The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-08-30
To tho People or East Tennessee.


To the People Of East Tennessee.
Having ascertained from reliable au
thority that an order had been issued tt
take effect on the day Of, or Immediately
after, the late election, directing my or
rest, left home on the morning of the
election. with the view of making my
way to Barboursville, Kentucky, where
l designed to remain, If could safely do
80, until l should receive authentic eyi.
uenco of the final result and, If il an.
peared that had received larger vote
than either OF the candidates for the
Confederate Congress, intended to serve
the people in the Congress of the United
States, but, IL otherwise, to return home
and decline any action against the popu-
lar will. After using every precaution in
my power to avoid detection. was ares.
ted. on the night of the 4th of August,
by the Home Guard, consisting, as un.
derstood, of thirty persons of Lee coun-
ty, Virginia, whose vigilance had been
excited by certain citizens of Hancock
county, whom passed on the way, and
who became suspicious of my purpose
Having stated that / would make no Of.
Tort to escape, was taken with my
guides and my son, by some ten members
OF the guard TO Cumberland Gap, where
we were delivered to Col. +. N. Walker,
by whose direction, after remaining there
few hours, we were sent to Abingdon,
Virginia, from which point We were ia
ken to Richmond.
Having long since, determined to en-.
uure or suffer any possible consequence
that might result from the course L had
conscientiously adopted in our recent
troubles, l INDUCED in no vain murmurs
or regrets, and, being in the hands of the
military power, deemed it useless even
10 inquire at Cumberland Gap upon what
charge was arrested, or what DISPOSE
ton was to be made of me. had form
ed determination to ask no quarters at
the hands OF the military or civil au-
thorities, and to make no compromise or
concession; but, when | reached Abing-
'lon, was much gratified to find Col.
john Baxter, at the risk of his own life,
had magnanimously volunteered to go to
Richmond and act as liz counsel or
otherwise render any lawful assistance in
his power. At the same point also met
with DR.. Jeptha Fowlkes, who was act
ing in the character of Peace Commits
sioner to East Tennessee, and who, al-
though had only slight personal &C.
Quaintance with him, manifested there,
and in all subsequent proceedings, a zeal
and solicitude for the quiet of this di-
vision of the State, and for my own dis.
charge upon honorable terms, which 1
regard as above all praise or commenda-
ton. In my interview with DR.. Fowikes
at Abingdon, he exhibited to ME letter
which greatly modified my views, al
though did not choose, considering the
suspicion which might attach 20 my mo-
tiyes as a prisoner, to avow either to him
or the authorities at Richmond the ex-
tent of the impression which had been
made. This can only be understood by
reminding you, very briefly, of the po-
sition occupied by me in my speeches,
publications and private conversations.
You will remember that, Immediately
after the bombardment of Fort Sumter
and the issuance of the Presidents first
proclamation, took the ground that it
was our duty in East Tennessee to be
neutral if possible, but, if forced TO take
sides, to sustain the Government, al
though we condemned the policy of the
President in not surrendering the fort
rexs. L was also in favor of submitting to
the will Of a majority of the people of
our State, should it lie contrary to my
own views, rather than engage in civil
war among ourselves. The formation of
the Military League and the passage of
the Military bill, in the circumstances
under which those acts were done, i'm
pressed me with u strong conviction that
it was the intention of our State authori-
ties, by the creation of Home Guards and
otherwise, to overawe the people of East
Tennessee, to prevent = fair election on
the 9Th OF June, and to compel us to sub
init TO what regarded as the unconsti-
tutional acts of our Legislature. | adj
vised the people everywhere, publicly
and privately, to arm themselves as they
best could, and to call on the Govern
ment of the United States TO sustain
them with men, money ard arms. The
reason why thought it our duty not to
submit to the result of the election of the
Sth of June were fully stated in the Dec
iaration of Grievances adopted by the
Greeneville Convention, which was pre-
pared by me, although the resolutions
were wholly different from those which
submitted. My resolutions, while dis
tincHy declaring an unalterable purpose
not to submit to the action of an uneon-
stitLtional majority, contemplated no
division of the State, but simply asserted
that the Union counties of East Tennes-
see, and all other Union counties in the
State, which saw proper to cooperate
with them, would, in this period Of revo-
luton, be the legal State and should pro-
coed at once to exercise all the powers
and functions of government. 1t was al
SO proposed, in one of my resolutions, for
the sake of peace, that We would main
tain q position of neutrality in every re-
<hok a,k,,okaI
we would not oppose the formation of
endeavor to prevent the transportation
Railroad, unless our rights were actually
invaded or disturbed.
Although these and other resolutions
I acquiesced in those which were passed,
and urged upon the people the propriety
of q military organization for defensive
purposes. Notwithstanding the refusal Of
our Legislature at its last called session
to pass various obnoxious measures which
had been proposed, inferred from the
general tone of the public press that q
fixed purpose existed to introduce troops
into East Tennessee, not only to hold the
Railroad, but to compel our people to
submit TO course of action which we re.
garded as unconstitutional. To prevent
our own subjugation, advocated the
propriety of seizing the road at all haz-
ards before military possession of it
should be taken by troops from dis
lance, and urged that we should earnest
ly invoke the imme late and effective
cooperation of the Government. My
advice was not followed. as the course in
dioated was regarded Is too hazardous
AID uncertain, and when the troops were
stationed among us and I was frequently
consulted as to the course to be pursued,
i uniformly advised the people to abstain
from, anx .octs IF rosiekanoa urlaoo n, a.,