The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-07-05
East Tennessee.
From the Nashville patriot.l

From tho Nashville Pntriot.l j
During the canvass which, on the Sthl
inst, resulted in the separation of Ten
nessee from the United States by the act
Of her people, through the medium of
the ballot-box, leading men in the east
ern portion of the State endeavored to
create the impression there-and sue
ceeded to great extent-that reign of
terror prevailed in other portions of the
State, and no one dared to express his
opinions, or would dare to vote, who did
not favor the cause of Separation. 1t
was alleged that the people were under
the surveillance of the military, organi-
zed under the law of the called session
of the Legislature last May, and inspired
with hatred to the Union by the Govern
or, and others having his ear, and coun-
selling him. 1t was given out also, that
the Legislature, when it again assembled,
would prescribe test oaths, enact new
luws on the subject of treason, aiming to
suppress everything like freedom of
speech and thought, assume to itself au-
thority to elect officers heretofore elect
ed by the people, and do various other
acts, all with view to exercise an op-
pressive and tyrannous control over those
who could not agree to sever the connec-
ton Of Tennessee with the Federal Union.
All OF these charges were without foun-
dation in fact, and wholly gratuitous and
libellous. There never was anything
like reign of terror, and the result of
the election shows that wherever there
were Union men to vote, they cast their
sufirages as freely, openly and indo-
pendently as other voters. No where
were they molested in any way. The
military, instead of overawing the voters,
were placed in encampments where they
could exert no influence whatever, and
generally voted at their camps. 1t was
impossible for Gov. Harris and his imme-
date counsellors 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 satisfied that
if any party had cause TO complain Of
terrorism, it was the Sparationists OF
East Tennessee, some of whom went to
the polls, Us one Of them tiguratively ex-
pressed it, "amid shot and shells" The
Tapislotnpa ,g ,,,,;p1, u,,,l L. L.
were foretoll, has been in session more
| than week, and as yet nothing has been
done, that gives, in the least, respect,
color to the false charges made in adj
vance against it. On the contrary, the
members have been governed by the
most conciliatory and patriotic purposes
Regarding the masses of East Tennessee
as devotedly attached to correct princi
pies, and as honest and upright, though
led into error by designing men, relative
to the great revolution which is in pro
gress, the members have studiously
avoided giving them any canse to appre
hend evil at their hands. Notwithstand
ing the apparently threatening character
of tho proceedings Of the GreeneyillC
Convention, no change has been made
in the laws relative to treason, and nc
test oaths have been prescribed. The
Legislature have preferred to await the
unfolding of the future, confident tha
the sober-second thought of the peopl,
of East Tennessee would place then
along side their brethren of Middle anC
West Tennessee, earnest and active enc
mics of the Federal Government, anC
supporters of Southern Independence
Their course has been dictated by souu'
policy-and is but an exhibition of tn
feelings and views of the great mass O
Separationists in every section of tn
State. But few, if any, would provok
an internecine costest on our soil. Wha
is wanted, is thorough union, and irwin
chile opposition to the minions of th
Federal Government. We are sure Eas
Tennessee will be with us soon.