The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-04-12
Want of Confidence,

One OF the most lfreparabie evils grow
ing out Of the partial dismembermen of
our Union, says the "National Tntelligen-
cer," is found in the fact that secession"
accomplished for the reasons assigned
and in the way actually pursued, has de-
stroyed the popular confidence in all hui
man arrangements under the head of
civil government. 1t is in evidence of
this sentiment that the La Grange (Ga.)
"Reporter" of the Odd instant holds the
following language:
1--WE have seen party destroy the noblest
Government ever formed by man, and it
was expected that we should avoid in the
new Government the old conflicts which
brought about that destruction; but in a
spirit of sorrow and regret we chronicle
the introduction of the same controlling
elements of the old Union Except Aboli-
tionism) into the Southern Confederacy;
and therefore we feel no assurance that
our new Government will prove a perma-
nent one--especially as the right of seces-
sion is one of its acknowledged principles.
In short, it is our candid opinion that
Secession and Democracy will burst up
I1e IDOuUntTU SOIlltucibCy III itso
a quarter of century, if tolerated to any
great extent. 1t is our humble opinion
that, as the States of this Confederacy are
so identical in interests and institutions,
every provision should have been made
for its perpetuity. and that the Govern
ment ought to have been made so strong
as to possess the power OF resisting all
attempts to break it up, except by revolu-
ton and resort to arms on the part OF re-
fractory States, which will never be re-
sorted to if the rights OF the States are
properly guarded in the Constitution, as
we believe them to be in our new Consti-
tuition. If all this had been done, and
old parties obliterated, we would consider
this permanent Governments"
If such is the judgment pronounced
upon secession by those who live in the
immediate prospect of its results, we may
read in the following observations of the
Rio de Janeiro Journal dc Commercto the
plying verdict of foreign nations. That
paper says:
at is sad and melancholy to see {
powerful nation lacerate and reduce itsel
| to wretchedness, and break the Unior
which made its strength. Yet it is Q
spectacle which soon, perhaps, the Unitec
States may offer to the world, descending
from the height of one of the first nations
of the globe TO the level Of second ra''
powers. Divided and weakened, its voice
shall not be heard in the council OF thu
peoples, its sword shall not weigh in tn,
balance, and the only country where re
publicanism appeared allied with pros
pcrity will present, in its own misfortune
still another proof in favor of monarchic
al institutions. We may not despair, bu
if that ruin be consummated, which ma.
God folbid Brazil will be in America the
only country, and at the same time tn
only great nation, strong and united"
Patronizing the Almighty.
The Charleston Courier, in recent al
ticlc noticing and complimenting tn
chief actors in the disunion drama, close
thus: Nor can we fail to notice in al
especial manner the Distinguished partJou
| Ly Almighty God in this bloodless revolu
tionw
This furnishes the most forcble illus
tration we have seen, remarks the Gin
cinnatti Gazette, of the matchless egotsn
and sublime auGacity Of the Conloderates
1t is strictly in keeping with the vaunt
ing and vain glorious airs they have bee
assuming since the dawn of their new pc
litical millennium. Having, as they in
agined, brought the affrighted world t
their feet, it is meet that one of their OIL
gans should, in the first flush of victory
take occasion to pay a handsome compl
ment to the Almighty for the distinguish
ed services He had rendered but, wit
jealous discrimination, it guards agains
awarding Him more than what it COZ
ceives to be His share of the glory.