The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-10-12
Appeal from the Politicians to the
=. People,

GSOPk5s
The Constitutional Unionists, says the
New Orleans "Bulletin," have taken an
appeal from the politicians to the people.
They appeal from an arbitrary, selfish and
corrupt tribunal to the great court Of last
resort. In that they have confidence-to
that they make their protest against the
action of the inferior and selfconstituted
judges, and to that they make their ap-
peal in the full confidence Of the justice
of their cause, and the reliability of the
appellate tribunal, and consequently of
favorable decision at the next term of the
court. These unprincipled partisan judg-
es have manifested an unmistakable dis
position to undermine and destroy the
very foundation upon which the great SUI
perstructure of the State rests, unless
they themselves can contrive as usual to
domineer over 1t and use it for their own
personal purposes, for their own aggrand-
izement. This is monstrous, and they
must be checked in their mad work. The
good of the State requires it. Every mans
safety even demandsit. 1t is for the COM
mon veal that it should be, and conse-
duently the motion for an appeal has been
taken, and it is now made to the masses
themselves.
The politicians have got the country
into difficulties. They have manifested
great talents for getting into trouble, but
very little for getting out of it. 1t is
most worthless species of ability, the low.
est order of skill. Any vagabond can fire
the capitol and reduce it to ashes in an
hour, but it takes wisdom, patience, ge-
MUS and time to reconstruct it. The par
ty politicians have shown their ability in
pulling down. 1t is now for the people to
undertake the work of building up. For
this purpose they have engaged two cele-
brated architects. of tried genius and great
experience, honest and capable, and into
their hands the people now intend to
commit the business of the re.construc-
ton. They did not seek the posts they
occupy. The people sought them, because
they knew them to possess the right kind
oftalents, the requisite skill, and the pro-
per disposition and integrity for the work
they are to perform.
To drop our figures. The condition of
the country is really alarming. We see
it stated that the Executive of neigh
boring State is spending large sums of
money in arming it for the threatened
collision. Whether he is transcendng his
authority or not, is none of our business.
1t is certain that resolutions have passed
the Legislatures of several States-three
at least-appropriating large sums to be
employed in arming their respective
communities for the purpose of resisting
the general government in case North
ern sectional candidate should be elected
President. Iaration-that's the beginning
ofthis revolutionary business, but it will
not be the end of it, unless the people
rise in their majesty and put down by
their strong votes this monster of section
alism, now that they have it in their pow
er to do it. The Executive of the neigh
boring State to which we refer is charged
with transcending his authority already!
Lawless power already!
Why, fellow-citizens, do we realize? Can
we realize even upon the most limited
scale the full consequences of the threat
ened convulsions ahead of US, if through
supineness we allow events to drift in that
direction and eliminate according to the
laws that will urge them on?
The work of preparation would scarce
ly be commenced before we should begin
to feel the effects, not only oftaxation, but
of irresponsible, unbridled power, tram
ping upon laws, usurping authority, ty-
rannizing over the defenceless, and plac-
ing the heel of grinding despotism upon
the neck of every remonstrant against ar
bitrary proceedings. If the people are
not struck with judicial blindness if they
have not been seized with that madness
that precedes destruction, they will rouse
themselves as giant and rescue the coun-
try from the frightful taxation, poverty,
despotism and widespread ruin that stare
them in the face. We repeat, the appeal
is from the politicians to the people. If
the threatened evils be not warded off,
they will fall upon the people. The peo-
pie will have to pay the cost of the DESC
lations that will Cypress them. They will
have to bear the poverty that will come
upon them. They will have to fight the
internecne battles. 1t is their business
that will stagnate-their crops that will
blight in the fields, while they are engag-
ed in the work of mutual demolition.
1t is their increase that will stop, their
machinery whose music will have turned
into the roar Of a cannon and the dis
charge OF musketry, their commerce that
will be prey to pirates, their vessels that
will rot at the wharves; in word, it will
be their land-their country that will be
overrun by plundering hordes, lawless BAN
ditti of which Kansas was a faint type in
miniature, and of which Mexico is now.
But would you have the South submit to
Black Republican President? We would
have the South, and the conservatives of
the Union, prevent his election. That is
what We would have done. That is what
may be done easily, safely, peacefully, and
we call upon you to help do it. 1t is all
but universally conceded that there now
remains only one way by which this can
be done. Every man who comes from the
North now comedies the fact 1t is Bell
or Lincoln. II is Everett or Hamlin. Why
cavil and bubble and play little and play
the partisan when the common enemy is
at our doors, and when union and harmo-
ny will drive him back honorably, Consti-
tutionally and effectually?
What folly to divide our strength when
concentration is absolutely necessary i