The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-09-28
The Crisis Look to 1t.
From the Memphis Enquirer


the election Of Mr.. Douglas? No. In
the broad land of these United States
nobody expects the election OF either of
these candidates. Certainly, no one who
will take the trouble to reflect on the suo.
ject fol moment has any such expecta-
ton. But mischief is abroad in the
South. What shall be done? Are the
rank and file of parties aware Of the
means that are employed to accomplish
the purpose Of their leaders, and of the
scenes towards which we are all tending?
The New York Express, one of the
ablest and most reliable conservative pa
pers in this country, says "The Southern
breckenridge Democracy are not aware,
ps-hhps, crshe fis, that n Che Ncrtl-
ern States tic Federal patronage is being used
in great degree to elect Lincolt." 1t is to
be hoped that they are not aware of it.
We cannot believe it for in Soch case
the Southern Breckenridge wing would
vanish like an evil dream, and reappear
with patriotic determination in those
national ranks against which the charge
of sectionalsm and bad faith is not even
to be imagined. But it may be said
here in the South, "Who is afraid? Are
we not able to defend ourselves? Let us
vote our party principles and abide the
consequences" OF course, this sounds
noble and heroic, and many circumstan-
ces could be supposed in which such
resolutions and actions would really be
noble and heroic. But does the world
need any demonstration of the intrepid
ity of the South? Does an impartial
view of John Bells record forbid any
Southern patriot to support him for the
Presidency? Surely, party principles do
not stand in the way, and the means lie
before us by which our tranquility, as
we'll as our honor, can be preserved. Give
John Bell Tennessee; give him united
South, (indeed, he seems likely TO have
so much in spite of all efforts to the
contrary and with the generous fusion
in the North, he advances tiiumphartly
to the head of the nation. Search his
record; it has been cast before the public
by thousands. 1t will do at the South as
in the North. without amendment, be-
cause it is that of national man. But
| the opposing orators say, what, give the
State to John Bell, your old opponent on
many political question:" All, gentle
men, he is no longer your opponent, be.
cause he and you both love your county
in its majestic unity, and the political
questions that once divided you have dis
iapt t5aled, tr aare boan swallowed ~ in
the mighty one Of the country's preserva
ton. Has not everybody observed that
the old party issues are quite forgotten
are no longer discussed in the papers ol
on the stump? They may even nevel
be revived. The advance Of our power
territory. and national requirements vii
in all probability give rise to new grounds
of party divisions into which old animosi
ties cannot enter. But if under the
Presidency of John Bell the banishmen
of the sectional feuds that now harrow
the country, should make room for, ant
even invite the re-establishment Of thu
old political parties, for the sake o
amusement in those quiet times of peac'
that would follow, it would be no NOR,
difficult for the majority to set up thei
policy than formerly, mol is it likely tina
the Presidential office, filled by tn,
choice of conservatives of all parties
would find time in four short years, t,
do much more than assuage, eradicate
and provide against the return of section
al asperities. Such objections to q sup
port of the Union candidate, as aris
from old party affiliations, should almos
seem trivial and scarcely to demand al
gument for their removal; yet these OLE
party feelings, and these alone, we mus
needs believe, are the sole obstacle to tn
certain election of the Union ticket
To these old party sentiments the Brecli
inridge orators address themselves witt
most confidence. Their actual assault
on the character of John Bell, glance in
effectually from his invulnerable shiel
of patriotism. But regardless of tn
crisis, they rerseveringly seek to awakel
old preferences, the grounds of whicl
have totally disappeared. This is al
wrong, and the people alone can max
the correction.
gG- The Editor of the Vicksbur