Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-26
East Tennessee.

East Tennessee.
During the canvass which, on the 9Th inst,
resulted in the separation of Tennessee from
the United States by the act of her people,
through the medium of the ballot box, lead
ing men in the eastern portion of the State
endeavored TO create the impression there
and succeeded TO great extent-that reign
of terror prevailed in other portions of the
s ate. and no one dared to express his opln-
ions. or would dare to vote, who did not ia
vor the cause of Separation. 1t was alleged
that the people were under the surveillance
Of the military, organized under the law OF
the called session of the Legislature last May,
and inspired with hatred to the Union by the
Governor, and others having his ear, ana
counselling him. II was given out also, mat
the Legislature, when it again assembled
would prescribe test Oaths. enact ne" laws
on the subject of treason, aiming to suppress
everything like freedom OF speech and
tbought, assume to itself authority to elect Of
fcers heretofore elected by the people, and do
various other acts, all with view to exer-
cise an oppressive and tyrannous control oy-
the connection Of Tennessee with the Federal
Union. All of these charges were without
foundation in fact, and wholly gratuitious
and libellous. There never was anything
like q reign of terror, and the result OF the
election shows that wherever there were
Union men to vote, they cast their suffrages as
freely, openly and independently as other vo-
ters No where were they mOlested In any way
The military, instead of overawing the vO-
teIs, were placed in encampments where they
could exert no influence whatever, and gen
erally voted at their camps. II was impossible
for Gov. HARRIS and his immediate counsel
iors and advisers, if he had such, TO have
used the military for any such purpose, as
was alleged; and, if it had been possible, he
did not have the disposition to attempt to use
any means to brow beat his constituents
From all that we have heard, We are salts
fed that il any party had cause to complain
of terrorism, it was the SepaTatlOnlsts OF
East Tennessee, some of whom went to the
polls, as one of them fguratively expressed
il aamid shot and shells" The Legislature,
of which such terrible things were foretold,
has been in session more than week, and a.
sc. nothing has been done, that gives, In the
least respect, color to the false charges made
IN advance against it. On the contrary, tn
members have been governed by the most
conciliatory and patriotic purposes Re-
gardfng the masses of East Tennessee as de-
yotedly attached to correct principles, and as
honest and upright, though led into error by
designing men, relative to the great reyOlu-
ton which is in progress, the members have
studiously avoided giving them any cause to
appreheni evil at their hands. NOtwith-
standing the apparently threatening charac
ter Of the proceedings of the Greenville Con-
sention, no change has been made in the
laws relative to treason, and no test Oaths
have been prescribed. The Legislature have
preferred to await the unfold ing OF the fu
ture, confident that the sober-second thought
Of the people of East Tennessee would place
them along side their brethren OF Middle and
West Tennessee, earnest and active enemies
of the Federal Government, and supporters
of Southern Independence. Their course
has been dictated by sound pOliey-and il
but an exhibition of the feelings and views OF
the great mass of Separationists in every
section of the State. But few, if any, would
provoke an internecine contest on our soil.
What is wanted, is thorough unioa, and i'll
vincible opposition to the minions of the
Federal Government We are sure East
Tennessee will be with US soon.