The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-04-05

tS-lour otates. we occupy front rank
among the nations of the earth. The
white-winged sails of our commerce COW
er every sea: the stars and stripes, the
ilag OF the Union, j, waited by every
breeze, into every port under the sun.
and where ever uniurled is honored and
respected. The American citizen, how
ever humble. knows, whether at home or
abroad, on the land or on the seas, the
strong arm of Government is over him to
guard and protect. He feels that he is
AN American citizen.
For such Government as this will not
gentlemen forget their party feuds and
rise superior to their miserable party
platforms, remembering that, while they
have a party TO serve. they have country
to save? Of what use will your mscra-
BILE platforms be when civil war. with all
its horrors has swept over the land, not
only in its maddening course, overturn-
ing the Government of our fathers but
blotting olt forever the last hope of lib
erty throughout the world?
have been astonished, the present
| session of Congress, to see the apparent
indifference manifested by the Rcpubli-
can members of this House. State after
State has gone out and others preparing
TO go. Whether rightfully or wronglully,
they have gone. Business of every kind
is prostrated; commerce paralyzed; the
whole country upon the verge of bank
| ruptcy; and the Government of the
| United States forced to ask the endorse
ment of her bonds by the States, that
they may find purchaser in the market
at a heavy discount. And yet, gentle
men affect to believe that all this is mere
1,-, ~ g
importance that will soon pass away
The vote of Virginia, which was the first
to stay the tide of secession; the over
whclming and crushing defeat of the
precipitators in Tennessee, and then in
Missouri are seized upon by some men
in the North, and urged as evidence of
determination on the part of those
| States to consent to the doctrines and
principles of the Republican party.
| beg all such to undeceve themselves.
have no right to speak for the proud old
State of Virginia, the memory of whose
mighty dead has been vindicated by her
noble sons, who have put the seal Of their
/ condemnation upon sectionalism North
and South: but for Tennessee | may ven
lure to say that no such Interpretation
can be given to her vote on the 9th of
| February. She has rights under the
Constitution, and in the Union, which
no true son of hers will ever basely surren-
der at the bidding ofany power on earth
BY her vote, Tennessee appeals to the
conservative element of the whole coun-
| try, to come to the rescue of the Consti-
tuition and Union: not with fire and
sword, not with the switt-wnged mcssen-
gers of death, but with the principles of
| concession and compromise, which should
characterize the action of great and
free people. Shall that appeal be in vain
to both sectional parties? DO gentlemen
prefer peGca to war: Do they prefer
united to divided people: Do they pre-
! fer un ion TO disunlon?
am satisfied there are mcn, North
and South, who have long hbored for
| the destruction of this. the best govern
mcnt on carthi and unless the people, by
whom and for whom the Government
was made, interpose, fear these agitl-
| tors will accomplish their lonr-cherished
and wicked designs. The people are
| decnlv interested in the settlement Of
| the vexed question of slavery, the agila,
| ton of which more seriously affects them
than the men who occupy high places in
| the Government. If war results from
/ lllt ttNIul VI tHt l'pllllNIdll-. INC VI Nv Z
and hardy sons of toll are the ones to
meet the issue then. If any foreign Gov
| ernment had nsulted our ilag, the ques-
| ton would be quite a different one; but
| to place one section of great country
! like ours in hostile array against the
4 other, for causes such as now distract our
/ people. and thus by war destroy the peo-
! Die of both sections, is too monstTous to
! T.. aI,nt,ll l,apn
no other object than to guard, protect,
and advance the interests and happiness
| of the governed and those who have
sought and obtained the confidence OF
| the people should remember that
"Princes and lords may flourish or may fade
A breath can make them, as breath has made
But brave people, their countrys pride,
! When once destroyed, can never be supplied
appeal to the Representatives of the
people upon this floor to avert the impend-
ing storm. | ask you, in the name oi
n common country, Of humanity, and OF
! liberty itself to settle the difficulties
Shall we, when we leave this noble edi,
flee. these gorgeous marble Halls, look
for the last time upon the proud flag OF
the Union. waving from the dome Of this
| Capitol? Shall column after column OF
/ this the noblcst and best Government ev.
er devised by man crumble and tall, be,
cause the representatives Of the people
prefer some miserable dogma to the Con,
| stitu,ion of our fathers, and the best in
terests of thirty-onc million trecmen =
| Forbid it, my countrymen; forbid it.
| Heaven! If it wele possible for the spir-
| its of the departed good and great to re.
visit this earth and participate in the al,
fairs of men, | would implore them tc
bend the vaulted heavens and come
| down. and shed the light Of other days
around US. Shall we have no settlement
no compromise? Shall the dark ana low
ering clouds of revolution continue tc
sweep over our once happy land? vii
this House adjourn, refusing to do any
thing? We have already the action o
some of the States, moving in the righ
direction, in the repeal and modification
of their personal liberty bills; and ovel
one million petitioners have implored u
to adjust ana settle the difficulties. vii
! you do it! ...
If the wild passions OF party have Sc
blinded Representatives, North and South
as to induce them to refuse concession
compromise, and settlement, |, for one
will appeal from your partisan and preju
diced decision to the people of the Uni
ted States, feeling unwilling that thi
government, which cost the toll and sui
ferng of seven years, shall be DESTROYED
by the politicians and demagogucs VIII,
infest this Capitol. i am satisfied tha
appeal will not be in vain. The recollec
tions OF the past, the antieipat;ons of tn
future. the certainty that we cannot bet
ter our condition by destroying this Gov
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