The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-08-10
Abolition Petitions.

The Democratic Disunion journals raise
their hands in holy horror because John
Bell spoke and voted in favor of receiv-
ing Abolition petitions. John p. King,
formerly Democratic Senatorin Congress,
from Georgia. and VIM. r. King formerly
Democratic Senator in Congress from
Alabama, did the same thing, and was
afterwards voted for and elected by the
Democracy, Vice-Presidcnt of the Uni
ted States. In support of his vote, Hon.
John Z. King said:
"Tlo simple right of petition waD tho
most harmless and inoitensive Of all
rights, if it be properly treated. 1t en-
forced nothing and effected nothing but
what government thought proper to
the right, however idly employed, could
rarely be productive of mischief, though
it might sometimes be evidence of mis-
chevous intentions. The greatest danger
was in imprudcntly and unnecessarily
onnosinr it, II \ ale had been
asked if he would receive petition to
abolish slavery in Georgia? This was
strong and improbable case; but he had
answered and would still answer, that he
would feel bound to do So" "To
refuse to receive, denied the right of be-
ing heard 70 receive, and reject the
prayer of the petition, gave the privilege
of hearing, and the judgment of the
Senate on the question:
Hon. w. r. King, afterwards Vice
President of the United States, for whom
many voted who now denounce John
Bell for similar vote, spoke as follows:
"The reception of the memorials was
so strongly impressed upon his mind to DO
the only true policy, that he could not
resist the obligation of duty which i'm
lNaelled him to urge the Senate to pursue
that course. y Tho right of
petition was admitted on all hands to be
one of the most sacred inherited from
our ancestors"
Mr.. Buchanan, the present President,
elected also by tho Democracy, did the
same thing, and Of the twenty-five South
crn Senators who voted, toeicc voted for
the reception, including Benton, Brown,
Clay, Clayton Crittenden, Goldsborough,
Grundy, Kent, King, of Ala, King, of
Georgia, Linn and Laudain.
u
Gilmer, of Georgia, 1910, giving his views
on the reception of these petitions, Mr..
Bell uses the following language:
MY opinion was, that whether the pc
titioners had right on their side or not,
sound policy dictated the reception and
reference Of their petitions. ! believed
that any unusual course inrcgard to them,
would give undue importance to the
movement of the aholitionists, furnish
new ground for agitation, and rather in
crease the existing excitement than al
lay it,"
/ Whether right or wrong to vote for tho
reception and reference Of abolition pc
titions, by voting for Vim. r. King for
Vice-Prcsidcnt, and for the James Bu-
chanan for Presid' mt, tho Democratic
press, leaders and party have endorsed such
j course, and if they condemn it, con-
denim themselves. In the language of
Mr.. Bell, it was ''sound policy" to do as
he did, and in this, as in his vote against
the Kansas Nebraska bill, he eyinced tho
fnr-sceing sagacity of the true statesman.
1t is such man-onc who seeks to 'dlLdT
rather than "i1crcasc the existing excite
ment'-that we need now at the head Of
our government, and we hope the people
will come up, as passing events indicate
they will and support John Bell and
Edward Everett as one man, with a
hearty good VIII, and elect thcm.-Ahan'a
american.
MANUrACTURIVG IN TEXAs.-Tho sub
scribcrs to the Houston (TeXas) manuiac-
turing company, met on the 3Oth ult.-
They adopted as their title the name of
the Houston Cotton and Wool Factory,
fixed the capital stock at 100000, APP
pointed a committee,to select n suitable
locality for buildings, and ordered books
of subscription to be opened at the office
Of the President, A. j. Burke. It is pre-
dicted by the press Of Houston that that
city will have population Of 10000 in
habitants in few wears.