The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-06-05
THE DISCUSSION AT HUNTINGDON
HATTON CARRIES THE DAY.

Ah ACN NhnhIEo RE DAY. ~
HUsTiScDoS, May 90, 1857.
EDITORS OF THE "PATRIoT"-Gentlemeu
We had the pleasure to day, to hear the
American ard Democratic candidates fol
Governor, at this place. There was n large
and attentive audience. So large, indeed
that the speaking had to take place out Of
doors in the Court House yard, to accom-.
modate the crowd. Mr.. Hatton, the "Cedar
Snag," lead off in mn able and affective speech
of one hour and a-half, in VIII ich he demon
sfrated the Importance to Tennessee Of the
distribution Of the public lands among the
States for internal Improvement and com.
mon school purposes; and drew contras,
between the policy of distribution, and the
present Democratic policy of giving away
the public lands to Railroad monopolies in
the new States, and ns bonus TO the TEEN
ing millions OF the paupers of Europe to set
tie upon; and, by their votes TO exclude the
people of the South, with their property,
from settling in, and partaking of the benefit
of our territorial domain. These questions
were discussed by Mr.. Hatton at n consider
able length, and with force aud power that
will be sure to tell in the August election
In connection with the latter portion of this
subject, Mr. Hatton called upon Gen. Harris
to say whether or not he sustained the po-
sition of Cass, Douglass, and the entire wing
of the Northern Democracy in their views in
regard to alien suffrage in the Territories
TO this enquiry respectfully put, we have
no answer from G,n. Harris, and should
think from his ariiul lodging, on other ques.
lions put TO him by Mr.. Hatton, we will prob
ably never hear from him on the subject
lie avoided the issue, MS he did most of those
made by MIR. llaiton, by reading an extract
from speech made many years ago by Mr..
Webster at Buffalo, in which Mr. Webster
Is reported to have said that the foreigners
(lrish and German) were pretty clever frl-
lows and would probably do; but Mr.. Hat
ton in reply, said, as the General had intro
duced Mr.. Wehster's testimony, in the mat.
ter he (Nr. llatton,) was willing to pnt the
whole question at issue upon the last and
most matuGed opinions of Mr.. Webster on
the subject. But the General was satisfied
with the use he had made of Mr.. Websier's
speech, that is TO say he had raised dust un-
der the cover Of which he had doaged the
issue. have not the lime nor the opportu-
nifty, (haying taken no notes of the speech
at The timr) 10 enter into full detail of the
dlileren, positions assumed, enough to say:
liatton won, in the opinion of all Gisnlerest-
ed minds most glorious victory.
Gen. Harris spnkc the same length Of time
Mr.. Hatton did, and cash half an hour in re-
ply. | will touch one other incident in the
debate before | close. Gen. Harris, objected.
to the distribution Of the public lands, for
the reason that Congress had no cons,itu-
tionaI power to do so. In Mr. Ha,ton's re-
ply he cited the fact, that Gen. Harris, when
in Congress, voted to give TO Arkansas, Mis-
sour, &c, certain swamp-lands therein sit
uted, and wanted Gen. Harris to show how
that could be dune for those States under
the constitution, and when Tennessee want
ed her portion Of The lands, her sons had so
nobly bled and died to win for our common
country. the constitution straitway steps be-
tween and denies Us the boon. Mr.. Haiton
desired to know If Gen. Harris carried n sort
Of leeaiher gGgue to determine how wet land
must be before the constitution, would IRA
ciousIy permit Congress to dispose of it to
the States. This you may be sure called
forth long and loud bursts of applause, the
General and his friends felt the awkward
position he was in, and their looks but too
plainly showed it. Upon the whole it was
II good days work for the Wings and
Americans Of Carroll. An intelligent and
reliable gentleman who heard the candidates
on the 25th inst, at Camden, SAYS: that Hat.
tons victory there was still more decided
and complete. We will give good account
Of ourselves in August next.
Respectfully yours,
"CARRnIID