The Athens Post

CONGRESSIONAL.

The Cleveland Banner man has had another attack of Sam. Smithism. Every two or three days he seems to be visited with a dread that somebody or other will have the presumption to run against the present incumbent for Congress, and he forthwith reiterates, at the top of his lungs, that "Sam. will be a candidate once more—that he's a heely nag—can beat anybody, whig, know-nothing, or democrat, and give 'em two in the game—just let anybody, democrat, whig or know-nothing have the audacity to try him." The editor is evidently demented with Sam. Smithism. He believes the sun, moon, and seven stars rise and set in some part of the distinguished gentleman's person between the crown of his head and the hollow of his foot, and so great is the affinity of the one for the other that, should he happen to drop out some of these days, which we hope may not occur, if any of his friends will have the curiosity to examine we have no doubt that all that is immortal of the editor, be it more or less, will be found snugly stowed away in the seat of the Congressman's old trousers.

But jesting aside, the idea which seems to have taken hold of the mind of the Banner about Col. Smith in regard to the next race in this District, is simply ridiculous. We suspect he is a good enough man, and he may have represented his constituency as well as another of his intense party feelings would have done; but he has been in Congress six years, and we have yet to learn that his works there, and they may have been arduous and constant for aught we know, were of a grade and character to give him a prescriptive right to the seat he now occupies. He has no more claim to the place than another of lawful age and standing. It is not presumption to bring out a candidate against him, especially as there are a hundred men in the District his equals in capacity, and several his superiors, either of whom would fill the place he now occupies with at least equal credit to themselves and to their constituents.

Whether, as the Banner says, there is a movement to run a "know-nothing," we are not advised; if it be so, we know nothing of it, further than the suggestion of the name of a gentleman at Chattanooga, in one of the papers of that place, which met our eye after this article was penned, and we do not believe that gentleman would accept the position if assigned to it, although we have no authority for saying so. But we have been around some in the last six or seven weeks, and have heard and seen enough to know that there is a disposition among a portion of Col. Smith's own party to let his Congressional career terminate with the present session; and if the Banner should continue to throw out gentle hints that the Col. can beat anybody, it is possible he will get serious opposition from his own side of the house. Let the Banner therefore be cautious, and stop its puerile bantering and silly eulogies. Remember that the fastest race Sam ever made was his first one, before the Banner was started. Since that time he has been running down. With a strong opponent in the field, the Banner for him and the Post against him, among us we think it likely we will be able to fetch him out of his Congressional boots next August, just as easy.