The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-11-26
THANKSGIVING DAY.


Ia the p7ur as day Of Rational leaslng and
rejoiclng. 1t can be Traced back To the oldest
Nations of antiquity. The Grreks and Ro-
mans carried il GU, in the Creates, perfection,
devotirg days, and sometimes weeks, to
games, and sports, and assemblies, and mer-
ny markings, in honor Of Ceres, and Bacchus,
and Flora, aud their tutelary deities. So, too,
with the Hebrews, who had their religious
fcasis, and even their year OF Sabbaths, in
which they gave the earth itself repose.
slost Of our Christian holidays, instituted
in the Middle Ages, were limitations of jew
sh or of pagan feast days, and ye, are none
the less 10 be observed or reveTenced on that
account. 1t is only the old form Of human
sentiments aud aspirations under new name.
Dor own Thanksgiving day was. ill within
the last twenty years, purely Pnraan affair
Outside Of the New England States there
was no such observance. Now it is observed
by all the States aud Territories OF the Union;
and even the English have begun to copy us
in that, frr Of lite years national holiday
has been annually proclaimed throughout the
kingdom; and besides this, the great land
propretors have those merry rural feastS
which they call "hatvest home"
Every people has much to be thankful, for
to the Great Ruler of the Universe. No PEG
pie has more to be thankful for than our
selves. We are at peace with all the world.
No nation regards us MS its enemy. onr
whita-winged messengers Of commerce are
welcomed in every port Of every sea. Oar
country is still the home to which the poor
and downtrodden Of every other land turn
their longing eyes. The hnrvests have been
abundant, and trade has revived. Our people
Ire prosperous, intelligent, happy, To degree
rarely il ever attained by any other people
No foreign war or domestic dssentions i'm
pede our progress. Within the present year
Ne have pacifpd the hostile Indians on our
western border, nrd restored the Morm0ns to
jus, appreciation OF their position as ciu-
LpnS OF u tlEiHlNli ahh' ''" w
are in the way of bringing the dictator OF
Paraguay TO his senses, by the same means
as those with which we operated on the Nor
mons-the exhibition, not the actual use of
force. Our elections have passed Owe pence
ably. A Northern or a Southern agitator
now ana again strives to ripple the smooth
surface of our inter State relations; but his
efforts fail powerlcss and without effect
The bond of unity between the States is
frmer than it ever was, cemented ns it is by
mutua! esteem and affection. These nre all
matters for which we should be thankful"
The Missouri CoMPRoMlsE.--lt is stated
in the Richmond Wing that the distinguish
ed editor of the South, in u speech at re-
cent democratic meeting in Richmond, sen
pressed his fears that those who opposed the
repeal of the MISSOURI Co,nproniise wore
riShI and that himself and those who ndvo-
Gated it were wrong" 1t is even sn--aad tn
that completion will they all have to come
at last.
The Wing in noticing the fact ms stated
above, remarks:-
"As for ourselves, We long ago became
convinced that the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise was grave error on the South.
and would result in serious damage to hrr.--
We have repeatedly aud publicly announced
the change which our opinions have under
gone on this subject, and have expressed our
regret that we did not, Mt the time, oppose
stern and Jealous resistance to the repeal OF
the Missouri line. Not that we think the prn
ciple of the Kansas. Nebraska Act is not right,
as zoe understand and interpret ii, but in con,
sequence of the ill-ellects TO the South which
have already followed that repeal, and Of the
still more disastrous consequences which are
likely to flow 'FRONT.' for all time to come. We,
therefore, agree with Senator Hammond and
the editor of the South, and other leading
Southern Democrats, in regarding the repeal
Of the Missouri Compromise ms great blum
der and folly on the part of the South--as,
in short, "A drlusion and n snare TO the
South which has injured us already, and
which is destined to iniure us much more
hereafter"
WAETEp-Our clever contemporary of the