The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-02-13
HIS TROURLE.

nortn american gives the account oeio" oi
some of the troubles that beset the President
elect in making up his Cabinet;
The disinterested ehivalry Of Virginia have
assembled here in all their might. They have
become apprehensive about the stability OF
the Union, and would cave it by reinforce
ment OF their patriotism in public affairs
Governor Wise came down all the way from
the executive mansion in Richmond, two
nights ago, to see that the screws by which
the confederacy is held together were proper,
ly frightened, a rumor having reached the Old
| Dominion that one or more were quite loose.
He was closeted, to the exclusion OF general
visitors, with Mr.. Buchanan yesterday morn
ing, and enlightened him very earnestly con
corning the threatened perils Such instrue'
ton is very edifying. considering the qualities
and capacities of the two men. But besides
the militant executive, the press oil virginia
is fully represented in Washington, and en-
gagged with the same laudable motives, in
keeping the President elect from falling into
harms way.
All this stir down in Virginia has been oc
casioned by single cause, which the public
had as well understand. As has been init
mated in this correspondence, the point Of
most embarrassment with Mr.. Buchanan in
constructing his Cabinet has been the Secre
taryship of State From the first start he has
felt the responsibility of that difficulty, and
sought to overcome it Hence, at one time,
the leaning towards Gen. Cass, whose position
in the party, and experience, were supposed
to give him weight that would silence op.
position. 1t was soon found, however, upon
the suggestion Of such probability to the
country. that instead Of being followed by a
cordial response, twas answered with irresist-
ible objections The overshadowing passion
of his life-after the Presidency-is hostility
to England 1t has become a part of his ma
ture. To place man at the head of the for.
| eigr affairs, with that one idea predominant
in his mind. would be like throwing down the
gauntlet in the teeth Of all our recent profess
sions of peace and formal reconciliation
Reasons like these may have operated upon
Mr.. Buchanan in relinquishiDg his first incli
nation.
Before he came here it was understood to
be pretty we'll determined that Mr.. Floyd,
of Virginia, had been designated as the mem.
Der Of the Cabinet from that State. He was
sustained by Gov. Wise and the Electors
| But it becoming necessary to make some
choice of Secretary of State, the name of Mr.
Hunter was proposed as a compromise that
would be acceptable to the South and to the
country. 1t may be, Mr.. Buchanan listened
| to this suggestion with favor and such was
the received impression in various circles, for
the telegraph was at once invoked to sum
mon the protestants who have now assem-.
| bled.
| Wise and Hunter lead the rival wings of
the harmonious Democracy in Virginia. Wise
is impulsve, dogmatical and ultra. Hunter
is calm, philosophical, and reasonably con
ser vative. The latter has always stood by
what are in common parlance claimed to he
the 'rights of the South" just as firmly, and
more effectively than his trenchant competi-
tor. In the Senate he is much esteemed for
fairness and integrity, and rated with the
best ability in that chamber. He belongs to
the school of metaphysical statesmen, which
| Mr.. Calhoun established, and is rather aff1ict.
ed with the distractions that are among its
most striking pecularities. Otherwise his
views are liberal, and his policy, as applied to
our intercourse with foreign nations, high
and national.
| But since this ball has been set in motion,
another obstacle has been interposed and
somewhat unexpectedly, too. 1t is very well
known that Mr. Buchanan has long since de.
cided to call Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia. into his
Cabinet. and the Treasury Department was
assigned to him as a contingency. even before
the meeting Of the Cincinnati Convention
He stands in a relation of personal and po.
litical Partially combined. His friends per-
haps with motives of their own. have urged
that he ought not to accept a place which
might be regarded as secondary to another
occupied by man of his own position or
years. And they have thought proper to put
Mr. Hunter in this category, whereby GER
tain collision of interest has been provoked.
very much to the distress of Mr.. Buchanan.
who has been striving to keep the peace,
without reading the riot act. This was the
state Of parties last night. in the struggle for
the premiership, but it may he wholly chang
ed before this ugly day closes. Mr. Cobb is
willing to serve under Gov Marcy or Gen.
Cass, or any veteran Of distinction, but he
will not yield the way to the younger race,
who, like himself have future aspirations.
eB- A Washington letter furnishes the fol-
lowing encouraging intelligence to the Old
Line Wings who Joined the Buccaneers last
fall, under the delusive hope that they would
be asked to seats near the head of the table:
| 1t is considered fixed that the Old Line
Wings are not to be represented in the Ad-
ministration. as was at first proposed Mr..
Choate and all his clan may hang their barps
upon the most convenient willows. The idea
| was very takinp considering that Mr. Buch