CHAPTER XX. EASTERN TENNESSEE. EASTERN TENNESSEE, it was confident- | Southern Confederacy. If one had a ly expected, would rank herself by the Letcher in the chair versed in all the side of Western Virginia in opposition to dangerous arts of political intrigue, the the measures taken to alienate the State other had an equally reckless conspirator from the Union. There was a certain in Harris-"King Harris," as he was similarity in the position and interests of popularly called, in consequence of his the two districts which would place them assumption of authority and tyrannical in the same relation to the other por- proceedings. In both States there was tions of their respective States and to indeed a show of submitting the question the Southern Confederacy. In both the of secession to a popular vote, but in influences of the same mountain range both instances a treaty was formed with of the Alleghanies were impressed upon the rebel government, and the military the character and fortunes of the inhab- resources of the State were placed at itants. For the most part a simple, in- the command of Jefferson Davis before dustrious, agricultural people, owning the vote was taken. Of course coercion the lands which they cultivated, with and terrorism prevailed alike, with a comparatively few slaves among them, deeper shade of malignity however in the dwellers on the Holston like the Tennessee, in proportion to the nearness Virginians on the Ohio, were ardently of that State to the seat of the rebel gov. attached to the democratic privileges ernment. The ties of Eastern Virginia and institutions which had been guaran- to the South were those of imperfect teed to them by the Federal Govern- sympathy and doubtful interests; for ment. While both regions had to con- though a great portion of her wealth tend with a hostile dominant power in was derived from raising and selling their States, and while both were in like slaves to the cotton planters, yet the manner betrayed by the arts and treach- great capacities of the country demanded ery of their local rulers, the situation of northern skill and labor for their develEastern Tennessee was in some important opment; while Western Tennessee was respects less advantageous for the pre- not simply related to the South in manservation of the liberties of the people ners and culture, but might be considthan that of her northern neighbor. ered an integral part of the South itself. Each had that foe to loyalty to contend It was consequently a much harder task with, a bold, unscrupulous, intriguing for the mountaineers of the Cumberland Governor and an inimical legislature, to contend with the wealthy slave proready to deliver the State bound hand prietors on the Mississippi, than for a and foot to the cruel purposes of the vigorous rural population bordering on Pennsylvania to hold their own against the occupants of the worn out, delapidated estates on the James and the Rappahannock. If the chances in both cases had been equal within their borders, the contiguity of the more Southern State to the desperadoes of Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana, to say nothing of the refugee enemies of the Union in Kentucky, would have turned the scale against the efforts of the patriots of East Tennessee. Congress, was chosen President of the Convention, addresses were delivered by General T. D. Arnold and Senator Andrew Johnson, and an address and series of resolutions submitted to the people, denouncing the ruinous and heretical doctrine of secession as the parent of the evils afflicting the country, and condemning in particular the "pertinacity with which those in authority have labored to override the judgment of the people," and the inconsiderate and unconstitutional legislation of the State Assembly in entering into the military league with the Confederate States, and the accompanying proceedings in raising and equipping troops, thereby burdening the people with increased and insupportable taxation. "In the spirit of freemen," was the language of one of the resolutions, "with an anxious desire to avoid the waste of the blood and the treasure of our State, we appeal to the people of Tennessee, while it is yet in their power, to come up in the majesty of their strength and restore Tennessee to her true position." The Act of the General Assembly of Tennessee to submit to the people of the State the so-called Declaration of Independence, passed on the 6th of May, named the 8th day of June for the vote to be taken. The loyal citizens of East Tennessee, fully impressed with the danger of the impending calamity to their political privileges, and disapproving of "the hasty and inconsiderate action" of the legislature, immediately called a Convention of delegates of the people of that region to assemble at Knoxville, the metropolis of the district, on the 30th of May, to take such counsels as might protect the liberties of the population, and promote peace and harmony among them. At the appointed day, so great was the interest manifested that more than a thousand representatives assembled, of the counties from the western declivities of the Cumberland mountains to the ascending range of the Alleghanies bordering on North Carolina; from the whole extent of the valley watered by the Holston and its numerous tributaries, and the sources of the Tennessee from Kentucky and Virginia to Georgia. The Hon. Thomas A. R. Nelson, a representative from the extreme north-eastern part of the State to the recent 36th potism-between right and wrong. It is a war in which the odds are fearfully * Ante, p. 192. These moderate resolves were seconded by the glowing popular appeal of the President of the Convention. "It is said," were his words, "this is a war between the North and the South, and we are compelled to take sides. I do not so regard it. It is a war between the Government of the United States and rebellious citizens who have committed treason against that government. Neither is it a war between Lincoln and the South. It is a war between the Constitution and those who have violated it; a war between law and no law-between order and anarchy-between freedom and des SECESSION IN TENNESSEE. 295 against us; but this should have no had not disregarded the appeal. Spite weight were justice on our side. It is a of the hostile legions encamped upon her war the end of which no man can foresee. soil and all attempts at intimidation, East Thus far the South has bragged and Tennessee stood manfully to her princiboasted and bantered. The sluggish ples. In February she had given 34,000 North has at last aroused, and difficulties votes against calling a convention; in and dangers beset us on every hand. In June, when the rest of the State had fallen the depreciation of property, the en-off from a like devotion to the Union, the hanced prices of goods, increased taxation, lawless violence, the threats against free speech and a free press, a military array in every civil district, a wild, reckless end unprincipled legislation, we can scarcely see the beginning of the end. 'The end is not yet.' Freemen of Tennessee! if you are allowed to vote on the 8th of June, it is yet in your power to arrest the despotism of King Harris' and retrieve the blunders of a misguided legislature. It is yet in your power to prevent a war in our midst; to save the lives of our citizens; to preserve our cities, towns and villages, and to secure the blessings which heaven has promised to the peacemaker. It may be yet in your power to rescue the Union itself, and preserve the Stars and Stripes as a priceless legacy to posterity. If a fair election is held and Tennessee is voted out of the Union, it behooves us all to act together to avoid civil war among ourselves. If the election is carried by force or fraud, then let every friend of the Union throughout the State cry Every man to his tents, O Israel!' Should that dreadful alternative be forced upon you, "Snatch from the ashes of your sires vote of her 29 counties reached 32,923. The secession vote, which had stood in that region in February 7,550, in June was raised to 14,780, but the difference was accounted for by half of that number being rebel troops, having no authority under the Constitution to vote at any election. The vote of the entire State, as proclaimed by Governor Harris, stood 104,019 for separation; 47,238, against. In the larger number were included ir. this official return 6,241 voting in the camps. The entire vote in February had been for no convention 70,000, against 50,000, and but three secessionists had been elected in the State. Such, in four months, was the change brought about in Tennessee, against the better judgment of the people, by the acts of designing politicians, and the excitement consequent on the aggressive measures of the cotton States, at Sumter and elsewhere, stirring up prejudices and strife, and precipitating the country into ruin. ous, devastating war. The loyal men of East Tennessee were not to endure this result with complacency. The Knoxville Convention, which had adjourned subject to the call of its officers, after the decision of the State had been pronounced by the popular vote, was summoned to meet at the northeastern frontier town of Greenville, on the 17th June. The delegates assembled When the vote ratifying the act of secession was taken, it was found that the people of the eastern counties, at least, sion," p. 222. *Brownlow's "Rise, Progress and Decline of Seces were cast, but five freemen had the courage to vote for the Union, and these were stigmatized in the public press as 'ignorant traitors, who opposed the popular edict.' Our earnest appeal to our brethren in the other divisions of the State was published then only to a small extent, and the members and names of those who composed our Convention, as well as the counties they represented, were suppressed, and the effort made to impress the minds of the people that East Tennessee was favorable to secession. The Memphis Appeal, a prominent disunion paper, published a false account of our proceedings, under the head, 'The Traitors in Council,' and styled us, who represented every county but two in East Tennessee, the little batch of disaffected traitors who hover round the noxious atmosphere of Andrew Johnson's home.' Our meeting was telegraphed to The New Orleans Delta, and it was falsely said that we had passed a resolution recommending submission if 70,000 votes were not cast against secession. The despatch adds that 'The Southern Rights men are de at the appointed place and, on the fourth day of the session, adopted as the result of their deliberations a Declaration of Grievances, followed by a series of resolutions, looking to the separation of Eastern Tennessee as an independent political power, from the civil conflict into which the State was throwing itself. No more instructive memorial will be handed down to posterity of the grounds and proceedings of the rebellion in the border States won over to participate in the fatal strife than this document. Reviewing the recent election and the manner in which it was conducted, it was pronounced free, with but few exceptions, in no part of the State other than East Tennessee. In the arger parts of the Middle and West Tennessee, no speeches or discussions in Savor of the Union were permitted. Union papers were not allowed to circulate. Measures were taken in some parts of West Tennessee, in defiance of the Constitution and laws, which allow folded tickets, to have the ballot numbered in such manner as to mark and expose the Union votes. A disunion paper, The Nashville Gazette, in urging the people termined to hold possession of the State, to vote an open ticket, declared that a thief takes a pocket-book or effects an entrance into forbidden places by stealthy means-a Tory, in voting, usually adopts pretty much the same course of procedure. Disunionists, in many places, had charge of the polls, and Union men, when voting, were denounced as Lincolnites and Abolitionists. The unanimity of the votes in many large counties where, but a few weeks ago, the Union sentiment was so strong, proves beyond doubt that Union men were overawed by the tyranny of the military power and the still greater tyranny of a corrupt and subsidized press. In the City of Memphis, where 5,613 votes though they should be in a minority.' Volunteers are allowed to vote in and out of the State in flagrant violation of the Constitution. From the moment the election was over, and before any detailed statement of the vote in the different counties had been published, and before it was possible to ascertain the result, it was exultingly proclaimed that separation had been carried by from 50,000 to 70,000 votes. This was to prepare the public mind to enable 'the secessionists to hold possession of the State, though they should be in a minority.' The final result is to be announced by a disunion Governor, whose existence depends upon DECLARATION OF GRIEVANCES. the success of secession, and no provision is made by law for an examination of the vote by disinterested persons, or even for contesting the election. 297 ment of the United States we have enjoyed, as a nation, more of civil and religious freedom than any other people under the whole heaven. We believe "For these and other causes, "the there is no cause for rebellion or secesDeclaration continued, "we do not re- sion on the part of the people of Tennesgard the result of the election as ex- see. None was assigned by the Legislature pressive of the will of a majority of in their miscalled Declaration of Indethe freemen of Tennessee. Had the elec-pendence. No adequate cause can be astion everywhere been conducted as it signed. The Select Committee of that was in East Tennessee we would enter- body asserted a gross and inexcusable tain a different opinion. Here no effort falsehood in their address to the people was made to suppress secession papers, of Tennessee, when they declared that the or prevent secession speeches or votes, Government of the United States had although an overwhelming majority of made war upon them. The secession the people were against secession. Here cause has thus far been sustained by deno effort has been made to prevent the ception and falsehood; by falsehoods as formation of military companies, or ob- to the action of Congress; by false destruct the transportation of armies, or spatches as to the battles that were never te prosecute those who violated the laws fought, and victories that were never of the United States and of Tennessee won; by false accounts as to the puragainst treason. The Union men of poses of the President; by false repreEast Tennessee, anxious to be neutral sentations as to the views of Union men ; in the contest, were content to enjoy and by false pretences as to the facility their own opinions, and allow the utmost with which the secession troops would latitude of opinion and action to those take possession of the capital and capture who differed from them. Had the same the highest officers of the Government. toleration prevailed in other parts of the The cause of secession or rebellion has State, we have no doubt that a majority no charms for us, and its progress has of our people would have voted to remain been marked by the most alarming and in the Union. But, if this view is errone- dangerous attacks upon the public liberous, we have the same (and, as we think, ty. In other States as well as our own, a much better) right to remain in the its whole course threatens to annihilate Government of the United States than the last vestige of freedom." the other divisions of Tennessee have to secede from it. The enumeration of the results of the rebellion, which had even then followed in the infancy of its career, is sufficiently striking :-" While peace and prosperity have blessed us in the Government of the United States, the following may be enumerated as some of the fruits of secession: It was urged forward by members of Congress, who were sworn to support "We prefer to remain attached to the Government of our fathers. The Constitution of the United States has done us no wrong. The Congress of the United States has passed no law to oppress us. The President of the United States has made no threat against the law-abiding people of Tennessee. Under the Govern- the Constitution of the United States, and |