The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-03-16
intolerance.

tits said, and We suspect with some de-
gree Of truth, that in the States which
have broken off from their more prudent
and conservative sisters. there Is . growing
spirit Of intolerance. No one can venture to
express o doubt Of the propriety Of the
step that has been taken, or indulge fear
that II will result in injury, without sub
jeciing himself not only to the charge Of
disloyalty to his section, but Of being tinc-
tured with anti-slavery sentiments, and
rs worthy to be spotted and Marked
This is the worst of oppression-a species
of tyranny which burns in the hearts Of its
victims while it can never subdue them.
and against which they will ultimately re-
volt with crushing and consuming power.
But while this spirit Of intolerance is be-
coming rampant in the Seeding States,
there are other sections where it occa-
sionally shows Itself. For instance, in this
and other OF the Border States, where the
Union sentiment is strong and the people
are slow to discover and learn that they
have been badly treated and sorely OPP
pressed by the Federal Government
where the Constitution anil Covenant Of
the Fathers is still cherished and revered
even here there is a spice of that same
spirit Of Intolerance, which admits of no
difference Of opinion as to existing diff
culties and threatens to ostrncise and put
down all who hesitate as to the policy best
to be pursued for their adjustment. 1t is
true, tho intolerant spirit here is not SO
strong as in the States alluded to, but suffi.
GENTLY so, il not checked, to be produc-
tic of division and mischief. We have
heard men charged with being disunion-
lists simply because they expressed the
opinion that the Free States ought to
give special guarantees to the South on
the subject Of slavery--and, on the other
hand, we have heard others denounced
as coercionists and branded as traitors to
their section because of the expression
that there was power lodged somewhere
in the government competent Cor its pre-.
servation, maintaining the laws and up.
holding and enforcing the provisions Of
the Constitution. Now, this is really the
same spirit which we condemn in the Sc.
cessionists--just as intolerant and repre-.
hensible, and altogether at variance with
the freedom of thought and speech, the
essence and substance of free govern.
ment. The men who entertain and cult.
vate such narrow and bigotted views, il
farther South would be run mad disunion.
ists--if they lived in an anti slavery at.
mosphere, they would be anti-slavery ia.
natics of the Garrison school; and it only
requires change OBLIGATION and circum.
stances to make them just the reverse oil
what they are now. Your narrow, con.
ceited, dogmatical and opinionated minds
with large zeal and no liberality, refusing
to others the same honesty of purpose
they claim for themselves, are the sort Of
material out of which fanatics are made
and while they may be sincere for the mo-
ment, are never to be relied on, never to
be trusted in times of great peril and trou
BILE, and are always unsafe and unwise
counsellors.
We nllude to it for no other reason thar
the regret we have to see such spirit
ma 1ifesting itself, and because we know
if not checked, it will be productive o.
much harm.