Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-07-25
The East Tennessee Convention

This Convention did its work nobly. j,
was unawed by the threats of The State gu
thorities, and boldly declared that under no
circumstances would tennessee support Sc
cession. 1t put forth q Declaration, that
rakes Secession through and through Tne
Declsraration lays the following, among 9th
er things, at the door of Secession:
1t was urg, d forward by members Of Con
gress who were sworn TO support the Cousti-
tuition of the United States, and were them
selves supported by the Government.
1t was effected without consultation with
all the States interested in the slavery ques-
tion, and without exhaustlug peaceabie rem
edies.
It has plunged the country into civil war,
paralyzed our commerce, lDterfered with the
whole trade and business of our country,
lessened the value Of our property, destroyed
many of the pursuits of lite, and bids fair 70
involve the whole nation In irretTleyabie
bankruptcy and ruin
1t has changed the entire relations of States
and adopted constitutions without submit
ting them To d vote of tbs people, and where
such vote has been authorized it has been
upon tne condition prescribed by Senator
Mason, of Virginia, that those who voted the
Union ticket . MUST LEAVE tbs STATE"
1t had advocated Constitutional monar.
chy, King and a Dictator, and is, through
the Richmond press, at this moment, recon
mending to the Convention n Virginia a re-
striction ol tue right of suffrage, and IN sew
ering connection with the Yankees to abol-
ish every vestige OF resem blance to the insti-
tutions of that detested race"
1t has formed military leagues, passed mil
tary bills, and opened he deor for OPT ressive
taxation, without consulting the people, and
then, in mockery of free election, has re-
quired them by their votes to sanction it's
usurpations utder the penalties of moral pr, i.
scription or at the punt of bayonet.
1t has offered premium for crime in di-
recting the discharge of volunteers from
criminal prosecutions, and in recommending
the Judges. not to ho.d their Courts.
1t has stained our statute book with the re-
pudiation of Northern debts, and has greatly
violated the Constitution by attempting,
through its unlawful extension, to destroy
the right of suffrage.
1t has attempted to destroy, and, we fear,
toon utterly PROSTATE the freedom Of speech
and of the pcess.
1t has involved the Southern States in a
Wdr whose success is nOpelesS, anu Wnicn
must ultimately lead to the ruin of the peo>
pie.
Its bigoted, overbearing, and intolerant
spirit has already subjected the people Of
East Tennessee to many petty grievances !;
our people have been insuted our flags have
been fred upon and torn down; our houses
have been rudely entered our families sub
jected to insult our peaceable meetings in.
terrupted our women and children shot at
by a merciless soldiery our towns pillagei /;
our citizens robbed and some of them assase
sinated and murdered.
In conclusion the Convention declared the
acts of State Government unconstitutional
and illegal; that East Tennessee would not
submit to them; and taking the secession
animal by the horns demands the right to
secede from the State and remain in the
Union. A Commission was appointed to ad-
dress the Legislature on the subject. and ar
rangements made to organize a local govern
ment for East Tennessee. The Secess:onists
have stirred up hornets nest in East Ten
nesses.