The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-05-31
The Old Guard.

NASHVILLE BANNER,
And, in fact, the entire old Wing and OPP
ton press of Middle and West Tennes-
see. A thousand other names Of the
Old Guard could be mentioned who &C.
cupy the same position. And yet we are
told we should have left these, our old
leaders, friends, and fellow-laborers in
hundred harl fought struggles. and
struck off into the support OF the Black
Republican administration in its war OF
invasion and subjugation. Wings of the
Third Congressional District, if you are
still hesitating as to the course you should
take, we beg Of you not to vote against
your section. For twelve years we have
battled by your side. We have spent the
best days of our lie. and the best ener-
gies of our mind and body in fighting for
the principles which you believed were
correct, and which, if they had prevailed,
might have soyed your country. We
have never deceived you. Our skirts are
clean and our hands unstained. We
fought the fight and kept the faith while
there was any of hope and faith to fight
for and to keep. Let us now do the next
best thing--of the two evils choose the
lesser. The country is in the midst OF
Reyolution-a sectional war is raging
there are but two sides to the question
we must take. the one or the other-we
must side either with the North or the
South. The cry of Stand by the Union?
which you hear coming from the Free
Sol, States, is but the siren note to lull
YOU into the foul and deadly embraces
of Black Republicanism. The "Union"
no longer exists-it expired that day
wherein Abraham Lincoln, maddened
with the lust of power, issued his Procla-
nation calling for seventy-6ve thousand
troops to invade, overrun, conquer, seize'
hold and possess brave and gallant peo-
pie. The "Union Of your Fathers" is
with the past. A sectional despot sits in
the chair of WASHINGTON, and his Generals
and their legions camp round about the
Capitol and hold high revel in the Hall
and the Senate Chamber SO often made
musical with the eloquence of CLAY and
WEBSTER. Your young men of Tennessee
are rushing to the front of the fight
blood is beginning to flow on the plains
of Virginia-and shallwe say by our votes
on the 9Th of June that we have no sym.
pathy with the brave hearts that have
gone forth to meet the invader and de-
feat him before he reaches our own Dor
der? Shall we say to the Black Repub!i'
can troops, "re-double your efforts and
your blows, double shot your guns, and
re-whet your knives to drink the blood
of these Tennesseans." Will you do that
unnatural thing? God forbid that any Of
rs should cast such a vote as that, lei
others take what course they may!
Wings of the Third District above we
have printed the names of few of the
glorious Old Guard, who stand arrayed
against the War programme of Mr.. Lin
coin. And now who is it that is trying
under the specious cry of Union" tc
turn us in the other direction, to lure Us
into the Black Republican camp?
ANDREW JOHNSON,
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
The first an arch-demagogue who ha!
spent an entire life in planting the seeds
of agrarianism and cultivating class pre-
iudices. The other, the man who reopen
ed the slavery question and poured thu
present troubles on the land, and whose
followers and admirers are the most nois,
and blatant advocates of Lincoln's wa
policy to be found in the State. "Look OF
that picture, and then on this"
70 those of our old friends and politica
associates who are making up their minds
to vote against Separation, if there be an!
such, we again ask you to pause-to re
fect-and if you cannot overcome pre-
conceived opinions and prejudices, not t.
give vote which will unnerve the arm o
your own State Volunteers, and strength
en- and encourage the enemy. May yo'
have light to see the path Of duty ant
patriotism, and the 6rmness to tread it!