The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-08-07
A Thrilling Appeal for Peace.

We invite attention to the following
communication, emanating from one of
the ablest minds in the State. 1t ap-
peared first in the Nashville Banner:
To the Editor of the Banner:
In your paper of the 2Gth inst. (July),
there were two communications worthy
of public attention, one signed by some
of the wisest and best men of the State,
men full of integrity and patriotic feel
ing, and men for whose opinion in gen.
eral l have the highest respect, the 9th
or, under the fictitious signature of A
mericus, but apparently from one who
has thought deeply upon the subject up
on which he writes. Previously to these
in the BANNER of the 18th of July, there
was leading article by yourself upon
the same subject upon the all-absorb-
ing subject of the present situation of
Tennessee and what it demands
Since these articles were communica-
ted to the public the Governors mes
sage to he Legislature has appeared.
i Now, sir, every one agrees that the
people OfTennessee are at this moment
on the edge of danger, and it is, / think,
well that every man who has heretofore
occupied a position of nOtoriety in the
State, and been counselled with in re-
gard to its interests, should let his opin-
ion be known. For this purpose write
to you. In many things all of the ar
ticles above referred to agree, and the
object of all of them is the same-peace,
with freedom. approve the doctrines
and teachings of your article, and that
of Americas. l cannot agree to the doc
trine of Judge Gaut and others, if | un-
derstand it rightly, that "the peace, hap
piness and good order of the State de-
mand that we all submit with becoming
respect and obedience to the laws ofthe
land until they are repealed or declared
void by the Courts" 1t is true that a
meaning may be put upon the sentence
lust quoted which would in some de-
gree free it from objection for, strictly
speaking, an unconstitutional law or en-
actment is not ''the law of the land
| suppose, however, the meaning of the
above sentence, as intended by the gen.
tlcman, is this that the people of Ten
ncsscc are to submit to all enactments
by the existing Legislature, however
oppressive, unconstitutional or tyranni-
cal, until repealed or declared void by
the Courts. With this position l am
not satisfied. l take issue with the gen.
tlemen. 1t is cXpedient sometimes to
submit to unconstitutional and opprcs-
sive enactments for time rather than
appeal to the ultimate arbiter; but
where the Legislature has become by
accident, assumption and force, possess
cd of power which it uses as the mere
instrument of faction, where the
: Courts have become its creatures and
: the mere registers of its edict. where
J all the executive offices arc filled by the
J ministers Of this faction-where, in one
. word, the whole State has got into a
groove in which, whatever the cOnsc-
qnenccs, it must run forever without
some irregular and eXtatic eXcrtion, then
} q time has come in which the people
must relieve themselves by direct and
immediate action under the first clause
of the Constitution of the State. II
such action should be resisted by force
that force should be repulsed.
A time comes in the history of peo-
pie occasionally where to submit to OPP.
: preston invites its increase, and where
the consequences are more grievOus
than any that can arise from resistance
"A time when men look upon danger
with contempt, and upon life itsclfwitl
indifference. That point is almost reach.
ed in Tennessee.
The denial of the right of voting to
the great mass of the intelligent wealth
Of the State, upon the pretense that the
, allowance Of such right would endan'
ger the public peace and liberty, is toe
flimsy to demand a serious argument tc
contradict it. The decision of the Su.
preme Court declaring the franchise law
constitutional, as an argument and opin'
ion is beneath all contempt. l would
review it if it were worth review
Even this does not sustain the law as Q
: righteous or polite one, but declares il
only to be within the competency of the
|! Legislature.
These are my opinions; let them be
, taken for what they are worth. ] dc
not counsel force. Such counsel if tc
be given. mnst come from younger and
more energetic men, men who can be
J. actors as well as advisers. l will, how.
ever, express the opinion that the Leg
tslature have no constitutional power
. under pretense of calling out the mill
I tia, to establish q standing force OF
: armed men, by whatever name they
G may choose to call it. And will say
further, from my observation of the
feelings and opinions of the people OF
n the State, that the readiest way to get
!. up that very civil war which the radical
party profess to deprecate, is to inaugu.
rate such force. And, in the name OF
G all that is good and kindly among men
n with no ill-feeling toward any one, with
4 but short remnant of life that would
y tain see have peaceful ending, and in
the name of Him who died as the Ennis.
u sary of Peace among men, would pray
I, our Legislature, now in session, to for.
h bear from doing this thing. l fear
=. fear that ruin will follow it,
, Very truly, EDWIN IL. EWING.
July Goth, 1863
s.. A Seducer Shot. '
: In Hamilton, Ontario, on Wednesda!
, night, John Slater, sailor, met Patrick
o. A 1Als