The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-08-12

W 0TIV HNIIVI77 TV7Tf
To the Mechanics of Tennessee.


friend has just placed In my hands a secret
circular issued by whom, or Published where
know not, signed "The Mechanics Of KsorpiNe ("
and addressed "To he Mechanics Of Tennessee"
urging the craft throughout the State 10 unite 10
defeat me for the Office Of Attorney General and
Reporter on the 18th Of August next.
The ground upon which this secret circular an
peals to mechanics TO go against mo, Is the allepa
tfon that either myself or my father had said-
when, where OF 20 whom, is not stated-"that
mechanic should not aspire higher than the tools
with which he works, and his voice should not be
heard In the councils Of the nation" The cireu-
lar goes on to say, IAN opportunity is now Offered
TO prove to the sorld, that We are something more
than the servilc atendantOf the hloated nrisoerat
ready at any aud all times to do his bidding
70 urge you not to believe, not TO be influenced
bylsuch dwelling nonsense, to say to You. that
You should not be preudiced by any such ire
sponsible, anonymous malignty, feel would al
most require an apology from me, for it would
seem TO imply that thought some Of YOU sillv
enough TO be caught with such chat. Take my
word for IT, fellow citizens the person who penned
the circular--the base miscreant who shoots his
poisoned and cowarlly arrow from behind AN
anonymous sgnature-upon The very face Of his
circular shows that lac has less respect for you,
that he believes you have q lower standard of taste
of intelligence, of manliness, of proprety, and
right conduct than the person would have who
should entertain the sentiment falsely attributed
~ me.
The object Of this card is not 80 much, therefore
to utterly deny ever having entertained, or given
expression to any such sentiment in the whole
course Of my life-ickicl do IN he most emphatic
mdHner--as to vindicatc the mechanics Of Knox
willie from being held responsible for the publca-
tion of any such dastardly document-dastardly
because issued anonymously, dastarlly because
not circulated in Knoxville, but at distance das-
tardly because fixing neither time, place nor per-
son, TO whoa the words said to have been spoken
were uttered Il gives no opportunity for confula-
ton Now, have the majority Of the
mechanics Of Knoxville, of all kinds and de-
scriptons. and they unanimously tell me they
had nothing to do with getting out the circu-
lar referred 20, most of them had never heard Of
1t, nine-tenths of them had not seen It, and to a
man they express their utter adherence of any
such low and cowardly conduct would vindi-
cate the mechanics Of my native place.
1 hope, therefore. mechanics of the State Of Ten
nessce, that you will not believe any Of the craft
in Knoxville base enough to sanction any such
publication. My word for it, and have known
them all my life, they are all too honorable, too
high minded, too much Of gentlemen, to have pub
lished any such contemplate stuff. Aud 1 would
Furthermore vindicate the printers of Knoxville
The infamous slip was not published here. All
the printers tell mo So l believe them They
assure me the type is such as is not used in any
Office in this place. am convinced of it, and
hope that you will exculpate the printers of my
native place from any such baseness.
have done. know you will not let any such
malignant, silly appeals as are contained in that
circular influence your votes on the 18Th of Au-
gust, 1853, and am therefore proud to subscribe
myself
Your friend and obedont servant,
W. b. REESE JR
EpovyiI1a 81 1874