The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-06-18
CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY =
WHO Is RESPONSIRL,Ea

al nag and the rights of citizens, in various
parts Of the world, says the Savannah Re.
publican, have been a subject of universal
interest with the American people. All seem
united in the opinion and desire that some
thing should be done to assert and vindicate
our rights, but in every move in that direc.
ton, at the very outset, we are stared in the
face by the humiliating truth that we are
really unable to defend ourselves-that des-
pissed and batiied though We be, this great
nation has no means at its command TO en-
force its rights and secure the respect of
others. Except in case of actual invasion,
or when we have been offended by weak
neighboring power readily accessible, there
is no remedy. We have to fold our arms,
talk beligerentIy, and do nothing.
Look at our long controversies with New
Granada and Paraguay, with Spain, and the
still more recent piratieal aggressions upon
our commerce in the Gulf Of Mexico, and
within sight o: our very shores; and what
have we done, and what are we going to do,
in regard to these insults and injuries Sup
pose that England avow the acts of her ma
val commanders in tie Gulf how and when
would we resent the wrong? Would we, rs
brave ard powerful nation, as we claim to
be, take measures of redress on the spot and
vindicate the national honor? Could we do
it! Or would we, of necessity, score down
the wrong against her, with the understand
ing that il should be resented as soon as are
are able, Is there an American citizen who
can contemplate this state Of things without
feeling of humiliation and shame? Who
is responsible for III This is n question
which we propose briefly to consider.
We hesitate not to charge the present i'm
potent and notifying condition of the coun-
try upon the Democratic party. The very
fact that they have had almost uninterrupted
possession Of the government for thirty
years, is sufficient to establish the charge,
without going into an enumeration of the
particulars. Nor is this delinquency to be
laid at the door Of the Executive department
of the government. Year after year have
the President and Head of the War Depart-
ment urged upon Congress the total made
quacy Of the naval branch of the public de.
Tense, either TO protect our rapidly increasing
commerce, or the rights Of the country IN Il
collision with any respectable power. TWEEN
ty years ago distinguished Representative
from this district prepared n plan for an in
crease Of the Navy and submitted it to Con-
gress, with such arguments and exhibits that
should have insured it a prompt considera-
ton and action on the part Of the federal
Legislature. All these calls, however, have
been unheeded, and the country has been al
lowed to drift along until some deep disgrace
should arouse it TO n sense of its character
and danger. There was DO time TO attend to
those crying necessities of the comfy
Personal schemes of ambition, presidential
aspirations, considerations affecting the per-
sona preference Of "BuucOmb," were too
important to be SET aside for such triles as
the necessary legislation Of the country
The one contemplate question of Kansas,
involving nothing practical to any section,
has been kept up solely for this purpose by
members of Congress from both the north
and the south, and has consumed time and
money enough to have built us a Navy equal
to tina! of England.
But we need not argue this question of
the utter faithessness Of the Democratic
party TO the country and the constitutions
Every step of their progress for twenty years
goes TO establish the charge that they have
been utterly absorbed with the plan and pur-
poses of self, and as utterly treacherous to
the best interests of the nation. Mr.. Toombs
declared in the Senate, but a few DAYS ago,
that our government was the most corrupt
one on the earth, and that the corruption was
confined, for the most part, to the Legisla-
tive department, that which springs directly
from the people and is presumed TO be held
to the strictest account The position is al
most conclusive against popular government,
yet it is true.
Whatever may be the inference as regards
the sOundness Of our institutions, il is at
least an unanswerable, whitening condemna-
ton of those TO whom their management has
been cntrusted--the Democratic party. We
trust the country may feal alive TO the start
ling truth, and that the people may drive out
the political pirates who have 50 betrayed
their confidence and done so much to degrade
and disgrace the nation.
JIM LANE DISPOSED OF BY THE TRIBUNE
The New York Tribune, noticing the telc-
graph report of an atfray at Lawrence, Kan
which the latter was killed, says of Lame
"He has been n conspicuous talkcr in favor
of resisting by force Border Ruflian outrage
and rule. He was chosen Major General OF
militia by the last Territorial Legislature, but
has not done any fighting in that capacity
nj least none that we are aware Of lie is !
quite likely now TO migrate to Arizona, if the
Sheriff should interpose no objection"
WASHING TON, June 10, 1858.
Official information has been received from
Governor Cumming of his arrival at Salt City,
md favorable reception there. Brigham
\ Dung formally delivered to him all authori-
y, cOunscllcd the people to obediencc.-
IlCrp WINS nat iIia sliUhlpsl demonstration