The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-12-25
Communication.

inc signature OF McMlDn ana the Other
In the Press aud Herald OF the 18Th In
slant over the signature GIL" have at.
tracted my attention; upon both OF
which wish 10 make a few remarks.
"McM:nn" would seem TO be DESTROYS
OF reviviDg the old party division of
Wing and Democrat. Now if"McMinn"
would only look back TO the time when
the white population OF the State were
cmancipated, after the late unpleasant
ness, he would see that ever since then,
the Conservatives oflower East Tennes-
see have entirely ignored those ante bel.
lum party divisions and have given all
the important Offices in their gin 10 old
line Democrats, not because they had
been Democrats, but because they were
honest, capable, faithful to the constitu-
ton, aud in every way worthy Of the Of
fees to which they were elected. Key
Chancellor, Hoyl Circuit Judge, and
BLIZZARD Senator. My advice then to
"McMinn," and all Others who desire
the overthrow Of the Radical party isnot
TO stop TO enquire to which Of the old
parties the aspirant to Office belonged,
but is he qualified as before stated, and
does he agree with us upon the present
issues before the country.
Now a few words upon III" He very
truly saws that in ante bellum times
though occasionally departed from the
rule was to divide the Offices among the
various divisions of the State; but
would request III" and the members
of the Legislature, TO review the his
tory of the State from lis first orgauza.
ton up to the present time, and tell me
whether the lower half OF East Tennes.
see from Knoxville 10 the Georgia line
in all the offices TO which il was con-
ceeded that all East Tennessee, by cour-
tesy, was entitled to, has not been en-
tirely ignored as part of the State !?
All the Governors, all the Supreme
Judges Of the State, all the Foreign
Ministers, all the Federal Judges, and
all the United States Senators who have
been selected from East Tennessee, have
been taken from upper East Tennessee,
none from below Knoxville. II is true
that the Hon. Spencer Jarnagin, at the
time he was elected to the U. S. Senate,
was living in Athens. bui he had only
recently removed there from Knoxville,
and soon after he left the Senate, remov.
ed to Memphis, and never was looked
upon as lower East Tennessecan.
do not wish to be understood as
desiring the Legislature to confine itself
to East Tennessee in selecting U. S.
Senator, nor do desire it TO restrict
itself to any particular locality of the
State, but | do desire that, if it should
conclude to select Senator from East
Tennessee, il will not again as always
heretofore ignore lower East Tennessee
as part Of the State; and if not, several
gentlemen could be found who could
discharge the duties Of the position
with credit TO themselves and to the
honor and benefit of the country.
Again, do not desire that the Legis-
lature should be restricted to a selection
from the distinguished gentleme who
by themselves, or by their especial
friends have been announced as candi.
dates, or as worthy of the position, for
in my own section Of the State, in addi-
ton to Chancellor Key, and from q
long and intimate acquaintance with
him | can, and do cordially endorse
every thing said of him by "McMinn.'
there are James b. Cooke, Esq, p. B.
Mayfeld Esq, and others who are peers
of the gentlemen now canvassing for
the Senatorship. SEMEN.