The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-07-26
Common Sense Views of the Crisis
in East Tennessee.
TO tic Good People of East Tennessee,

every man, who feels an interest in the
future prospects and welfare OF our sec
ton OF the State, to use every laudable
and honorable effort, so far as is in his
power to restore peace and quiet among
our people, and to avert, if possible, even
worse state OF affairs, now threatening
our beloved country.
1t is well known that, by the vote oi
the people of the whole State, she dis
solved her connection with the Federal
Government on the Sth of June, and
joined the Southern Confederacy. 1t is
not my purpose to argue the causes that
brought about that result, whether they
were justifiable or not. 1t is sufficient for
me to know (however much l might de-
plore the result, or however much / may
have been attached TO the Union as il
wos,) that the free people of my native
State, believing they were right, have so
expressed themselves at the ballot-box
by all overwhelming majority-and there
can scarcely be doubt that all good cit
izens will submit to that majority, relying
on said majority TO right their State in
the manner, if it be found necessary and
for the good of the people of the whole
State after fair trial.
My countrymer, no one deplores the
condition of our country more than the
| huiuOlc WTltcT vi tnlS, ITO one WOuIu give
more to have the whole Union restored
to its primitive purity and equality of
rights, in all the States, and that we
could have certain assurances of it's be-
ing perpetuated. But alas! the Union is
| gone, and in the wreck Tennessee, in her
sovereign capacity, has taken her posi-
tion-aEd the important qustion now is:
Should that position be sustained by the
people Of the whole State? State pride
and State loyalty answer yes-the minor
ity should as they always have heretofore,
acquiesce in the majority. Does not the
| very foundation of Republicanism rest
! upon the popular will in their sovereign
State capacity expressed by majority at
the ballot-box? Then is it not q fact
that minority, refusing to abide the
decision of the majority, is taking steps
to destroy the last vestige of Republi-
can form of government, the consequent
ces of which would be to create confu-
sion and establish instead arbitrary and
despotic governments?
Then, fellow-citizens, what will East
Tennessee do in this emergency? Will
the people of East Tennessee abide the
vote of the State, or will they resist, by
separation or otherwise, as indicated and
recommended by the Greeneville Con-
vention?
Before we 60 too far in committing our
selves to the action of the Greeneville
Convention, let us pause and look to the
results in separating from Middle and
West Tennessee.
Separating from Middle and West Ten
nessee is separating from all the seeded
Southern States and placing ouselves in
a hostile attitude to those States--and
what would be tho consequences? Docs
not every intelligent man in East Ten.
nessee know that we have no other mar
ket than the South for all our surplus
products, horses, mules, wheat, corn, ba-
con, hogs &C., &C.? Could any sane man
suppose that, under such circumstances,
these Southern people would purchase
any of our surplus as long as they could
avoid it? and even if they could not avoid
heavy discriminating tariff duties on all
the products of East Tennessee? This
they would certainly do, and this they
could do with impunity, and we would
be obliged to submit to it from the fact
that we have no other market-and the
supplies they make and get from North
Georgia, North Alabama, Middle Ten
nessee, and other more friendly sections,
would enable them to impose upon our
products high tariff duties, which we
would be obliged to submit to. Csc. on
every bushel OF surplus wheat and 20 to
20 per cent. on our surplus mules, horses,
hogs, bacon, &C., &c, would soon be Sc
riously felt in our section, and would be
ruinous to our country. And this is not
all--but to organize, build up and sus-
tain State Government here in East
Tennessee, would create the heaviest
burthen of direct taxation. This would
surely be SO, from the fact that East Ten
nessee docs not pay the expenses of her
Government by many thousand dollars,
and the result would be that tax large
enough, would necessarily have to be
levied to make up what we now lack of
paying for our Government. But an ad-
ditional tax, nearly equal to an amount
sufficient to yield as much as is now col
lected for the whole State, would be re-
quired. Don't let us be deceived, and
suppose we can have a separate State
Government, without nearly the samo
expenses that our State Government
costs.
The Same men, office-seekers and dis
appointed office-holders, are the very
men who are trying to lead us into these
troubles, for the chance of office and
high salaries in the new State Govern
ment and if they can accomplish it, will
get the Offices, and of course, must have
as large salaries as officers in other States.
Are we prepared for such commercial
and monetary oppression? Can any sane
man fail to see that similar results would
soon overcome us; high tariffs on all our
surplus products, and high and ruinous
direct taxation, great reduction in tho
price of land and other property, and
most ruinous reduction in the price Of Ia
Dor would also be the inevitable result.
And, fellow-citizens, this is not all, but
the larger portion of our banking capital
was obtained from Middle Tennessee,
and possibly, or even probably, that cap
ital would be withdrawn, which would
create another burthen of oppression up.
on us. With all these certain results,
we would be the most oppressed people
on earth-a poor, picayune, pent-up con-
cern, without money, without credit, and
without friends, and looked upon with
contempt by the balance of the world
And even this, my fellow-countrymen, is
not all. But TO follow these no,o insane
men in their wild and ruinous scheme Of
separating, to say nothing of the glaring
inconsistency OF the thing, might lead to
civil strife and war in our midst, when
nelghbor would be against neighbor,,
brother against brother, father against
son, and son against father. Who can
contemplate such state of affairs, with
out shuddering at the horrors of such?-
God, in his mercy, forbid such horrible
state of aiiairsl .
My dear countrymon, let me implore
you, in the name of high Heaven, and
in the name Of all that is near and dear
to us on this earth; to avert these ruin.
Gus and terrible evils. Let us forget and
forgive all past difficulties; let us extend
the same charity of conscientious homes.
ty of purpose to those who have differed
| with us, that We assume TO ourselves: lie