The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-10-26
Correspondence of the "post."
WASHINGTON. Oct %,

with your permission, will resume my oc-
casional correspondence.
left New York ten days ago, and find
here, as there, the Presidential canvass,
and the chances, the all-engrossing sub
ject. Since the recent State elections,
the calculating men, oilice.seekers, and
lobby;obbers, who generally manage to
turn up at the close of the game on the
winning side, seem to be making up their
minds that Lincoln is to be the man.
There are others, however, protesting to
be familiar with the currents, who believe
he will not only be defeated, but bad
! ly so. For myself, while earnestly desire
his defeat, | am frank enough to confess
that calm survey of the battlefield, and
the condition and peculiar position of the
opposing forces, render the Probability of
Lincoln's success pretty strongg Yet |
am not without hope of a different result
In New York, now the battle-ground, the
conservatives are making desperate ef-
fort, and as there is known TO be heavy
majority opposed to Black Republcanism
if there is no treachery about the fr-
sion, they can and must succeed. New
Jersey, which has always been more con-
sentative upon "the question" than some
of her sister States, will be carried against
the irrepressible conflict man. OF Penn
sylvania Lhave nothing TO say. T0oStats
elections just passed, has thrown all cal
culations out of joint. 1t is generally con-
coded to the Republicans.
What will the South do in the event
Lincoln should be elected? Isl constantly
recurring question among all parties here.
The impression is quito general that South
Carolina will lead off in movement to-
ward secession, and that Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, and perhaps other States will fol-
low. And what then? Here we are all at
dead lock. Are we to have a conflict of
arms? The idea of peaceable disruption
is an absurdity. The Federal Union has
endured for three quarters of a century.
1t was formed in a spirit of harmony,
concession, and mutual self-defence. It
has a strong hold upon the regards of the
people. can conceive howrevolution, war
and anarchy may come, but cannot get
the hang of secession, peaceaJls secession.
Secession means dissolution, and dissolu-
ton means disruption, violence. Under
the Federal Union the South has suffered
evils and aggressions. But has she reap
ed no benefits, enjoyed no immunities and
blessings? All forms of society, insttu-
tons, and laws are more or less imperfect
and unequal in their operation and re-
qurements. Would Dissolution cure the
evils we complain Of? We are told to pull
down the house which has long sheltered
us, without knowing whether we shall be
able to build better, or even as good a
one. have no fancy for such an expert
ment, and, as we have good many friends
in the Free States, much prefer combat
ting tho anti-slavery aggressions in the
Union, to the quXotic alternative ofwalk-
ing out of it, with the prospect of evils
and aggressions in our front tenfold great
er than those we leave behind.
But the subject is not pleasant one,
and will not pursue it. A few days will
determine whether the Black Republic
cans are successful, or the contest is to be
transferred to the House of Representa-
! tives. If the latter, ! shall have strong
hopes of the election of Mr.. BELL, pro-
vided he enters that body backed by
something like a solid Southern support.
He is regarded at the North as a sound,
conservative Statesman, and if there were
but the two candidates in the field-Iin-
coin and Bell-thc election of the latter
wauld be comparatively easy. A united
South upon a man of Mr.. Bells matured
Craftsmanship and well known conserva-
tism would have attracted all the conser-
vative and moderate men of the non
slaveholding section, and secured his cleo
ton, while w,ited South upon a candi-
date representing like Mr.. Breckenridge,
the ultra party, could have no other ef-
feet than to consolidate the anti-slavery
vote, neutralzc the moderate men, and
make the success of the Black Republic
can candidates more than probable. Such
is the view of the best men here and
heartily subscribe to it.
The crowd is beginning to gather, and
as stirring events are anticipated a null
titude will be at the Federal Capitol by
the first of December. President Buch-
anan, the last, and perhaps the least, of
the dynasty inauguratcd in 1929, Is bust
ly engaged preparing his message. What
ever else history may record of Mr..
Buchanan, it can truthfully be said of him
that he was eminently successful in es-
tranging and alternating his friends, and
in strengthening and making formidable
his political opponents. George Wash
ington was the first President of the Uni
ted States. A few months will determine
whether on the leaf of history the name
of James Buchanan shall be enrolled as
the last. %x*
DGy" But a few weeks ago the Brec<in-
ridgers claimed nearly every State in the
South for their candidate. They now
claim, we believe, about half the States.
If Democrats continue to do as many of
them have done, they will not get a sin
gle State, except, perhaps, South Carroll
ma. In Fauquier county, Va, the other
day, we are told that three hundred of them
deserted Mr.. breckenridge and come
over to Bell. Encouraging. very.
DGs~ We would impress upon the pub
lie recolection that Jomes Ruchouon