The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-04-19
The War Commenced.

menced last FRIDAY, anu was kept up un-
til Saturday, when Maj. Anderson, after
gallant and vigorous resistance, surren-
dered and was permitted to take ship
ping with his men for New York. Par.
ticulars of the affair, as far as they have
reached us, will be found elsewhere in
our columns.
Immediately on the receipt Of the re-
suit Of the fight in the harbor Of Char.
lesion, President Lincoln issued his
Proclamation declaring the state Of
affairs, and calling for $4,000 troops tc
aid in the war. A correct copy of the
Proclamation appears in another part Of
tho paper.
As to who were the aggressors-who
were mainly instrumental in bringing the
first gun at Charleston, it is not important
or proper to discuss at this moment. The
Black Republican Administration has act.
ed with duplicity and bad faith to such
of the slave States as evidenced dispo-
sition to cling to the Union, and at mo-
ment when they were led to look hopeful
ly for peaceful solution, it lifts the cur
tain and invites them to a feast of blood
and carnage. War between the sections
has been inaugurated, and Tennessee can
not long remain an idle and quiescent
spectator of the contest. We have no
suggestions to make as to the course to be
pursued. When The secession movement
commenced, we assumed the ground that
a Convention should be called. not to
pass an ordinance of secession. but to put
the State in position to command re-
spect and strength in the settlement OF
the question, and, in the event of fail
ure, to be prepared to take care of its in
terests and its honor in whatever emer-
gency might arise. A large majority OF
the people, however, thought different
policy best, and so determined.
Action is longer unavoidable. 1t is be-
lieved the Governor will call the Legisla-
ture together in few days, as nothing
but prompt and decisive steps can dis
pei the illusion of the Administration in
-..n-d to receiving moral and material
aid from the border slave States ana pro
rehrthe most fearful consequences. In
the meanwhile, we hope the system of
senseless wrangling and disputation that
is prevailing about the streets, will cease,
and that all good citizens will hold them
selves ready to respond heartily to what
ever measures may be deemed necessary
to protect and preserve the honor, inter-
est and welfare of their STATE. We will
also remark that the State is solemnly
pledged, by its Legislature, and by the
People IN their primary meetings, to re.
sist Coercion, to the death if necessary.
Bearing upon the subject, we suboin
Monday:
at will be seen from the dispatches on
the next page that Fort Sumter has fallen,
and that the President has summoned
Congress to meet in extra session on the
4th of July. The tenor of the dispatches,
we are sorry TO say. hardly .justities the
hopeful opinion of the future we have
expressed elsewhere in our paper. Yet
We do not despair. We. however, mus. de-
fer all comment for the present.
The converting of Congress in special
session imposes on the Governor of Ken
lucky the duty Of ordering special cleo
ton of Congressman in the State. His
Excelency will of course take the sub
ject into immediate consideration. We
venture to suggest that this special cleo
ton might with great propriety be held
on the same day with the election of dele
gates to the Border Conference.
Since writing the paragraph above. the
Geographic reports of the Presidents
Proclamation has reached us. We are
struck with mingled anazement and IN
dignation. The policy announced in the
Proclamation deserves the unqualified
condemnation of every American citizen.
1t is unworthy not merely of n states
man, but of man. 1t is policy utterly
hair-braned and ruinous. If Mr.. Lin
coin contemplated this policy in the in
augural address, he is guilty dissembler:
If he has conceived it under the excite.
ment raised by the seizure of Fort Sum.
ter, he is guilty hotspur. In either case,
he is miserably unfit for the exalted posi-
ton in which the enemies of the country
have placed him. Let the people instant
ly take him and his Administration into
their own hands if they would rescue the
land from bloodshed, and the Union from
sudden and irretrievable destruction"
B0- On "Wednesday evening, and after
the above article was in type, we received
the Petersburg Express containing the fol-
lowing despatch. We hardly think Mr.
Lincoln will get airy troops from this di-
rection:
WASHINGTON, April l5.-The following
quotas of troops are required by the Sec
rotary of War from the States named:
From Maine $50; New Hampshire $50;
Vermont $50; Rhode Island $50: Con.
necticut $50; New York 1920; Pennsyl
vania 1880; New Jersey 3,l22; Della
ware $50; Maryland 3. 1913; Virginia 2 $40.
North Carolina 1850; Tennessee 1850;
Arkansas $50; Kentucky 3,l23; Missouri
3.l23; Illinois 1853; Indiana 4,GS3; Ohio
10,l50; Michigan $50; Wisconsin $50:
Iowa $50; Minnesota $50.
The Secretary Of War has accepted by
telegraph the services of one thousand |
men from Rhode Island, and directed |
them to proceed to Washington without
delay. |
Twenty thousand troops will probably |
be concentrated here in few days.
The Stay Law.