The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-03-01
The Twentv.Second.

by . brilliant sun and n cloudless sky; heaven
suspicicusly smiling upon our purpose, grim Win
ter surrendered his dominion, and genial Summer
reigned. The balmy zephyrs unfolding the star
sPangled embloins of nationality which aoated
over cvery village street, joyousy whispered the
deathiess name Of WAsurSaroS. At an carly
hour our principal thoroushfarcs were ibronged
with citizens and strangers, many of whom had
arrived the previous day. Now and then troop
OF horsemcn from some remote portion Of the
county would thunder into town, with banners
waving and shouts o. Liberty and Union, one
md inscparnblc, now and forcvcr" Atttn o'clock,
Maj. Willie Lowry, assisted by his efficient aids,
Col. Lowry and Lieut.. wilkins ana others, mar
shaled our mounted citizens into procession and
proceeded to meet tho very large and respectable
delegations from the right loyal county of Mcigs.
Having united with the Meigs delegations, and
receiving continual accessons from other couu-
ties, the procession returned to town, preceded by
the Cleveland and Athens Brass Bands playing
national airs, and bearing aloft several magnifi-
cent banners. On arriving in the Public
Square, the delegations from other counties were
welcomed in brief address by the Committee of
Arrangements to which Mr. Peak, of Meigs re-
spOndcd with an eloquent and patriotic spccch
Immediately after which the horse were dismissed,
when a splendid procession, headed by ladies, and
preceded by thirty-four beautiful girls from the
"Athens Female College" representing respective
~ the several States of the American Union, each
! particular star of this beautcous and brilliant
constellation bearing nm appropriate banner, and
accompanied by band of music were marshalcd
by Capts. Paul McDcrmott and Frank Wylie
through College, down Jackson TO Washington
street, and thence to the seats prepared for them
in the Public Square, Immediately in front of the
rostrum which had been erected in close proxmi-
| ty to the halls of public justice. The Hon. ]. b.
Cooke hav ng arrived with his juvenile infantry,
equipped with innumerabc banners and prepared
| for any emergency, order restored through
| out the vast asscmblagc, and Rev. w. II. Bates
arose and offered most solemn and feeling in
vocation to the God of our Understanding
grateful alteration for the gift of a Washington
for the unexampled prosperity and happiness
which as people we have enjoyed, and inporing
His omnipotent intervention to avert the terrible
dangers portending our doom as nation. During
the earnest prayer of Mr.. d. many persons were
melted to tears. The young ladies representing
| the thirty -four stars emblazoned on the American
flag, now sung the "Star Spnnglcd Banner at
the conclusion of which the Band struck up Hail
Columbia" Geo. W. Bridges, Esq, was then in
| troduced to read tho Farewell Address of Wash
ington to his countrymcn.' After paying an elo-
quent tribute to the worth of that mastery pro-
duction which he characterised as the best docu-
mcnt of the kind which has ever found preserva-
ton in the archives of nation or been transmit
ted to people, in consequence of the advance of
the day, the length of the address he was expect
ed to read the uncomfortable position of the au-
diencc, most Of whom were compelled to stand
erect for want of seats, and in justice TO the gen
| tcmnn who was to follow him, he begged to be
| excused from reading that cstmablc pnper-every
sentiment of which he cordially endorsed and
recommended to the attentive perusal and careful
| study of every American citizen. Mr.. d. con-
| cludcd by proposing as n sentiment-"The ladies
who have favored us to-day with their pres
cnce--whosc voices have stirred our sous-whose
anthem has kindled to bright burning the fires
upon the affairs of our country: Unqucstioned is
| their devotion u the precious legacy, purchased
| with the blood of our fathers bedcwed with the
| tears Of our mothers that the ladies to-day are
ready to emulate the heroic virtues and unlailing
| devotion of the women of the revolution, no Ten
ncssce son, husband, father brother or lover
doubts'-which was enthusiastically endorsed by
the male portion of the immense assembly.
| After music from the Bands, Rev. Geo. A.
Caldwell was introduced, and for an hour and a
half held spcll.bound multitude the outer cir
cumfercnce of which his voice would scarcely
reach with distinctness, with an Grafton, which,
for richness Of thought, incident and pathos, was
Incompatible. After cursory view of the early
history of the immortal man the anniversary of
whose birth we had met to commemorate, he
spoke of those sterling virtues SO early and I'M
mstakably developed, which, in after life, render
| ed him SO eminent as a christian gentleman,
4 model hero, patriot, sage and statesman. lie
dwelt in rapturous terms upon the most eventful
epochs in his life. In conclusion he called especial
attention to his prophetic warning, when depicting
the danger of sectional luminosity" now so rife.
lie begged his hearers to heed the voice of the
great and good Washington, the disinterested de.
votee to his country, where he counsels his coun-
trymen and posterity to rcsist every effort, from
whatever source emanating, which tends to weak
en- the bonds of union" declaring with almost the
last words he addressed to the American people,
| that they should "accustom themselves, often, to
think of the Union of the States as the very pal
adium of their liberty and so teach their chill
| dren, and never for moment allowing themselves
to contemplate the probability of its dismember-
ment." He exposed the contemplate faaoy of
secession. In whitening terms he rcbukcd the
syren voice of political heresy; he explained with
bold fidelity what rebellion means; with startling
colors he portrayed the fearful and irrevocable
fate which awaits us as nation and individuals
| If we heed not the warning voice Of Washington,
and madly precipiatc ourselves into the terrible
chasm which threatens to engulph us in one COM
mon ruin. Secession, he said, had its origin with
"Lucifer, who seeded from the courts of Heaven"
and who. he maintained having comprised his
own irrctrievabe ruin, like the MANNED fox of
| Esop's fable, had been preaching secession ever
since But any attempt by us to describe the
happy effort made by the orator of the day would
| do him injustice. Suffice it TO say, his words
reached the hearts of his audience, and their judg-
was cordially endorsed by every loyal citizen
whose privilege II was to hear him. lie surpass-
ed the expectations of his numerous admirers.
| AT the conclusion of the grafton, the benedic-
ton was pronounced by Rev. DIR. Rowley, when
the thousands of patriots who participated with
us in commemorating the anniversary Of the birth
of him who hath fifty been styled the first in war,
first In neace and first In tho hearts nf h;s coun