The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-02-15
The Commissioners Convention.


several States cooperating with Virgins
in the work of National preservation, wa
yesterday organized by the unanimou
election of the Hon. JonN TYLER as it
permanent President, and of the Hon. S
c. WRIGHT, of Ohio, as Secretary.
, In selecting, by acclamation, for thei
presiding officer the distinguished ex
President of the United States, the mem
bers of this dignified oody have conferred
an honor which will be as worthily worn
as it was gracefully profered, and the ap
propriateness of whose bestowal will be
recognised by their countrymen through
out the whole land 1t was fitting tha,
one who had swayed the destines of thi,
4 great people as the Chief Magistrate Of
the Union should preside over delibera.
tions which have for their object to pre-
serve the Union which our fathers crea-
ted.
And as affordng gratifying evidence OF
the patriotic inspirations under which, as
its President conceives, this Convention
of Delegates from so many States is called
to labor Tor the preservation of the Gov
ernment, We take pleasure in giving to our
readers the subjoihed authentic report OF
the eloquent and appropriate address de-
! llvered 10y Mr. Tyler on taking the chair
GENTLEMEN: / fear you have committed
a great error in appointing me to the
+ honorable position you have assigned me.
A long separation from all deliberative
bodies has rendered the rules Of their pro.
ceedIngs unfamiliar 10 me, while should
| find in my own state of health. variable
and tickle as it is, sufficient reason TO de
cline the honor of being your presiding
officer. But, in times like these, one has
but little option left. him. Personal con
siderations should. weigh but lightly in
the balance. The country is in danger;
it is enough one must take the place as
signed him in the great work OF reconcile
alton ard adjustment.
The voice OF Virginia has invited her
co-States to meet her Ill council. In the
initiation of this Government. that same
voice was heard and complied with, and
the results OF seventy-odd years have fully
attested the wisdom Of the decisions then
adopted. Is the urgency of her call now
less great than it was then? Our godlike
fathers created; we have to preserve
They built up through their wisdom and
patriotism monuments which have eter-
nzed their names. You have before you,
gentlemen. task equally grand, equally
sublime, quite as full Of glory and inn
mortality. You have to snatch from ruin
great and glorious Conederacy, to pre-
serve the Government, and to renew and
invigorate the Constitution. you reach
the height OF this great occasion your
chidrens children will rise up and call
you blessed. ! confess myself to be am
bilious OF sharing in the glory Of accom-
plishilng this igtand aud magnificent re-
I suit. fohaye our names enrolled in the
Capitol, to be repeated by future genera
tons with grateful applause, this is an
honor higher than the mountains, more
enduring than monumental .aIabnster.
Yes, Virginia's voice, as in the olden
time, has been heard. Her sister States
meet her this day at the council board.
Vermont is here, bringing with her the
memories of the past. and reviving in the
memories of all her Ethan Allen and his
demand for the surrender Of 'rconderoga
in the name Of the Great Jehovah and
the American Congress. New Hampshire
is here, her fame illustrated by memorable
annals. and still more latey as the birth
place of him who won for himself the
name of Defender OF the Constitution, and
who wrote that letter to John Taylor
which has been enshlined in the hearts
of his countrymen. Massachusetts is not
here. Some member said she is coming,
| hope SO, said Mr.. TYLER, and that she
will bring with her her daughter, Maine.
| did not believe it could well be that the
voice which in other times was so familiar
to her ears had been addressed to her in
vain. Connecticut is here, and she comes,
doubt not, in the spirit of Roger Sher-
man, whose name with our very children
has become household word, and who
was in life the embodiment of that sound
practical sense which BELTS the great law
giver and constructor OF governments.-
Rhode Island, the landof RogerW Wlliams,
is here, one Of the two last States, in her
jealousy of the public liberty, to give in
her adhesion TO the Constitution, and
among the earies, to hasten to its rescue.
The great Empie State Of New York, re-
presented thus far but by one delegate, is
expected daily in fuller force to join in
the great work OF healing the dscontents
of the times and restoring the reign of
lraternal feeling New Jersey is also here,
with the memories of the past covering
~, / n
immortal in story, the plains Of the last
incnmsoned with the hearts blood of Vir-
ginla's sons. Among her delegation
rejoice to recognise II gallant son OF u
sgner Of the immortal Declaration which
announced to the world that thirteen
Provinces had become thirteen indepen-
dent and sovereign States. And here is
Delaware, the land OF the Bayards and
the Rodncys, whose soil at Brandywlne
was moistencd by tic blood OF virginia s