The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-01-25
Ashens, friday, January rs, isei.
T,egislatiyo,

In tho House, the report of the Com
mittee on Federal Relations was adopted.
The report provides for assembling of a
Convention of all the slnve-bolding States
at Nashville, on the 18th February, &C.
The House refused to reconsider the vote
the Conventional Interest bill.
House bill prescribing the remedy for the
collection Of debts, and relief for the peo-
pie, was amended in various particulars,
and then passed on its third and final
reading in the House by sections, except
the fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and ff-
teenth sections, which were rejected.
The Convention Bill.
The Convention Bill, as it passed both
houses of the General Assembly, will be
found in our columns today. 1t provides
that an election for delegates shall be held
on the 9th of February, and that the
Convention Shall assemble on the 25th of
the same month. The reader is referred
to the Bill.
: We find good many people here OPP
posed to Convention being held-and
who will probably so vote. For ourself,
we shall vote for the Convention, believing
the necessity for its assembling is impera-
tive. in order to prevent the State from
being dragged into the vortex of revolu-
ton Events track each other so rapidly,
that the question has been materially
changed within the last three or four
weeks, and what month ago might have
been the wisest and safest policy in view
of the then existing state of things,
would now prove hurtful and destructive.
Had the sece ss;on movement confined
itself to one or two States, there might
not have been any necessity for Tennes-
see assembling in Convention, or taking
any other decided action in the premises.
But six of the Cotton States have already
declared themselves out of the Union,
and the remaining two, Texas and Ar
kansas, will follow by the fourth OF March.
Virginia, we regret to say, is tending in
the same direction. The South is in a
state of revolution, and the current is
daily widening and deepening. And
while such is the actual condition of af-
fairs South, the Northern States, or at
least the moro ultra of them, are re-or-
ganizing their militia, and rendering nc.
ney and men for warlike purposes. There
is revolution, bloodless as yet, but real
actual, on the one side, and preparations
of hostile character on the other. With
such state of affairs surrounding lis and
permeating our borders, and civil war
looming up behind we are told the poll
cy should be non-aotion-that Tennessee
and Kentucky should stand still, with
E,lalcd aruas, and let events shape and
take care of themselves. We do not, of
course, question the devotion, the SINGER
ity and patriotism of the men who pro-
pose such policy. But they are fatally,
ruinously, mistaken. These two States,
Kentucky and Tennessee, have mission
to perform, the highest and most impor-
tant ever devolved upon any people
They must keep the peace between the
hostile sections, and, ifpossible, work out
n plan Of adjustment and reconstruction.
Surely the object is worthy an effort, a
living, breathing effort. Success can only
come through action-while non-action,
"masterly inactivity" can result in moth
ing but distractions and divisions among
ourselves. Such is our POOR opinion, from
. view of the rapid tendency to gen.
eral disruption, and we hope our friends,
instead of frittering away the short time
allowed in discussing Convention" or
"No Convention" will get up with the
current of events, and concentrate upon
the right sort of delegates. A do-noth-
ing, stand still policy will involve the
State in the revolution in less than thirty
days, and precipitate the very condition
of affairs which the "No-Conventionists"
wish to avoid. Here in East Tennessee,
We all agree in the desire for an adjust
ment of existing difficulties and II recon
struction upon more harmonious and
VIC oul( oiItT uS W tut
best meansof attaining that object.
In 'egard to the selection of delegates,
the time is too short to expect perfect
concert of action; but we do hope the
people in each Senatorial and Represent
tive District will concentrate upon some
good and reliable man, in whose judg-
nnant firn,nos, and efrono capca tba,, an >,
rely in any emergency that may arise:-
Tor between the election and the day APP
pointed for the Convention to assemble,
events may occur which those occupying
The most favorable stand-points do not
n ow anticipate. Two gentlemen have al
ready announced themselves as candi-
lates. Others are being spoken of and
urged to run. Among them, M. P. JAR
nagin, Jas. d. Cooke, VIM. II. Ballew,
John McGaughey. and A. Blizzard. We
10 not think it is a position any man
hculd seek-unIess he feels within him
he ability and firmness to stand up and
against whatever odds or inflr- |
,nces may be presented, for the best in
erests and safety of his country and his
State. As we have been engaged in pub
fishing party paper for twelve years,
md Ms IT is matter peculiarly for the
,eorle to determine, free and unbiased,
We have no disposition to name or indi-
ate the man, or men, they should select
s csndidates. But we can say this much:
hat we will not support any man, not if