho arguments md
facts which his competitor had drawn around
his position.
Upon alien suffrage, Gen. Harris differed
with his competitor. Our present naturali.
cation laws were good enough. IF those laws
were not properly administered, the fault wa,
with the administrators and not in the law.
Foreigners were essential to the growth of
the country, to build up new States. Mr..
llatton had supported Mr.. Fillmore and Mr..
Fillmore had signed BILL while President,
containing the alien suffrage feature. If it
was wrong now, it was wrong then. Gen
Harris attempted to explain his awkward po
sition on the Memphis bond bill lie said he
was opposed to the Normal School bill aiyo.
Gated by Mr. Hatton and briefly alluded to
the Assessor law, that he and his competitor
both thought it ought to be repealed. Gen
Harris repeated some three times in the
course Of his remarks that the democratic
party was great national psrty-that the
country had grown great and prosperous un.
der the auspices of that party-that it was
the only national party in the country, and
he seemed anxious to impress upon the crowd
that he was the candidate Of that great ma.
tioual democratic, anti distribution, swamp
land psrty. We freely accord to Gen. Har.
ris abilities Of no common order-that he is
a sbrewd and artful debater, and needs a
good deal Of close watching But he certain.
ly failed to come up to the arguments of his
competitor on Saturday, and on the question
Of Distribution fell immeasureably below
| them.
Col. Hntton's rejoinder was vigorous and
to the point. He is sustaining himself and
his cause nobly, and wherever be has spoken
since he crossed the mountain our friends are
more than satisfied with him. The debate
was conducted with courtesy, and the large
crowd present listened with unusual atten-
ton to both gentlemen throughout.
.
Press GANe.-We had quite nm influx OF
members of the press gang on Saturday.
Brownlow, of the Knoxville Wing; John
Fleming, Of the Register; Baron Munchausen,
of the Cleveland Banner; and Young Nor
tality, of the Chattanooga Advertiser.
OF That "Enquirer After Truth" in the
last Banner, is on a mighty cold trail. lie