The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-10-26
An Appeal Against Disunion--Let
Every Mason in the Land Read it.

ed Mason, Robert Morris. He appeals to
his brethren to save the Union, and says
that this cry that the North is arrayed
against the South and the South against
the North is only the cry OF demagogues.
| We are impclled, by an irresistible ini-
pulse of duty, to address our masonic
brethren at large upon the present threat
ening aspect of otir political affairs. No
person, however circumscribed his read
ing or personal experience, can be insen-
sible to the present danger of disruption
impending our Union. How much more /.
then, must one be alarmed and ip'pn-
whose travels and correspondencalf-
reach every portion of the cour steady
brethren you. as Masgns y during
-anee OF power in IT, ~ n,,' ,,on N'ii feacn
between wild and tes ,. immense amount
the one-hana, and cold, heartfes rare
gogueism on the other. You, as a 6vuy,
number nearly a quarter million of men.
| And you arc men-men in body soul and
intellect-men chosen out of the masses
of the community, instructed in its old
and undying prnciplcs--men cemented
together by indissoluble ties-men who
profess to be animated 10y the noblest pur-
poses that every joined mortal beings to-
partles-in religion, of all sects-in vaca-
tions, of all honorable pursuits. Yet, in
selection, you are one; in preparation,
enlightment, covenant, and atiiliation,
one, and one only. Therefore, in great
and noble purpose, you are free to act as
one man. And what purpose SO noble is
there, o ye brothers of the craft, as the
salvation of our country.
| Brethren! we have visited nearly every
Grand Lodge on this continent, and ma
ny of them again and again. We are in
almost daily correspondence with the
brightest lights of the fraternity, and, we
believe, possess the confidence of large
portion Of the craft universal. We speak,
therefore, that we do know when we af-
firm that MaSons as a whole. are moral,
true and upright men, lovers of their coun-
try, and quiet and obedient subjects of
law. Yet such men may be led astray.-
False reports may be raised, the purest
spirits may be deceived by ralsehoods and
eXaggerations, and even our institution,
venerable for age, grand in proportions;
pure and virtuous in its principles, may
be made the medium through the machi-
nations of false brethcren of incurable
mischief.
Brethren! the partisan sheets of tho
country, North and South, those we mean.
whose mission seems to be that of stirring
up mortal contention between us, and to
break up this government by false issues,
declare nothing but lies when they say
the North is araycd against the South.
and .he South against the North. Ii is ,
false. We have lived more than twenty
years in the South, and more than twentul
years in the North. For large pow
of the twenty-five years we have ~
gagged III travelling, have see,<
ton, made personal 0cquainl;ins(l
every shade Of thought and teelingy
we testify to the utter iniquity of
statements. 1t is but the cry of
gogues and traitors, who will rise on
on the ruin of the nation, if the L.
does not take warning in time. The I,
ings of Southern people as a whole, an
of Northern people as whole, are all
kind and brotherly towards each other
But it cannot be denied that the exaspe-
ration of party feeling is cmbittering ev-
erything, and the proncness of feeble hui
man nature to follow popular leaders right
or wrong, may destroy the last remains of
/ national affection if we do not guard our
selves against it,
Brethren OF the North you are misin:
! formed upon the subject of slavery. 1t
| is not the hellish evil you have been taught
to believe it. Visit the South and you will
see it You have been misinformed, too,
in regard to the Southern people. They
| are kind, loving, and generous to fault.
They are brave, and true to their friends,
and, as Masons, God ncrer mate better!
Brethren OF the South YOU are misin.
formed as to the general feeling of the
Northern people relative to slavery
Whatever it may be in some localities,
ridden to death by demagogues, yet, in
the broad lands of tho North and West;
and even in Canada, the popular sent-
ment is to ict the subject atone, and leare IL
,Cih those who are personally Interested ,ciM il.
You are misiniormed, too, as to the North
ern people. They are studious, industri-
Gus lovers of order and law, liberal in a
good cause, earnest in whatever they urt-
dertake, and as Masons, conservative and
systematic in the highest degree.
| Brethren of both sections! there is abe
I solttely uohiny Jctcccn yo,t but to lore one pno'
| hT, and to perseverc in the grand design of
doing good and being happy. Let dema-
gogues rail and lie in vain. Treat all their
threats of secession, of opposition to law,
of raids into neighboring vineyards, of
notification, etc, with contempt and abb
horrence. Disregard their statements
that the American people are ripe for dis
union as direct invention of the father
of lies. Blacker ialsehood was never in
vented. Search for sober, law abiding
men, conservative in their habits Of think
ing and action, and entrrist to such the
banner of all good Masons--"UN FIRST
UNION LAsr-UNIoN FOREVER"
'4s- One great truth the people ought
now tocommit to memory, wear it in their
hearts, and never once forget it:
"This introduction of slavery into poll
tics, North and South, has heretofore had,
and has now, but one purpose, and that
is to promote party, and party ranters, by
exciting sectional prejudices. Its only
end, il not now Indignantly and promptly
reOulled, will be the permanent alienation
of the sections-the complete victimiziny
of the people to party demagogues, and
the destruction of the Government. The
great remedy is to vote for Bell and Eve
rett." B. II. HuL,
ne3~ NJ. Abbadie declares the complex
ON of the human race to be so entirely
dependent on the mode of nourishmeut,
that he has beheld in Nubia whole races
of negroes who, from the entire use of
animal food, present as fine carnation
as the inhabitants of southern Europe
In Algeria has long been remarked that
the butchers, generally negroes, are as
fair in complexion rs the European set
tiers, although still preserving the woody
hair.
| Washington, Oct. l0.-The receipts fol
sales Of public lands for the year ending
with June, was less 100000, on account
of the scarcity eff money and other caus
es In some cases no bids were received