The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-04-30
THE UNION AS IT Is.

PRESERVATION OF THE UNIoN-In all free
governments where the people rule, contra
riety of political sentiment and angry dispu-
tation are to be expected because they can
not be avoided. Half dozen men are not
apt to think alike upon any given subject;
but when men, who assume the positions Of
party leaders, so infame the public passions
that men are driven into opposition to other
men, appealed TO and inhamed by another
and antagonistic set of party leaders, the one
or the other party division must be routed,
because compromise is not to be thought Of
We mean this in ordinary political party
sense. In this-to the calm observer of Amer
lean politics where there is nothing at issue,
the subject matter of which threatens the
foundation principles of the Government it.
self-there is no good cause for alarm, for
corruption, by such periodical upheaving is
thrown to the surface and parties are thus
purified To this. the American people are
accustomed, and look for it as matter of
course. In the great controversies upon the
Bank. Tariff and Improvements, the Republic
felt no shock that did not tend to settle its
pillars upon foundations still more solid and
unyieldng Upon such questions we could
and can afford to differ. Such battles are
fought under and for the banner of the Union.
Union On the one hand and for its destruc-
ton on the other, but were fought and deter
| mined for the common glory Of the United
States. The honor of no section was at issue
the brthright Of no division of people at
stake. Each political party strove to cement
the bonds Of the Union still stronger, for all
professed and adhered to the same great prin-
| cples OF human liberty.
| But there can come an issue or issues that
will not only bring us the periodical excite
ments peculiar to our system, but menace
with destruction the system itself 1t is not
too much to say that We already hear the
distant notes of gathering storm. Whether
| it shall dissolve in harmless mist or come
over us with the shock Of the whirlwInd, de.
pends upon the temper, the forhearance and
the patriotism Of the people. If there be any
thing appertaining to our system worth con-
tending for, within the circle of the Union is
the proper place to contend for it. So long
as there is o common government to main
tain or a great principle of it to defend, it
must and will reciprocate our loyalty by
welding its power in our behalf, 1t is IA
tai mistake to suppose that the South would
be stronger out of the Union. Our history
informs US that in all our political excite
ments hitherto, the people have put down
sectional parties, or so crippled them, that
they became impotent for mischief and what
ever they afterwards achieved was in the
name of conservatism. In all controversies
where the honor or interest of the South was
supposed to be assailed, we have found pow
erful allies in tho North. Though in principle,
perhaps, opposed to our institution OF slave
ry they nevertheless vindicated us because we
were members of the same political family
and gave allegiance to the same great prlnci'
Piles of free government. And so, II violence
should ensue from sectional evaporation,
while in the Union, we should probably find
| friends in the North willing and powerful TO
aid us. But break down the government and
we shall find no allies in that section for,
| having no common government to MAINTAIN,
men will rallv to the hostile banners Of the
sections.
We have no sympathy with any southern
movement looking to disunion on account of
the Kansas souabble While we sincerely de-
sire the admission of Kansas with the Lecomp-
| ton Constitution, we cannot see in the rejec'
ton Of that constitution sufficient reason Tor
dissolution of the Government. Such .rejec-
tion does not make out the case put by the
Georgia and Mississippi Union Platforms OF
1851. Therefore, we shall employ our ut
most pewer, in our humble way, to resist any
! attempt of any organization at the South
| looking to dissolution in the event that Kan
sas fails of admission into the Union under
the Lecompton Constitution. The southern
people will put down any attempt to per-
petrate so great folly. Conventions may
be called, but the people will make them
harmless affairs. This Union will endure
until shaken to pieces by some great wrong
that reason cannot resist, moderation can
not disarm, and human nature cannot en-
dure. Then, and not till then, will the end
come. Not till then will the Constitution be
spit upon, and the Declaration of lndepen
| dence oe torn to shreds. Not till then will
men wander about pale and CHASTITY in the
horrible noon of anarchy. Not till then will
the heavy tramp of the soldier be heard
where the peaceful plow now cleaves its
broad furrow. From every hill the camp.
| fires will flame out upon the night-not till
then.
It must not be. We must never give up
| to anarchy what we have gained for liberty
| There are too many memories of the past, too
many hopes Of the future throbbing Ike
pulses within us to permit folly so unmatch
ed in the history OF the world, We envy not
| the character Of the man, nor the fame OF his
deeds. who can lay violent hands on the me-
| chahlsm OF w washington anu ri"hhil" "'N
Hamilton, and illustrated by Clay and Web
ster and Culhoun, until it became bright
particular part of the glory Of the earth
We envy not the fame of the man whose mad
impulse would drive him to tear to rags the
honored flag Of the Union. Never permit to
90 to history that the new world has enacted
| the tragedies of the old, and blundered In the
disastrous lead Of her dark and bloody star
There is another star to guide us, another
pillar of fire to hover about NE. II Is not
Egypt the chatting spirits Of the South would
| fly from. There will be no rock OF Horeo TO
give us refreshment, and no shower of mama
! in the wilderness of disunion. The red sea
of dissolution will not lift up for us Its walls
of water that we may pass over in safety
| We shall commit our fate to its tossing bosom,
and be driven onward by the winged dragons
that people the enraged winds. No! mol the
fathers OF the land must speak, and the young
men must hear. The ensign OF the Union
must be kept flying over the land and over
the sea, the beauty, the hope and the glory
of the earth. Every hand tlat rises to touch
il, but in veneration and love, must be shat'
tered and flung dripping ana useless at the
side of the traitor that beari it,
sTs- If ever political patty was endowed
with high christian virtues, with the hdelity
and honest faith Of John, and with the WIS.
| Ia l1..a nnh