The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-09-21
Disupion-The Plot Thickens.

II. B. Rhett, of South Carolina, described
it as mot national" And Mr.. Rhett
sometime since declared that it is the OBJ
ject of call true craftsmanship" to bring
about "a dissolution of the Union" Mr..
Burt, leading spirit of the Convention,
secuted the idea of his being a "Nation-
al Democrat" He was a sectional DEM
ocrat, he was a Disunionist! Mr.. Yancey
said national parties will not save u.s.
"We must influence parties, Conventions,
statesmen, and at the proper time precip-
:tate the cotton States into revolution"
And in late letter in reference to his for
mer one, he says, "there is not da.iisa in Il
that / do not now entertainw OF the Rich
mond Convention, the Charleston Mer-
curry says:
"Instead of the Democratic party be-
ing "reintegrated" by the Richmond Con-
vention, it has been rent assunder with a
wider disintegration. The Richmond
Convention was the great cause which
produced the disruption of the Democrat
ic party. That Convention was called by
the seceders, and its candidates are in the
field against the regular National Demo-
cratic nominees"
The Richmond Convention was the
creature of Mr.. Rhett and South Caroli-
ma, and their co-adjutors in other States.
The members Of it from South Carolina,
il will be recollected, did not 90 to Balti-
more at all. They had no business there,
they said, and consequently remained at
Richmond till the rupture at Baltimore,
a.rcady agreed upon, having been COM
Inenced at Charleston, should be COM
plete. When this part of the program
Inc was perfected, the Convention pro-
ceeded to do the business for which it
had assembled, and it nominated Messrs
j. C. Breckenridge for President, and
Joseph Lane for Vice President, as its
candidates. 1t did not think it worth
while to lay down any platform-how
dsgusted Breckenridge men now are to
think that the Baltimore National Con-
stitutional Convention laid down for its
platform only the Union, the Constitution,
and the Enforcement of the Laws.-it
truly supposed that the principles of its
members and their objects in assembling
together were sufficiently well known
without their being any necessity for de-
claring them on paper. They manifest
ly thought uch work quite supereroga-
tory, as inloed, it wGald has been. Be-
sides, il would have aeen difficult work
for the Convention to proclaim its princi-
pies and its objects simply because its
members would, we think, have quailed
at the idea of openly declaring that their
real and only object was to effect disso-
luton of the Union.
Bold as they delight to proclaim them
selves, we think they would have shrunk
back aghast at such an avowal. The
dream of Calhoun would have re-appear-
ed to them, and the shadowy forms of
ghosts would have haunted their slum-
bers and troubled them in the darkness of
the night when deep sleep falls upon men.
But the purpose of that Convention can
not be mistaken. The spirit of Disunion
presided over it, animated, shaped and
directed its proceedings. Well, Mr..
Breckenridge accepts the Convention
nomination formally, and hopes he shall
be worthy of their confidence! The plot
thickens! Disunion looms up in the dis
tance Proclaim, Messrs., your fixed de-
termination to dissolve the Union if Lin
coin be elected, and then proceed syste-
matically to course of conduct that will
have seasonable prospect of producing
that very contingency. This Is the pro
gramme. Acts and words all aonspire to
prove it. Read the juhilations of one OF
the advocates of this programme, which
we clip from an exchange:
"THc High Peaks."--A distinguished
member of the Legislature remarked to
us few days since that he ''feft glorious.
ly-could soc the High Peaks of ,South-
e,m C04Jederacy looming up in the dis,
tance."
This has become q common sentiment.
Our people no longer expect to be allow.
ed to remain in the Union, and very wise.
ly they begin to look about to see how
they shall take care of themselves, now
that the "iigh Peaks" of independence
are in sight.
But the South has much to do in the
way Of preparation, and, we think, but
little time to do it in. Our volunteer ar
mics are to be gathered together-drilleG
equipped. Arsenals and factories are
to be erected--munitions of war bought
and manufactured "a thorough police
system created and put in operation.
Let every true man, then, keep his eye
on the High Peaks Of a Southern Con
federacy.'
Mr.. Breckinridge we say, accepts for
mally the Richmond Conventions nomi
nation! Ho for the "high peaksw
Union Democrats, patriots, friends anc
iellow-citizens, how do you like the pic
tuGes What say you of the programme
Constitutionalists, Washingtonians, JEFF
iersonians, Jacksonians, Claymen, Bel
and Everett men, what is yor response
Still the work of our fathers, the Consti
tuition and the Union, this fair irbric up
on which have been exhausted the eulo
gums and the blessings of every tongue
in every land warmed by the breath o
liberty and civilization, 60 sloughini
down the eternal sewers of political per
dition? Go, answer-and 60, work
work. Ho for the high peaks of tn
Union and the Constitution! Ho TO
Bell and Everett Ho for the rescue
work!