The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-07-20
Ratifioation Meeting at Cleveland.

meeting at Cleveland.
Editor Of ne notwithstanding the
drouth that is prevailing
in this county, and although the weather
is almost hot enough to roast eggs, the |
political fires are burning still more bright |
ly. The two sections Of the Union Saving
Democratic Party have organised them
selves into opposing hosts, and stand
ready to sound the charge and rush TO
the deadly fray. when Greek meets
Greek then comes the tug Of war"
The Douglas colors, which be 1t said
have never yet been lowered to mortal
foe, are spread Haunting to the breeze,
and tho shout of defiance has been hurled
into the camp of the ''unharmonious"
but "unterrified" democracy. On the
other hand, the Yancey Breckinridge
wing, with GOODNESS worthy of all admit
ration, stand firm like veterans that they
are. Like Napoleon's Old Guard, they
stand in serried array, silent and grim,
closing up their falling ranks and waiting
the command of their leaders to make the
onslaught They ask no quarter and
they give none. Like the elephant in
battle, maddened by wounds, they are
preparing to tread down all that oppose
their way, friend or foe; Douglas men or
Bell men are alike to be trampled under
foot. But enough Of the "highfalutin."
I set out 10 give you q short account of
the Douglas meeting here on Saturday.
At the Breckenridge and Lane ratifica-
ton meeting at this place on the Both of
June, it was manifest that there was
large portion of the Democratic voters
who were not willing to be sold out by
the Baltimore seceders at the dictation of
those who had hitherto led the party in
this county. For once they claimed the
right to think for themselves in politics,
and announced meeting to take place
on the l4th of July, to take into conside-
ration the present state of the party
This meeting came off Saturday last, and,
afforded very satisfactory opportunity
to judge of the red condition of the par
ty, at least in this county. In mingling
with the people, both before and after
the speaking, it was evident that there
was a large number who had not com
mitted themselves to either side. There
was an evident desire, too to have light
on the subject. The people listened with
the greatest attention to the speakers,
and all the proceedings. There were
several hundred persons present, compris-
ing, as well as could judge, about equal
numbers of the friends of Douglas, Breck-
inridge and Bell. sCol. Moses Purvine
occupied the Chair. DR.. j. G. Brown,
who is, by the by, very intelligent man
and good mlksr, but not much of a
speaker, explained the condition of the
party, and the object of the present meet
ing. Col. A. BLIZZARD, of your place, then
addressed the meeting in a really fine
speech. Mr.. BLIZZARD endorsed the nomi-
nation of Judge Douglas, proved him to
be the candidate of the regular Demo-
cratic Convention, and entitled, accord
ing to Democratic usages, to the support
of the party. This part of his speech was
unanswerable. He then went into dis
cussion of the doctrine of "non-interven-
ton" as held by Mr.. Douglas, and al
though l dissent from his conclusion, in
common with the friends of Bell and
Everett, yet must do Mr.. BLIZZARD the
justice to say he handled the subject in an
able manner. Mr.. d. was particularly
severe on the disunion tendencies of the
Yancey wing Of the party, and paid u
high tribute to the value of the Union.
r. NJ. Edwards, Chairman ofa COM
mittee, offered series of resolutions,
endorsing the nomination of Mr.. Doug
las and appointing FIVE delegates from
this county to the State Convention at
Nashville, on the 2Sth of this month
The resolutions were well drawn, speak
ing in plain terms, boldly and defantly.
Mr.. Edwards then proceeded to speak
on the grand issues of the day, and it
was generally conceded made one of the
best speeches he ever made. The fact is
mitch" car make real good speech
when he tries, and people will find out
that he has never received full credit for
the ability he possesses in that line.
The ball is now fairly opened in this
county, and it behooves the friends of
Bell and Everett, the real Constitutional
Union Party, to go to work in good earn
est. The Breckenridge party are evident
ly determined to maintain their present
ascendency in the Southern States. If
disunion be their object, as charged by
the friends of Douglas, and however that
may be it cannot be denied that the ten
dency of the party is in that direction, it
is essential to wrest this ascendency from
them. The fact is, it. ought to be done
for the good of the whole country, like
the Irish Justice condemned the prison
er, on suspicion.
You may rely on the above account of
the meeting as being correct, and if the
Banner should tell different story, you
may set it down as one of Mack's stretch
ers. He was not on the ground during
the meeting. / took particular notice of
that fact, though he didn't 80 to ROane
county SO far as heard from. UNION.
nD~ A few weeks ago, the democratic
press of this State, with two or three ex-
ceptions, denounced the Seceders from
the Democratic National Convention in
the fercest and most opprobrious terms,
styling them Disorganizers and Disunion-
lists. Now these same prints are in close
alliance with tho Sacadars ond s,yoo,,l a.,