Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-12
ED1roRLAL coRREspoNpENcE
rho Speaking at Athens-lThe BeIf men
CharFe Herses.

LA4Iocag
CnrArrAsooeA, Friday. Aug TO- 1860
] was at Athens today and heard part Of the an
Eicipated discussion. WHIrrHoaxE Democratic State
Elector, HorKISs, DoUGI.As Assistant, and BRABsoN
BELL member of Congress, were all on hand having
spoken the day before at Washington. Col BRAIsox.
however, refused TO speak to-day or at any further
appointments, stating that he was unwel, had inn
portant business at home and that il was the duty
Of the BELL District Eleetor, Mr. CALDWELL, who
lives in Athens, 70 fill Col. TATIoRs vacancy When
these appointments were agreed upon between Gov
Brown and myself the understanding was that, in
the event Col TAYLOR should fail or decline to act
as an Electoral candidate any other gentleman that
the Opposition Executive Committee might designate
would accompany Mr.. WHrTTHoRxE until the
regular State Elector appeared. When Colonel
BRABsoS began the canvass at Jasper it was UNDER
stood by Mr.. WHITTHOESE and myself that Col B.
would continue it until Col TAYLOR appear
ed it being understood that Col. T. was detained
at home by sickness IN his family. Col. BRABsox.
however, stated that his agreement was to 90 until
he met his Elector, and that was Mr.. CALDWELL
WHITTHoRNE agreed that Mr.. CALDWELL should take
Col. BRABsoSs place, although Mr. CALDWELL. would
agree to accompany him only to MadIsonville
and Maryville. If Col TAYLOR does not leave home
in time to meet them another change will have to
occur at Knoxville. WHITTHoRyE in opening his
speech stated the agreement he understood it, at
Nashville and Jasper, and spoke of the urfairness
in being required to meet in his extended trip diff
ferent opponents He then stated that henceforth
he was willing that the agreement should be con-
sidered annuled and he would stand ready to admit
any and as MANY antlaraar into tho discussion
the Opposition might desire He then proceeded
with his argument vvidIy portraying the continued
growth and aggressions of Black Republicanism and
showing the completely of Mr.. BELL in yielding to
that Northern fanaticism which now demands OF
us total surrender of our rights of property and
an acknowledgement of the equality of the Negro
with the white race He showed how Mr.. DOUGLAS
who had once bravely breasted the Abolition storm
had in 1858 bowed before the gale and had never
yet recovered his former upright position; how he
had once planted himself on the doctrine of Con
| gressional non-intervention but was now stumpine
the Union in favor oftertorial intervention although
the Supreme Court has in many words declared
shat if Congress cannot interfere the Territorial
Legislature which is authorized by it cannot inter
fere He showed the falsity of the charge that the
Democratic platform or candidates demand a slave
code or protection to establish slavery in the terrific
ries but that the Democracy had agreed upon th'
doctrine of non-intervention it the duty of thC
Federal Government to protect from interren
ton by Congress, by territorial legislature or BY
JOHN Brown raids He then alluded in glowing anC
eloquent terms to the past history and present pc
sition of our candidates. do not pretend to giy'
you the language cannot go into the details of
argument. Suffice it to say, it was an effective
speech, scorching Bell-ism. Douglas-ism and Lin
colnism Mr. HOPKINS followed in behalf of Mr.. DoUG
las insisting that the supporters of BREcKNRIDGl
were Yancey-ites, DisuniOnists, slave-codetes anC
the like. WHITTHORNE throughout his speech receiV
ed the most unmistakable evidences of approva
from his democratic hearers. HOPKINS quite FIRE
quently gracefully accepted the plaudits of the Bell
ties They have been so enthusiastic in their prai
ses of his speeches. that their own advocate has no
received that attention from them that he was en-
titled to- We suppose that they are actuated by tn
doctrine that there is joy the BELL ranks owe
the repenuce yOf one democrat than over ninety AM
nine are who already BELL men. The departure O
the train prevented my hearing Mr.. CALDWELL Al
though WmTHORNE' S two opponents have three hour
and twenty minutes, to his one hOur and forty min
utes, you may rest assured that he gives their can
didates and their heretical doctrines rest. Tn
efforts of the DOUGLAS and BELL electors have bee
so exclusively directed to attacks upon BREcKR
RIDGE and LANE that the people are beginning to Sc
'the two pluck one" game that they are playing
The consequence is, many who would be glad Il
vote for Mr. DOUGLAS If he could be benefited by il
will not vote for him simply to aid Mr.. BELL in get
ting back into the United States Senate.
The crowd in attendance was very large, so mucl
so that the limited capacity of the Court House pre-
vented many from hearing; constant rain fallin!
so as to render speaking in the open air impossible
/ J c. B.