The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-02-15
Communication.

Editor Of the Athens Pod:-Dear sir; Many
Of my old Wing friends have felt themselves graf
flied in my defeat after giving me false position
relative 20 the question II secession. hope /
will be allowed this last act Of justice to place my
self right through your columns. ! have ever
thought the South acted too hasty in their reyo-
lutonary movements. That the North have act
ed wrong in their legislative acts multiplying the
laws Of Congress relative to fugitive slaves, there
can be no doubt. But thought the South should
have remained in the Union, and our members Of
Congress should have been found at their posts
battling for satisfactory adjustment by way of
amendments to the Constitution so definite and
plain that there could be difficulty in their in
depreciation. While feard that the North would
never agree to such amendments, as u large ma
jority were educated to believe that slavery was
morally wrong, and from the fact that their sec
tional party was built upon the idea Of abolition,
and the instant they made the compromise the
South demanded by amendments to the Constitu-
ton their party must instantly 60 down, still,
thought Tennessee should remain firm in the
Union and strive for II compromise while hope
remained. 1t will be remembered that | had
taken my position long before any other candi-
dates had come out, aud written my sentiments
upon paper. | consulted no party as to the pro-
priety Of becoming a candidate, but desired to
run, not as a partizan, but as an honest man,
looking alone to the good Of my country. That
/ should have been linked with other candidates,
or with any peculiar ticket, or in any wise mis-
S1SIesented relative to my position, | think was
Every man in this county must see at
4Esfny dcfestwas owing to my being thus
rssented. 1t is true that did not yield to
lh5mi2ssssv the Convention, believing that it
waytih -t;mly gotten up. If all parties had been
fairly consulted and the entire people publicly no.
tilted and represented, | should have considered
it patriotic to yield to the choice of the people.
still think while we indulge in the practice Of
bringing out candidates for Office by Conventions,
gotten up without public notice, districts not rep
resented by equal numbers, that it gives those
who have most time and tact TO engage in wire
working decided advantage. few men, in
this way, may set about and get up Convention,
with many good men into it, and thus give de-
cided advantage to favorite candidate, and not
unfrcquently weigh down talent that might be
useful. If the country possesses talent it should
certainly be suffered to rise to the surface and not
be crushed out by the action of few men who
are mostly guided by party spirit. 1t was mort-
fying to me, indeed, to meet venerable old friend
at the polls who Acknowledged that my father had
stood by him in days Of yore and he wanted to
help me, but that he had learned that | had
changed my position relative to the Union sent-
nent in my circular. This old friend agreed that
my circular was the best thing he had read since
the slavery question had been agitated, and was
every word of it right, but l suppose he voted
against me upon the false report that | had
changed my position. Hoping and believing that
the people will, upon due reflection, give me credit,
at least, for being honest and sound upon the is.
sues involved in the canvass, suffer TO say that
although have been beat by this false report, of
having changed, that am not dead yet, and you
shall hear from me again. j. r. HURST.