The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-02-08


people. They are educated TO believe
slavery to be religious as we'll as politi-
cal wrong, and consequently to hate the
stakeholder. Mr.. Seward was right.
when he declared that there was can ir.
repressible conflict which would not
cease until slavery was exterminated. =
But, sir, the elements of that conflict are
not to be found In the Constitution, but
between the Northern and Southern peo-
pie. No guaranties--no amendments of
the Constltution--no compromise patch
ed up to secure to the North the benefits
OF the Union yet little longer, can re-
educate that people on the slavery isstie.
SO rs to induce them, having the majority,
to withhold the exercise Of its power in
aid OF that ''irrepressible conflict" TO
accept OF such reconstruction would, in
my opinion, be but saving over the irri-
tated surface of the deep rooted cancer.
which has boon eating into the vitals of
the Union, efiecting perhaps an apparent,
deceitiul cure, while still the loaihsome
and incurable disease keeps on its fatal
progress, and daily weakens the body
polite, until finally it breaks forth again
with renewed, because temporarily re-
pressed vigor, and the victim sinks in
death. ~
one other objection has been rails
ed by my friend from Clirke, Mr..
Jewett, which would seem to be funda-
mental in its nature; and that is, that
by the fourth of February, but five States
will meet on that day, and he cannot
consent that five States should make a
government for fifteen, for, in his opinion,
all tho Southern States will secede by
the fourth OF March and when they do
SO, 1t this report is adopted, ten of them
will find Provisional and perhaps Per.
niaheht government IN operation, which
they had no voice IN making II the Sc
ceuihs states had the command OF events,
II time was 10 them, NJ TINS Juncture, n
matter OF put niue moment, II cream
stances ana not demand extraordinary
pro,hP,llu'e ana action, III oruer 10 give
uhlty' strength ana effect to the move
hentsoi delehse on the part OF the Sc
ccaihg States l concede that the propo.
sitioh OF my iriend from clarke, would
at once command universal assent. But
such Is not the CASE. War is already
commenced on south Carolina. The
same nostiie movements nave been made
upon rloriua we da'ly hear OF military
COERCION Inc federal governments seems
TO be under control OF military chief
tam. ffomptactionl In establishing some
common government Is lmpeflousiy de-
mamded.
ne resoiutions' as they are now pre-.
sented, 1t seems to me, obviate the chief
iorce OF the oWecton OF my iriehu from
Oiafke, in this' that the resolutions indi'
cate the character OF ooth the provision
al ana permanent government to be
iorm'a. lhey are ootii 10 De formed on
lne principles OF the rederai constitution.
ms constitution Is well known TO all
the southern people. IL is revered by
them. lhere mas been no desire TO or
pose OF 10 aitet IT, oh Tue contrary, sucil
poiicy mas always met with puoilc dis
laVor. Inc Interpretation OF that lnstru-
meht mas oeen generally UNIFORM at the
noutil, eyer since the passage OF the cele-
orated virginia resolutions OF l.9S. mat
constitution has been uniformly held up
oy the south as us great shleld ana buck
ier against Northern aggression. ne
South Is content with 1t now-will be
content with IL hereafter.
III all the southern States were IN con-
Vention, VINO doubts that they would
unanimously frame the government Tor I.
southern Contederacy upon the primer
pies OF the Federal Constitution? None
OF US doubt 1t; and II the tve or seven
States That may assemble in convention
on the 4th OF February next do proceed
at once to frame u provisional government
upon the basis OF the constitution, and
afterwards frame permanent govern
ment upon the iike prlncip'es, who doubts
that every seeding state, as 1t retlres
from the Federal Gnion' Will at once ask
admission INTO Inc southern Coi,iederacy
FOR one DO not DOUBT. one great and
PRIME obstacle TO the earlier movement
OF the border states IN tavor OF secession
mas been widespread oei'et that the
duii States designed IN seeding to es-
tabi'sh government dlfering essentially
from the Federal constitution ana especl,
ally that the African slave tiade would
be re,opened.. have received many let
tiers from distinguished gentlemen IN va
rious parts OF kentucky, Virginia, North
Carolina ana tennessee, upon that very