The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-06-17
EAST TENNESSEE-IIER FUTURE.

hi'l Will tIutH pc sun tilat tiliS emu Vi oar
State, although really the first to receive the
pioneers Of civilization, is just now in its in.
fancy, and is but beginning to exist. For
fifty years there has been sort of dreamy
existence here, not amounting to what is call
ed 4 "masterly inactivity" but rather Il quiet,
unpromising degree OF listessness. This OF
course is attributed to the peculiar isolated
position of the country, and the manifest
commercial difficulties attending such posi-
top. The people OF East Tennessee, how
ever, have for the fifty years of their existence
enjoyed degree of happiness and content,
not surpassed by other portions of the Union.
Their lives have been wholly agricultural
their habits have been frugal and temperate
their manners have been simple, unostcnta-
tious and independent, and their sentiments
and actions have to remarkable degree been
free from the vices and corruptions so visible
in LARGE commercial communities. That these
things are about to be disturbed to some cx-
tent, makes one almost regret the introduce
ton of the locomotive and the ear and the
breaking down Of our mountain BARRIERS
But our people must submit TO the DEGREES
of fate, must arouse from their lcthargy, and
partake Of the spirit Of the age in which they
live. 1t was said BY u man who had cons,d-
cradle knowledge of human nature, that
''somc men are born great, some achieve
greatness, and some have greatness thrust
upon them," and the suggestion may with
equal truth be made that some people are
born prosperous, some achieve prosperity,
and some have prosperity thrust upon them.
In this last category East Tennessee may
well be ranked. The struggle has been going
on for fifteen years to place her in the rank
of commercial countries--to dcvcopc her cX-
haustlcss mineral rcsourccs--to make pracli-
cal her immense water power, and TO give to
her people wealth and social independence
The efforts to bring about these great objects,
have been guided bya few public spirited,
enlightened men, and the means have been
furnished by those few Individuals with large
assistance from the State in her sovereign ca
pacity And during this long struggle, il
seemed that the people were indifferent, if
not opposed to the success Of the efforts of
their best friends, and rather looked upon
the locomotive as the destroyer of their hap
pincss, the destruction Of their peace and
comfort, and the machine that would break
up forever their habits Of quiet independence,
and would introduce men and money into
their midst TO lay waste their valleys and
cover them over with such necessary articles
as towns, VILLAGES, brick houses and manu-
featuring establishments. But now the world
being opened to our astonishcd eyes, our
views are rapidly changing, we are awaking
from our long sleep and preparing TO receive
the measure Of prosperity that awaits us
with the best Grace We can. Already the
face of the land is beginning TO exhibit indi-
cations of change. We are beginning TO re-
realize the fact that locomotive is not such
Il terrible thing after all. Our farms and
mills are being set in Order We are begin
ning to look with some degree Of interest
upon our iron, Our copper, our gold and our
silycr-rnd it is getting to be n matter Of no
great surprise amongst us. that men are seek
ing us from all parts of the Union to give Us
money, and rood deal Of it, for our iron
our copper, our gold and our silver. And
this, too, is in the first year Of our prosperity
and what will it be after ten years shall have
passed by! That is Il question "to be asked"
THE RABUN GAP RoAD.-We learn with
pleasure that there is no abatement of inter.
est in South Carolina upon the subject of
this great enterprise. In the matter Of In
tcrnal improvements where she is deeply
concerned, the city Of Charleston is not in
the habit Of talking much, but Of acting as
well as talking. Hence it is only occasional
" that any thing appears in their papers
touching her great Improvements, and then
only in short encouraging paragraphs. The
last we have seen upon the subject is from
the Anderson Gazette, and is an item full of
interest to our readers. We said last week
that we believed the road would be built
in the next eight years, but the paragraph in
question indicates its completion at n much
earlier date. 1t says that Il company Of New
York gentlemen of ample means are now in
South Carolina, prepared to submit PROPOSE
tons to take the contract for building and
cquipping the entire road, upon terms very
favorable to the railroad, and to bind them
selves to complete it fully within the short
est possible time. II is earnestly to he hoped
that the Blue Ridge Company will at once
accept such oposition-that the great en-
tcrprise may not be dclaycd--and that
Charleston may be placed in just position in
reference to the trade of the West
~" Slaves appear to be running away in
drovcs from Missouri and Texas TO Illinois
and Iowa, and to Mexico.
~" If we were not afraid Of exciting the
envy of friend Parham too much, we would
acknowledge the receipt of some more fine
fruit. But we don't want TO make the old
fellow feel too bad. Ii is not his fault that
he don't receive any presents.
CouyTEGfEIr MOSEY.-The Charleston
Courier states that there are countcrfei,s in
n
that city. There is a large amount Of coun-
terieit bills in circulation, and we caution
every one 10 be on their guard.