The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-05-08

the most mischievous schemes of territorial
acquisition and annexation.
If any further evidence were wanting Of
the singulnrly inconsistent and contradictory
view and doctrines held by the lenders of Me
party in power, II might be found in the well
known diversity Of opinions avowed by them
in the Interpretation Of the Kansas. Ncbraska
bl--one division Of them earnestly main
tanning that the people Of Territory have
the sole aud exclusive right, through their
Territorial Legislatures, TO regulate their do
mcstics institutions ns they thrk proper
while another class OF them maintained with
equal earnestness that the people of Ter.
ritorv have no rightto exclude slavery while
their government continues In the Tcrritori-
al forn--somc of the more prominent in the
first class insisting before the people that
the provisions of the Kansas Nebraska bill
constituted great measure of freedom,
which in their opinion would prevent the
formation Of any more slave States, while
those who con,ended for different inter2re-
tation maintained that the principles of the
bill were essential 20 the interests of the
South, in securing the formation and admis-
sion of new slave States.
But at the last, after bringing the country
to the verge of civil war, by the agitntions Mt
tending the subject, and after those who
rrkinded the fires of that controversy had
through its fundamentally, secured the pos.
session of power, both the squatter sovcr-
eighty men and the anti squaiter sovereignty
men of the party, with singular GOODNESS, an
uonnced to the world that they understood,
and understood from the first, that the qucs-
tion about which they differed was simply
one Of constitutional Interpretation, and that
the supreme court was the proper tribunol
TO decide Il. There let Tho onestior res,
now and for ever. }ut the catalopue of nd-
verse doctrines and opinions held by sepn.
rate classes of the leaders of the party in
| power, is not vet exhausted. A majority of
them support the doctrine that aliens not
naturazed according 10 the laws and cons,i.
tuition Of the United States. ought to be al.
| lowed the right of suffrage in the Territories
equally with the native born and naturalzed
| citizens, willie n small minority protest
| against the allowance of any such privileges
to alien inhabitants of the Territories; and
vet, all or nearly all of them, do not scruple
to admit and maintain the power of the
States to confer the rirht of suffrage upon
aliens within their limits. in MI elections both
state and national, any provision in the cor.
s,i,u,iou of the United States to thu contro.
nv Notwithstanding.
Such are the material, of which the party
in power is compounded-surht the neon
sstent and contradictory doctrines and
policy of the men who now control the
deslinies of the country, and who claim nm
expression in the ensuing AUGUST elections
of the confidence of the people of Tennessee
in their dispostion and copaciiy IN cov.rn i, in
peace and security. 10 promote its prosperity
to uphold all its invaluable institutions. and
carry forward successfully and triumphan,ly
the grca, plan of self government, devised hy
the wisdom of our ancestors. When il Is
most notorious that many of the ruling spir
its of the party in power, entertain senti.
ments. some of nyowed indifference nnd
Others of III suppressed hostility to III,
Union itself how can an enliohtenrd peonle
who cherish the Union. feel nnv confdenc,
that such men will not set on foot new
schemes and devices cunninply conceived
aud artrully pressed with n view To renew
and perpetuate the auitntion upon n suhi.ct
which so recently threatened fatal ca,as
r trophe. When It is known that Tho of,;
, cial head of the party entertains or did, OF n,
late date, entertain opinions and sentiment,
I upon one branch of pnblic policv. which !
carried out, could not ful to emLroil us viii
foreign powers. how can the nronle hove nm,
confidence in the assurances held ont. tha
, the country will MT be involved in nm mr.
, necessary war? ,rr.
, Upon n review of the whole ground. nm,
considering the magnitude OF the interest
| involved, the members Of this conyentio
- un,pi,nus,y onJ ,,rn,.tl, ,nn.o, a., .