The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-11-23
Communication.

zensof McMinn, to meet on the 24th inst.
to consider the position that Tennessee
should occupy in view of the present ma
tional disturbances. Whether the senti-
ment of the people Of Tennessee will be
properly expressed by such Conventions,
held as they probably will be in the diff
ferent counties all over the State, is very
questionable. Calm and considerable dis
cussion of the present crisis, and of the
probable future aspect OF affairs, is dcsir-
able. In view of the identity Of the in
terests of the Southern States, and of the
sympathy of the people of the South with
each other, it is very desirable that there
should be harmony of feeling and unity
of action, in the present emergency,
throughout the entire South. If such n
state of feeling and action is to be dcsir-
ed, can it best be brought about by such
Independent County Conventions? Is
there not better way? Questions arise
thick and fast in this connection.
Tennessee has clearly expressed her
opinion, that the simple election of Lin
coin is not a sufficient cause for n dissolu.
ton of the Union, or of resistance TO his
Inauguration MS President; yet who doubts
that the people of Tennessee are ns
kecnly sensitive to any Infringement OF
her righA ls1er the Constitution, as any
state in the Union? Who doubts that she
would as fcarlcssly resist by force, if ne
as any Southern State, But Tennessee in
| her determined conservatism Of the Tn.
ion, as long as the Union is practicable,
must not become too much cmbittcred
against the disunion tendencies of her
Southern ncighbors, to prevent her pco.
pie from taking the proper steps to secure
their own present and prospective safety
Here lies the danger to be apprchended
from these County meetings. We have
Just passed through an exciting canvass
Complicated party machinery has been
| brought to bear with all its force on the
minds of the people. The charge of dis.
union tendencies have been made and
pressed home upon the supporters of one
| of the defeated candidates. and the charge
| has been as bitterly denied. is there not
danger that in such meetings as are pro.
posed, speakers may indulge in crimina.
ton and recrimination, and thus party
feelings may be aroused. and our people
goadcd on to the very evil all are anxious
to avoid? in escaping from the wolf OF
disunionsm, let us beware of rushing in.
to the coils OF the anaconda of Seward.
ism. In our devotion to the Union, let us
not forget that eternal vigilance is the
price of our safety. Are we the people Of
the Northern tier of slave States. prepar.
| ed to commit ourselves to Lincoln's nd.
ministration under any and all circum.
stances, in advance of any declaration on
his part as to the line of policy to be
adopted by his administration? trust
we are not so prepared, and that we will
not hold out any such idea to Mr.. Lin
coins supporters.
! am of opinion that now is the time the
whole South. instead of rashly precipitat
ing themselves out of the Union on the
one hand, on supiheiy resting at ease on
the other, waiting for the development Of
events, should stand up firmly for our UNI
questioned rights under the Constitution
and should demand of Mr.. Lincoln and
his supporters guarantee that those
rights should re9ain unmpaired during
his administration. What those demands
and guarantees should be- is matter tC
be determined by consultation and con
ference, but Mr.. Lincoln should satisfy
the South that he will execute the Fugi
tive Slave law as fully as he is able ant
that he will appoint no man to Office who
is not willing to abide by and enforce thai
and all other laws of Congress. Let Mr.
Lincoln guarantee to the South all the
power and influence of his administra
ton to protect her against abolition 70
rays. With these guarantees the Soutl
may be satisfied, with less she canno
well be; and the North might very grace
fully concede these guarantees at tn,
| present time.
But some very warm friend of the Unior
may inquire with solicitude, what is to 81
the result if Lincoln and his supporters
and the Northern States generally SHOULD
reftisc to grant these reasonable demands
Ny opinion in such case is, that ever,
Southern State should be prepared ant
armed as one man to resist aggression
but always within the Union: and if an,
of these should rashly and ingloriousl,
| abandon the field and Withdraw from til,
| Union, the balance should not spend time
| in denouncing secession, but should b,
theoretically preparing to protect them
selves against danger from any quarter
| Tennessee. Kentucky, Missouri, and tn,
rest, are sovereign States i'm the Union
having the right to arm their citizens fo
defence and protection; and this is moth
| ing more than those States would have t.
do if the Union were now dissolved, ant
the irrepressible conflict begun.
This brings us then to inquire, what il
best to be done in the present emergency
: have seen no better plan thu n that pro
posed by Gen. Gideon Pillow in reccn
| letter TO the editor of the Nashville Patriot
that is: Let the Governors of the South
ern States Immediately convene their re
spectve Legislatures-let these Legisla
lures appoint commissioners of confer
| ence so as to secure harmony of actor
on the part Of the South if possible, anc
let sufficient guarantees be demanded o
the Northern States forthe continued pro
lection of our rights in the Union, &c.
| 1t is n cafn, conservative article in it,
general tone, and would advise all Low
ers of the Union to read it and ponder
One sentence strikes me as having til,
true ring of Union metal: +" War MAJ com
Of these aggreSsions Of lie Republican party
Let us not prov oke 1t, buff come it must
let us be united and ready and whether /,
or ont of the Union, we have nothing t.
fear" ,f
tits to be hoped that the speakers q
the County meeting called in your paper
| will take into consideration the fact tina