The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-09-28
A Scene In Memphis.

A Scene In Memphis.
In Memphis, on Wednesday last, there
was discussion between the Hon. Bailis
Peyton, Bell elector, Col. VIM. II. Polk.
Douglas elector, and Col. Haynes, Breck-
inridge elector, all able men. Col. Haynes
made the first speech, and could give his
political friends no encouragement except
by saying that he would bet upon Mr..
Breckinridge's luck. Whilst Col. Polk.
who followed, was speaking, some one
handed him a slip of paper, requesting
him to put to Col. Haynes the questions
put to Mr.. Douglas at Norfolk. The Mem
phis Enquirer says:
He asked Mr. Haynes if he thought the
election of Lincoln would justify break.
ing up of the Government? Mr.. Haynes
was silent. "Stand up" said Polk, land
tell these people your opinion on this
question" No answer. The storm Of shout
and approval was here perfectly deafen-
ing, and the crowd evidently felt that the
cause of the Yanceyites was beyond re-
demption.
The Hon. Bailie Peyton followed in a
speech described by the Enquirer as one
of tremendous power. Then Col. Haynes
rose again, and the Enquirer says:
Mr.. Haynes, in his reply, said that the
| questions handed Col. Polk, as to what he
| (H. would do in the event of Lincoln's
election, were written by an old Federal
st. Our fellow townsman, w. d. Fergu-
son. here arose and said that he asked
them; that he was no Federalist; that he
had fought and bled in two wars; once
under jackson, and that he woulo fight,
bleed, and die rather than see q dissolu.
tion OF this Union.
Our readers cannot conceive of the
storm Of applause which this episode
raised.
Mr.. Haynes said he would tell them
what he would do in the event of Lin
coins election. He would await the first
overt act of aggression upon the rights of
the South, and then he would summon
him (Col. Ferguson) and go to Washing
ton and hang Lincoln; and if he (Col. F.)
refused to go, he would hang him and all
like him with grape-vines.
This created immense excitement.
Col. Ferguson was called to the stand,
and the deepest passion was manifested
at such threat towards such a citizen
But Mr.. Peyton begged Col +. to remain
where he was, and leave Mr.. Haynes to
han.
1t was done; and when Mr.. Peyton came
to reply, and to allude TO this scene, hon
orablc tears rolled down his cheeks. Then
and there spoke the orator and the patriot;
and the crowd was swayed by him as
though it had been reed shaken by the
wind.
Those who witnessed it will never for.
get it.
The questions, it seems, embarrassed
Col. Haynes so miserably that he made al
most an idiot of himself. He hadn't the
courage to go with his friends so far as to
declare that he would dissolve the Union
for Mr.. Lincoln's election; he said he
would wait for an overt act, but, fearing that
this would mortally exasperate the fire.
eaters, he must needs proceed to say, that.
upon the commission of what lie might
deem 1.-THE first overt act" he, no longer
an elector but a mere PRIV te citizen,
would summon Col. Ferguson, another
private citizen, and 60 right on to Wash
ington and proceed at once upon his own
hook to hang the President upon ploba-
} bly, some other hook, and that he would
hang with grape vines not only Col. Fer
guson but all other private citizens who
should decline to obey his personal sum-
mons and go with him upon his hanging
expedition to Washington.
So here we have the response of one
Breckenridge elector to the Norfolk ques
tions. Now let US hear what the rest have
got TO say. Pass the questions along
Shoot them everywhere. Let not an op
y portunity be lost. L..e
A REPUTATION, OR A PRorEsr.-Colone
. Wilcox, distinguished Democrat o.
/ Texas, and formerly a member of Con
e gress from Mississippi, has just returned
+ home from visit to the North. He wen
North on a political mission, which re
J, quired an investigation Of the strength
y and temper of parties, and he returns will
r a conviction that "the Presidential strug
gle is between Bell and Lincoln" So say
the San Antonio Express. That he dit
= not form his judgment and does not max
n this declaration as partisan, is eviden
) from the fact that he still intends to vot
for Breckinridge, under pro,esi. If a unio
!, of all parties against Lincoln cannot b
y effected. The San Antonio Herald says
:, He is in favor of Union ticket to d,
y :, feat Lincoln, but if such ticket canno
" be insugurated will vote for Breckinridg
Nf without endorsing the disunion scheme
| Al