The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-01-08
SUPPRESSION OF CONGRESSIONAL
AGITATION.

AGITATION.
The complete and final suppression of agi-
tation on the subject Of slavery in the halls
Of Congress, was the avowed and leading
purpose Of the authors and advocates of the
Kansas Nebraska BILL It was with this view,
(says the Richmond Whig,) and this view
only, that men Of all parties and Of all sec
tions united in accepting that bill, and in de-
Tending it every where, and on all occasions.
If majority of the people had not been full
ly convinced that its passage would result in
banishng slavery agitation from the halls of
Congress, the Missouri Compromise would
never have been repealed.
But, wha: have been the facts of the case?
Has there been even the slightest dminu-
ton Of agitation in Congress on the ques-
ton of slavery, in consequence of the enact
ment of the Kansas Nebraska bill! Has the
exciting subject of "niggers," ard questions
pertaining to ''niggers;" occupied any less of
the time and attention of that honorable bo-
dy? On the contrary, is il not fact seen and
admitted by the whole country--a melan-
cholly and alarming fact-that the slavery
agitation, both 10 and out of Congress, has
been immeasuraby and fearfully increased I?
Has there been a single session OF Congress,
or scarcely day during either session, since
the passage of the Kansas bill, which has not
been literally consumed in heated and perni-
cious discussions of the slavery question, in
some form or another? There has not been,
as every man, woman and child in the coun-
try well knows. And now, after the expira-
ton of nearly four years since the introduc-
ton in Congress of the Kansas Nebraska bill
what s the condition of the country, and
what the prospects of peace-the permanent
peace-which the Democratic authors and
advocates of that bill so glowingly pictured
for us, as the certain and inevitable result of
their grand panacea for all the agitation which
has 50 long distracted and afflicted the coun-
try? Is the land, or any portion of it, in the
enjoyment of the repose and happiness
which they predicted and promised! Are
the tempers and deliberations of Congress
no longer disturbed by vexations, and har
RAISING, and dangerous discussions on the
subject of slavery! Has agitation ceaseda
Each one can satisfactorily answer these
questions for himself. Instead of the Kan
sas- Nebraska bill composing the strifes Of
the country, allaying all sense of danger, and
establishing an honorable and lasting peace,
it has inaamed agitation anew, and added ten
fold to its original intensity, until now-at
this very moment-the prospect of a pacific
solution of the one great trouble of the
country is more remote than ever before
The people of Kansas ure nowdiligently pre-
pairing for civil war, and Congress is all
ablaze with angry and fierce disputatiOns over
the true meaning and Interpretation of the
very act, which its authors and advocates told
us would bring healing on its wings, and in
augurate long, bright era of sectional good
will, of fraternal concord, Of national peace
and national happiness. Such is the alarming
and deplorabe condition Of the country to-
day-such the threatening and gloomy as
pect which clouds the brow of the future.
Need we ask what party has been in power
these four years, and who are responsible for
the evils which both afflict and menace the
country! With nothing to obstruct their
sway, the Democracy have had possession of
the General Government, and of nearly all
the Estate governments. They have had the
execution of the Kansas-Nebraska act in
their own hands exclusively. They have had
sole control of Kansas, and all its affairs
They have had it in their power to establish
peace in the land, and Danish forever Sec
tional strife and discord, in pursuance of
their promises and their platforms. But
hey have signally failed, and outrageously
deceived a confding people. And should not
the people visit upon them their indignation
and their wrath!