The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-10-05
A Provisional Government for the
Southern States.

| Su ouI tllu eAlenslNeIy circulated! we
referred to this fact last week in our re-
view OF Mr.. Brecllinridge's speech, and we
give this morning the document itself en-
tire. There are very few, comparatively
speaking, Of the patriotic masses OF the
south, the planters, merchants, mechan-
les, etc, who are fully aware to what
lengths the reasonable ianaticism of rest
less spirits has reached. Fanaticism in
the South has almost kept pace with IA
naticism in the North, and it WAS high
time when this great Constitutional, CON
servative movement was inaugurated, that
the sober and reliable men in every por-
ton Of the country who revere the insti-
tutions left them by their great patriotic
sires, had risen in their might and laid
their right hands upon this incendiay
and devilish spirit OF havoc and destruc-
tion-a spirit that tramples alike upon the
laws OF God and men and in it3 blind and
iniuriato recklessness would turn this
! peaceful land of ours, this priceless patli-
mony that has been bcqueuthed to Us for
| ourselves and our children, and Tor man
kind at large, this glorious inheritance
that has been the theme Of uulogiums
from the great and the good the world
over, into Il drCary and irlghtiul desert, Il
very pandcmOnium OF fallen and tmclcun
spirits. and the tUillng nlIlliUns that now
dwell together IN UNITY under their own
vine and liz trees with Interruptions so
slight us scdicely 10 Dc worthy to DC taken
into consideration, into moral hycnas
preylng upon each other until the very
trees and stones should sweat blood and
tears.
This plan for a Provisional Government
Tor the Southern States, which we give be-
low, is AN cmanatlon worthy of the spirit
that gave it birth. IL originated in the
dark. Its authors were ashamed Of their
work, and could not, reckless and despcr-
ate as they may have been, muster up
courage enough to fix their signatures to
the work Of their hands. They sent it
forth into the world alone. They evident
ly put it forth us Il ieeler, and as nucleus
around which they hoped vagaLondry
and ianaticisn would rally with insane
and cXultant shouts OF delight. They eX-
pectcd, manli,estly, that the moral yul-
lures would snuff the carnage and the car
rion from atar, and flock upon eager wing
TO the promised rcpast. Where The pre-
clous productions were printed We have
no means OF Knowing. Suffice it to say,
that copy OF it came to Ills through the
postotlice about eighteen months ago, and
has been already given to the public in
some OF the public prints, but never be-
fore in this paper. Taken in connection
with well known events that have since
transpired, and with sentiments that are
boldly avowed 10y many leading men and
public Journals, it is u highly suggestive
document, and will be read with no little
interest. 1t is very ingcniously written,
but its sophistry is not sufficient to con-
ceal its reasonable spirit Here it is:
Observation-Disclosures, Having expert
enced for the last twenty eight years the
impoSsibil!ty Of preserving an honorable
and peaceful Union with our Northern
contcderates, it now becomes our impcga-
tive duty to make an honorable, and il
possible, a peaceful separation. And
Whereas, The dIsmembcrment of the
existing Union between these United
States is inevitable, and that past and eX-
listing propositions for uniting the South
Elm people in one bond Of Brotherhood
are most impotent for consummating that
much desired result: And,
Whereas, The South should sever the
existing union Of these States for past az
gressions, as well as for the prevention Of
others which must inevitably follow under
existing party organizations And,
Whereas, 1t is the natural and reasona-
bio province of an honorable, peaceablc
and brave people to prepare for contn-
gcncy SO certain and momentous, without
waiting to be abruptly forced into doubt
ful or inefficient organization for the
preservation Of those rights which the
most sacred honor of man impels us to
defend. And,
Whereas, permanent separation of
conflicting interests, pursuits, habits, laws,
or opinions, Is far preferable to Il doubtful
or unpleasant alliance: Be it, therefore,
HeS0lred, |. That, with that purity of
motive, conscicntiousncss ofrectitude, and
noble determination to do right, we re-
commend and will do all we can to bring
about AN honorable, and, if possible, II
peaceable separation OF the Southern slave
States from the Northern free States.
LiGSOlCeA, :. That after having been de-
MED peaceable existence in the present
coniederacy, and i'll the event we now be
denied the poor but natural privilege of Il
peaceable separation, we shall thea rely
upon our own strength, the sanction Of
the Great Ruler, and the countenance OF
all properly disposed nations Tor that sep
aratlon, without which we cannot MAIN
tain an honorable existence, or secure to
our children the continued respect Of
honorable men.
Rc$oiccd, 3. That in this effort to scpa-
rate pcnceubly from men and States, with
whom we so widely differ in soil, climate,
institutions and opinion, we will ask for
nothing more, nor viii we receive any
thing less than an equal division Of all the
Territories, immunltles, rights, privileges,
obligations, treaties, etc, now claimed OF
enjoyed by the United States.
ReSOLrGd, 1. That it is our solemn duty
to recognize all the people of the several
Southern States as II band of brothers,
whose interests and feelings shall be sa-
credly observed and respected by the
Great Southern Party, so long as those hui
name virtues can be exercised without
sacrificing or jeopardizing those rights
and that equality, for the regainng and
preservation Of which this organization is
formed"
CohSttution.-Art. /. This organization
shall be known as the great Southern
party.
Art, >. Its objects are an honorable, and,
if possible, u peaceable Acknowledgement
of the present Contederacy, and the for
nation OF Southern one, securing all the
rights, powers and equality to free white
population that may be exercised with
safety to ourselves, and with justice to all
other people.
Art. 3. In General Assembly of the
several Southern States comprising this
organization, there shall be one President,
Vice President, Secretaries, and one Treas
urer-whose duties shall be hereafter de-
signated by such Assembly, which shall be
convened by the State Conventions, at the
city Of Columbia, S. &.
In State Convention there shall be a
Governor, one Lieutenant GoYernor Soc.