The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-11-07
DUTY of the covernment.

NO one can read the accounts OF the
atrocities perpetrated by the Federal
troops in various parts Of the country, re-
marks the Richmond Dispatch, without
being thoroughly satisfied that there is no
length Of crime to which that Internal
despotism is not prepared TO go. We may
look in the future for such scenes as the
French Revolution and st. Domingo COM
bined, unless we prepare to prevent them
by the most prompt and vigorous meas
ures of public defence, and to retaliate,
life for life, for every act of cruelty and
bloodshed perpetrated upon our people.
We need not give catalogue of the
atrocities already perpetrated. They are
too fresh, too sickening, to bear recital.
The last is the Missouri massacre, pub
lished in this paper lately, and called by
the murderers military execution -
From the slaughter Of women and chill
dren in st. Louis in the beginning of the
war, down to this last butchery, there has
been volume Of horrors, especially in
| the West, such as the annals of civilized
conflicts have rarely displayed. But this
war has not been like any ordinary war
1t commenced with an openly avowed
programme in the streets of New York
of murder, arson, and rape, and it ha.
reached its climax of malice and evil in
tent, in the wholesale confiscation acts Of
Congress and the abolition proclamation
of Lincoln. The man who cries Peace
peace" now, would be able to see hope
/ and consolation amid the fires of the in
I fernal pit. The scenes through which we
have passed are but the first mutterings
of the storm; the tempest in its concen'
trated wrath, has yet to come. The mar.
liner who would save his ship must sum.
mon Its resources to the rescue, and call
all hands on deck, or the impending ruin
if it does not altogether engulph him.
will leave his vessel crippled wreck upon
the waters. He must be blind man
who has not recognized the frequent in.
Propositions of Providence in our BEHALF
but he is fool who expects the gods to
help those who do not help themselves.
Providence gives us opportunities of pre-
paration and resistance, but if we do not
seize and make the best of them the con.
sequences rest upon our own hands,
Even the Divine founder of our religion
refused to incur danger unnecessarily
and thereby taught us lesson Of wisdom
which we would do well not to despise.-
We have been on the eve of losing oul
capital over and over again, from sheel
negligence and procrastination. Shall W.
60 on tempting destiny in this mad way
Where are the new levies authorized b,
the late Congress? Why are they not a
least being organized and drilled, s.
as to be ready for service?
, We know that the Government has it
, hands full of great and momentous mat
tiers; we believe that it is often condemn
: ed unjustly; we have no right to expec
, lnfallibility of it. But we sometime
, fear that it is disposed to underrate tn
> necessity of prompt and thorough prep'
, ration. For our own part, we can see n
signs of clearing away, either i'll til
North or the Northwest, where mariner
generally look for signs of promise. I'll
3 Republicans and Democrats differ as
! the mode of butchering and subjugatin
) us, but it is only difference of form.-
We have no dependence except in Hea
en- and our own strong arms.