The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-07-12
I,iuoolu's Message,

vi hDIhuuin AtinNOth s&&N'Ss'ES ~ ssaS
Black Republican Congress which Assem-.
bled at Washington, in extraordinary ses-
sion. on the 4th instant. We would have
preferred to publish the message in full,
but the hour at which 1t was received,
and its length, prevent us from doing so
without excluding all other and equally
important matter from on columns
Besides, on reading the full copy CAREFUL
ly, we find that the Abstract, which we
present, embraces all the main points and
features of the original and singulsrly
extraordinary document. This message,
to our reading, is clear, firm and decided
in its spirit, tone, and policy. 1t is free
from the ambiguity and glittering gener-
alities of the Inaugural. No hope of peace
or settlement, short Of the conquest and
subjugation of the "ccbei States" finds
a breathing place in any Of its Periods
Abe's dander is up, and his leading idea
is War, horrible and dcsoiatine, and the
means whcrewith to prosecute it. Give
nae men, and give me money, specially
money" says Abraham the First, land
I'll put the machine through, or bust her
wide OPEN" Four hundred thousand
men, and four hundred millions of dollars
is the moderate demand of tho mo4e"s~,
.---.~-.rautcu VIII the consolatory remark
that a national debt of six or eight hun.
bred millions would be small affair CON-
pared with some other things that might
possibly happen in this wicked and ever
changing world-such, for instance, as
the destruction OF the Black Republican
party and the defeat of the leading and
long -cherished idea of Mr.. Seward that
the States must be all Free, and none
Slave.
In regard to the position of Neutrality,
over which hesitating and timid minds
have been dosing and purring, the mes
sage is equally pertinent and positive, and
distinctly and emphatically denounces it
as infinitely worse than bold and open
Secession or Disunion. In word, Mr..
Lincoln says, in plain and unmistaSable
language, that such as are not for him are
against him-that there can be no neu-
trail ground, no halfway house where the
weak-kneed and calculating may take re-
fuge, and escape the storms and perils
that are to be launched upon the heads
of their less prudent and holder neigh
bors. And we are thankful for the dis
tinctness on this point, as it knocks the
last plank from under a class who are do
ing much to protract the war and prevent
speedy settlement. 1t was brilliant
conception at the start, that State could
ignore and doff its obligations and ale.
glance to the Federal Government, and
when the "rebels" should be crushed out
and the contest ended, resume them
again at will. 1t is poltroonish, and must
have had its origin in deficiency of that
moral courage which elevates man above
the lower animals. Abraham, however,
settles the point-with half million of
bayone,s and half billion of dollars, he
wont tolerate the doctrine Of Neutrality
for moment. You must 60 the whole
Black Republican policy of subiugation,
with the doctrines Of the Chicago plat
form at the end, take the consequences
due to 'rebels." There is no msarpre
bending the tone and spirit of the mes
sage in that respect, and Southern mcr
who hesitate longer will be damned be
yond hope.
The message, also, discusses and denie.
the doctrine of State Sovereignty, thu.
placing the South now and forever at the
mercy of the overshadowing anti-slavery
power. Recently while standing on Ar
lington Heights and pointing towards
Washington, Nathaniel P. Banks, of Mas
sachusetts, and now one of Lincoln's Gen
erals, is reported to have remarked: "7Hi
is the last Of his GOuernment-hcre il ends
and another and different one wal take lis place.
Leading Black Republican journals open
ly advocate the oblteration of all Stat,
lines and the concentration of all powe
in Great Central Despotism, resting, no
upon the consent and affections of tn,
people, but upon bayonets and cannon
And whoever reads Mr.. Lincoln's argu
ment against State Sovereignty carefully
will find the same idea underlying it.
1t remains to be seen whether tn
Black Republican Congress will respont
to the extraordinary demand of the Blacl
Republican President. If it should, un
less the Southern Generals at once tax,
the initiative and lead their armies acros
the Potamac, we may make up our mind
for long and desolating war, in which
the energies and life-blood of both sec
tons will be well nigh exhausted.
We repeat, the letter, tone and spirit 0
the message is plain, distinct and unequi
vocal as to the policy of the Black Re
publican administration; and that no
only the independence, but the very ex
istence Of the slave States is involved il
the contest. This is SO palpable, that i
there is single man in our midst who
can longer hesitate as to the position h'
ought to occupy, from the bottom of ou
heart we pity him-pity him for the pre-
Ijudice which obscures his vision and tn,
faulty that is leading him blindfold t,
the camp of the common enemy.
Fugitive Slaves.
Lovejoy offered tho following resolu
ton in the House of Representatives, a
Washington, on the 9th:
THAT it is no part of the duty of tn
army to capture and return fugitive slaves
and to direct the Judiciary Committee t.
inquire into the expediency of repeating
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