The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-05-08

an adde's at the Courthouse, 10 large
popular assemblage, in which he discuss
ed with much freedom the topics Of the
day, explained the present condition Of
our public affairs gave pretty full &C.
count of the action Of Congress since he
had been member OF that body, and APP
pealedin an earnest and forcible manner
10 our citizens to-stand firmly and inAexi-
bly, by the Confederate cause until that
Independence and Freedom fol- which
we had been so arduously struggling,
should at last be firmly established upon
a solid and durable basis, so as to bid de
fiance alike to exterior foes and domestic
traitors. This speech was listened to with
profound attention by those to whom it
WAS addressed, and was frequently inter
rupted by bursts enthusiastic applause.
We cannot undertake to report it, even
substantially not having space in our col.
umns fof the purpose, All that we can
undertake to do is to present a few of the
prominent outlines. He commenced by
stating that he had consented to address
his fellow citizens of McMinn county with
no hesitation whatever, because he deem
ed it a duty which he owed to them
( Under the election law just enacted by
Congress. all the voters Of the State
would be called upon to scrutinize the
claims OF every candidate for Congress in
each of the Districts into which Tonnes
see was divided, and to vote for or against
each of them. The adoption Of the Gen
eral Ticket System had been found ne
cessary in the present condition of things,
in order to secure full representation Of
Tennessee in the Confederate Congress in
the session which will commence in Feb
ruary next. He had advocated most zeal
pusly the measure in question because he
was unwilling that the State of Tonnes
see should be either wholly or in part DIS
francLised at so critical period in our
history as a people. He had advocated
warmly that provision in the election law
which allowed our brave long-suffering,
and patriotic soldiery to vote for mem
bers Of Congress in camp, because he was
unwilling to disfranchise those upon
whose energy and heroic devotion to our
cause we must rely mainly for deliver
ance from servitude more calling and
degrading than aoy yet known in the
world He had felt no doubt whatever
about the power of Congress to pass such
law as that under which the approach
ing election was to be held and he could
not help feeling astonished that any man
Of sound understanding could, with the
plain language of the Constitution before
him, question the power Of Congress to
modify all State regulations on the sub
ject, except ia felatisn to the time and
place Of choosing Senator'S, He~~aade due
allowance for the eccentric notions wriAll
conscientious men might take up upoll'
ibis Or other public questions; but he con-
fessed that he should have had but little
desire for seat in Congress at all il those
who have been fighting our battles SO
yaliantly and who are yet detained from
their homes alone by the claims Of pa
triotic duty, were precluded from voting
He further said that it had become os-
pecially necessary to address the people
in explanation Of the action of Congress
in consequence of the meagre notice
which the newspapers in Richmond had
been able to take of these proceedings,
and by reason OF the fact that Congress,
as he deemed most unwisely, had thought
proper TO sit 10 considerable extent Nth
closed doors, state Of things against which
he had constantly most earnestly protest.
r. since he first occupied seat in that
Cody. In-such war as this, commenced
and carried on 6y me me Psspts- Of lSOuzeign
States, for the establishment and mainte-
nance OF their own Freedom and hdepea-
denes, in which war the people at home, in
the payment of taxes and in the supply
of our noble soldiery with subsistence,
and the people in camp and upon fields
OF undying renown, have rendered more
service to the common cause and earned
more true glory than all the occupants of
civic station to be found in the Confede-
racy, he felt that it was emphatically the
duty Of the Representative TO consult
freely with his constituents at all times,
to yield to them all proper opportunities
of knowing what their Legislative agents
are doing in their behalf, ana thus secur.
ing to them that invaluable privilege of
b'Structtng them when they deem it neces.
sary.
After a few other preliminary remarks,
Gov. FoorE proceeded to advert to MS Wis
II to East Tennessee in the Spring OF 1851,
for the purpose of interchanging senti-
ment with them in regard to the expe-
diency of uniting their destiny with that
OF the Southern Confederacy. expressed
his gratitude for the ciyility and kindness
with which he had everywhere been re-
ceived, and declared his conviction that.
but for the insiious false teachings which
they received at the hands of certain un.
patriotic local leaders, the mass of the
people here would have proved them.
selves as true to tho Southern cause as any
men on the continent. In this connection
he spoke in bitter terms of denuuciation
Of Brownlow'S paper, delineated the cha
raoter Of Andrew johnson with most era.
4 i Il 4 4