The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-12-31
s y. FRIDAY DECEMBER 81 1858
" THE slKEsIbEAflai. .coNTEsrs OF

,s.lsa ~ ssrssgsss u sesass n sI.,a - y
,TilEsi' REsInEnfili. CONTEST or
e.ie Va ssi1js susf 4 1850. 81 esslls ~ ssS
49, This, baltimore Patfiot--an old limo yvhie
paper--always conserva,ive, and always able
ina loading article ip its issue of abe i6u
.inst,septers into apblosophie analysis of,tbe
character, talents and prospects ofthe lead
| ing mensof tho .oppositiop, who have been
spoken, Of in connection withsthe canvass for
President 10 1861 Thatpaper,with a rare
candor and ability diseasses9i the prospects Of
Seward, Banks, Salmon p. Chase. of Ohio,
AIR. Lyman TrumpulI, Of illinois,J J. r bale,
of New Hampshire, David Wilmot, of PsnH-
sylvaria, ,Thos. Corwin, Of Ohios Mr.. -Fre-
mont, Mr.. Fillmore and Judge,McLean, Hon.
Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and Hon.
John ]. Crittenden, of kentucky, and arrives
at the following conclusion. The tribute
which that safe, consergative and reioble pa
pers pays to Tennessce's distinguished son,
will meet with hearty response in. thou
sands of towns, in his own loved and honor
ed State.
We believe that the nominee for Presi-
dent will be John Bell, of Tennessee, or Ed.
ward Bates, of Missouri, and we beg our
readers to mark the prediction. Both of
these are men of rare fortunate political ante
cedents. Both are of spotlcss life and repu-
tation. Both are men of acknowledged
learning, and talent, and experience Both
were old Wings, and always were strong for
protection. ....
John Bell never gave vote in Congress
that should subject him to opposition from
the great mass of the opposition to modern
Democracy; and his stern and unyielding op-
position TO the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise, and the Kansas Nebraska bill, must
tend to secure the confidence Of the entire
conservative portion of the Republican party.
Edward Bates despises the Dred Scott de-
cision. Either Of these gentlemen is perfect
ly acceptable to the Americans, and to the
Wings. And either of these would bo ac-
cepted by the great body Of the Republicans.
John Bel! Is more respected and beloved all
over the North than any other man of :he
South since the death of his bosom friend,
Henry Clay.-Nash Banner. -
A New WEAPON OF Defence. The Lon.
don Daily News, ,aIter hasty sketch OF mod
crn improvements in various kinds of arms
describes new weapon invented by Charles
Shaw. 1t :"Seeing that we cannot rifle
our cannon, because Of the mass of metal we
have to deal with, Sir Charles ,Shaw-the
author of the invention which we now pro-
coed to describe-proposes to divide our can.
non itself as well MS the shot. He replaces
the field piece, cannon or r=howitzer. by-a-row
of riAe-barrels, twenty.f in number. These
are accurately placed on the same level, each
barrel divergirg slightly from the central one,
so that the volley of rifle bullets discharged
by the barrels will cover width of about
five yards at n distance of eight hundred
yards. Sir Charles Shaw'sA rife battery is
indeed reproduction Of Fieschi's Internal
machine, placed on wheels, and made far
lighter and far more manageable than light
brass nine FOUNDER gun. 'as@ Sefs1H
This implement may, therefore, be regard
ed as rfled cannon, Divided into twenty. five
portions, as destructive as grape or canister
shot at 500 yards, or, ,Sharpuell shell at 800
yards, with its deadly alm, extended as far as
the rifle can reach.i Conceive a battery of
horse artillery with four of Sir Charles
Shiw's Internal machines substituted for
their guns. What battery of field artillery,
what troop of horse, what battalion Of in.
fantry could withstand their deadly shower
require nine men at least TO serve it, and it
must be dragged by fouror six horses, the
rife battery requires but two men to load it,
and one to fire. 1t can be fired by one pull
of the trigger, or in sections of twelve barrels
at Time, as may be expedient. ,,,..
A SENSIBLE LETTER ON BIoaRAPHIEs.-
Some time since biographer, desirous- Of
laying before the American public an authen.
tic biography of the Hon. John J. Crittenden,
wrote to him, asking his permission to pre-
pare and publish sucha work. Mr.. Crilten-
den declined the request in letter, which we
give with the exception of such parts as were
of purely personal character:
FRANKFORT, Sept, 1858.
Thankful as am to you for your offer,
cannot now give you the permission you ask
to write my biography-because did, before
the date of your letter, promise that permis-
sion to another whenever could bring my.
self TO consent to the publication OF such a
work. By that promise am bound.
may add, sir, that | have strong disin-
clnalion to appear to assume place anon .
the justly distinguished historical characters
of our country, and have still greater
aversion and disgust at the very idea OF being
reckoned among that numerous, vain class
that figure onlyin Biographies. u
ffepr the public would hardl ly ascribe much