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

wv" 'e""'"k too rcpofts VI Tue uiscussione
between the distinguished gentlemen, pub.
lished in the papers Of Middle Tennessee. and
our expectations in regard to the American
nominee were up TO a pretty high standard.
But we know we can, upon occasion, divest
ourself ofparty bias, and give to an opponent,
"a well as to friend, fair, impartial. and
unparalleled hearing. We went to the speak.
ing here on Saturday, determined to listen
sttentively. to weigh imPartially the facts
and arguments that each might adduce, and
to do justice to both in the little we might
have to say about their efforts, irrespective
Of the political relationship we bear to one
Of the gentlemen and the antagonism which
a conscientious difference of opinion engen
ders toward the other. OF course, we shall
not attempt to give q literal report Of the
remarks Of the speakers, but merely touch
the more prominent topics as discussed by
them.
Col. Hatton opened the debate with the
question Of Distribution. He said that this
was one Of the important issues Of the can.
vass-one Of the questions Of the day. 1t
was one in which the people Of Tennessee,
her people Of all parties, were alike largely
and vitality interested. The public domain
at this time embraced an extent equal to
h,..s ..u,,.. p H.
,.,.., -.
| quired by the common blood and treasure of
all the States, and sssuredly no one would
denv N Tepne...s b.r r;,h,. in mi. ;n,srss,
wbils voono.r membsr. Of Tho Confsa.r.ov
w.-s h.;no s,r;oh.d hv I, T.,,..,.
nor,ionste share would bs ,b;r,v m,,,;on. n,
least. and he drew /. vivid and ,ru,brn, MIC.
,nrs Of thu ADVANTAGE. n.,no,.,, ana an
during in their effsc, and cbarao,ar the State
would derive from mi. rich ,,s..urs which
abe a.lea M, a. . hoon I'm, demanded a.
right. II would enable the state 70 nav oft
its Indebtedness, to build scbool.bous.s upop
every HILTON and in every valley. to tho
roughly educate every briebt.eyed Girl and
boy in the State, and relieve the people and
secure them against buraensome and oppre,
sive taxation through all time. Col. Hatton
smoke ferventlv and eloouen,Iv unon this sut
;ect and with a now.r w. b.va ..,aon ho.rd
s,,a,,sa II. .,o,ad Oh. .;,;o - ~. ,
ns,;,o- tho, D;st,;h,,;o, Ill EFT.
i,n .;,.. on.;.n.a ., - -, ~
now been rs.urrectsd for , more r.r,v NM,
nose Rnt he Haitian, oor,oraod :, ma
living is.ue and wouId remain such a. lon, n.
there were lands to divide or tho ruls ofsouoI
r;ob,, and eo,a, ius,;o. ,mon, n. e.,
maintained. Will. bis comnst;,or fc., 11o,.
ris> denied the CONFERENCE.-The ~ D;.,r;hr.
ton. he found authority for # in that clouss
of the Constitution o;v:,, con, d.. -
er to di.pose Of and MAKE nj, nssdfr, r,,o.
and regulation, re.p.c,inu tho tsrri,orv or
other proper,v belony;no N III. Irr;,od s,o,s.
Gen. Jackson. Mr. Buchanan and Andrew
johnson. and other leading 1;,h,. If Tho A..
mocratie partv had rsnsa,ed,v r.o,on;zoa ~.
constitutionaiitv of the nr;n.;,Ie ~ n;.,,;hu
ton; and the democratic nar,v in con,,...
had been donat;no giving aw.v t,s.. Ia,a.
for wears to tn, new States. "a, III. oom,.,;.
tor denied the eonstitxt;onoH,, If N. n,;n,;.
plea principle based upon the imprernabls
and ntrovertible fact that Tennessee has
the same rights under the Constitution 40
Iowa or Michigan. YEA more-his compe,i.
tor-Gen. Harris himself-while in Con-
gress, had voted away millions of acres of
the public domain to Arkansas, without
money and without price. Yet he told
the people every day in his ,peecbes II
was unconstitutional to distribute the nublic
lands or their proceeds among the State,
True, Gen. Harris claimed exemn,ion for h;s
vote from the constitutional objection on the
ground that the lands distr;butrdto Ark.r,,.
were Swamp lands. His competitor had a.,
up a new gage for determining the cons,;,u.
tionality of questionable wo, in tho h.h;,
of splitting upon chin and tbrov;n, !, in
the air. If il come up wet il wa, oor.,;,r.
t,onal-drv IL wa. uncor.,;,r,;on., 49,,
irg to the practice and doctrine of his com.
Pet'tor there was authority in the Constitu.
ton I" give millions OF the public domain to
Illinois, out no authority could be found in
the same instrument for doing simple act of
justice to Tennessee The democratic party
mad frequently recognized the constitutional.
" OF the principle, as in the case Of Mime.
sota' YET MS competitor opposed it from con
st'tntionai scruP'e" Mr.. Hatton also alluded
10 the TACT that the trainers Of our present
stare constitution many OF whom were lead
ing democrats. recognized the princiPle--its
'ons'''u''ona'Hy ana praetieability-by in.