The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-03-15
Intolerance,

It's said, and We suspect with some de-
greo of truth, that in the States which
have broken of from their more prudent
and conservative sisters, there is growing
spirit of intolerance. No one can venture to
express doubt OF the proprety OF the
step tina, has been taken, or indulge fear
that it will result in injury, without sub
iec,ing himself not only to the charge oil
disloyal,y to his section, bu. of being tine
tured with anti.slavery sentiments, and
rs worthy to be spotted and Marked
This is the worst Of oppression-a species
of tyranny which burns in the hearts OF its
victims while it can never subdue them,
and against which they will ultimately re-.
volt with crushing and consuming power.
But while this spirit Of intolerance is be-
coming rampant in tho Seeding States,
there are other sections where it occa-
sionaly shows Itself. For instance, in this
and other OF the Border States, where the
Union sentiment is strong and the people
are slow to discover and learn that they
have been badly treated and sorely OPP
pressed by the Federal Government
where the Constitution AMI Covenant OF
the Fathers is still cherished and revered
even here there is a spice of that same
spirit of Intolerance, which admits of nc
difference of opinion ~ 10 existing dill
entities and threatens to ost.Acise and put
down all who hesitate as to the policy best
to be pursued for their adjustment. 1t Is
true, tho intolerant spirit here is not sc
strong as in the States alluded to- but sufii
GENTLY so, il not checked, to be produc
tic Of division and mischief. We have
heard men charged with being disunion
lists simply because they expressed thu
opinion that the Free States ought t.
give special guarantees to the South OF
the subject Of slavery-and, on the othe
hand. we have heard Others denounce,
as coercionists and branded as traitors t,
their section because of the expression
that there was power lodged somcwher
in the government competent FOR its pre-
servation, maintaining the laws and W
holding and enforcing the provisions q
the Constitution. Now this is really tn
same spirit which we condemn in the Sc
cessionists-i as intolerant and repre-
honsible and altogether at variance witt
the freedom of thought and speech, tn
essence and substance of free govern
mcnt. The men who entertain and cult
vatc such narrow and bigotted views,
farther South would be run mad disunior
ists-if they lived in an anti slavery al
mosphcrc, they would be anti.slavery ia
natics of the Garrison school; and it onl
requires change of location and cilcunl
stances to make them just the reverse @
what they are now Your narrow, con
ceitcd dogmatical and opinionated minds
with large zeal and no liberality, rcfusin
to others the same honesty of purpos
they claim for themselves, are the sort @
material out of which fanatics are made
and while they may be sincere for the mo
ment, are never to be relied on. never t.
be trusted in times of great peril and trou
bic, and are always unsafe and unwis
counsellors.
| We alludc to it for no other reason THAI
the regret we have to see such spiri
ma ltcsting itself, and because we know
if not checked, it will be productive O
much harm.