New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-07
ONION FEELING IN TENNESSEE,
From Our Special Correspondent.

undertaking. hence il is only with considerable
a;dsnce and reluctance that proceed to record for
The TRIBUNE my observations IN this latitude, snee
,he often rumored interruption of railroad commun-
cation between this city and the loyal portion OF
Kentucky has got to be an undeniable, dsagreeaole
fact. The chances are ten to one that this epstie
winever be able 10 overeap the Secession fires, now
no longer burning eovertly but blazing forth with
reckless brightness throughout Southwestern Ken
tucky. II it shouId however, reach its destination
and my wits not prove wasted-well, then, you may
infer that the Confederate watchfulness does not ex
send over all the roads leading north from this point
and tba, this mission will be followed by Others.
Nashville is under martial lava condition OF
things which / need not assure your readers was
anything but comforting to your correspondent, when
he frs, yentured within It's grasp. Having observed
however, its operations for some time, can Say
sbat its terrors, whatever they may have been in
sbe FIRST and most virulent stages of the Secession
plague are now only nominal. Much credit as i
could probably claim and obtain for daring or cum
ning or both the strength Of the fact that have
managed TO sustain myself here unmolested, candor
yet eompels NE state that even worse human con-
traband than Northern newspaper correspondent
could be safely smuggled into this outpost, 30 10
speak, of treason, and, with the aid of more than
ordinary caution, incur risk Of running his NECK
into a halter. i may say in truth, indeed, that
found it much more hazardous TO reach tins point
han to elude suspicion while here. The only real
danger incurred since leaving loyal soil was on the
nip from Louisville hherward the details of which
subion, as an introduction TO my Southern letters.
Louisville has been sort Of international entrepot
sver snee Kentucky rather the most interruptions
Of the leaders of her people, assumed the more con-
genent than honorable position of neuraity-fortu-
aately for the old State now abandoned through the
srumentaity as the truthloviDg public prints Of this
place are assuring their readers of its treacherous
and corrupt Legislature" Owing to the protection OF
shs neutrality policy the railroad link that connected
the city and State with the South not like all other
channels of travel and trade between the North and
South severed by Federal authority when the block
ade of the rebelious States by land and by water
was determined upon. This exemption secured the
line of communication under considerGtion-the
Louisville and Nashville Railroads.&c. benefit of an
Immense passenger traffic during the entire Summer.
From the first days Of June, perfect stream of
travellers from the North TO the South and rice rersa
Bowed steadily into Louisville and hardly day
passed without an uncomfortable rush at the hotels
If the city.
During sojourn Of few days at the Louisville
Hotel, enjoyed abundant opportunities 10 satisfy
myself of the extent and character Of this travelling
intercourse. Minging freely and regularly with the
arrivals from both sections, soon found that this
vast movement of people in opposite directions was
not by any purely emigration, that II was not
only composed Of such ss either from choice from
necessity sought refuge for the duration Of the civil
war either north or south of Mason and Dixons
hDe but also 70 great extent of parties that were
Influenced by altogether different motives. When /
crossed the Ohio entertained the gratifying belief
that such thing a blockade Of the avenues Of
Southern trade Kentucky soil really existed. But
shat saw and heard at the aforementioned hotel
convinced me, in ess than forty eight hours that
bad labOred under grevOus delusiOn. AT least one
half Of the crowd that surrounded me consisted not
Jnly Of victims of the great rebellion but Southern
traders and business men generally, that visit
ing the commercial emporium of Kentucky from
perfect and well-grounded confidence in the mere
aominalty Of the Federal embargo, and for the ex-
press, and in many cases openly avowed, purpose Of
violating it. There representatives of Men,
phis, Nashville, Vcksburg, Natchez, and even New
Orleans Mobile, Savannah and Charleston, relating
70 each other in the hotel psror, at all hours Of the
DAY, regardless Of strange ears how many thousands
and tens Of thousands of dollars worth Of goods they
mad been buying And not only their purchases, but
their plans as TO how they TO reach their dest
nation, formed the subjects of loud conversations.
Some narrated with ess and eers the pretexts under
which they bad obtained expected to obtain, Gus
om-House permits. Others indicated their intention
sfshipping their contrabsnd by water TO some in
terror landing the Tennessee, Cumberland, or
Green River, and then reshp them by axle and rail
farther South. Others again talked Of merely trans
porting them few miles overland TO the first or
second station south Of the city on the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad and then transferring them 10 the
cars; III short, the gist and substance of their
change Of thoughts and purposes imbued me with
he lvelisst conviction that the land no ess than the
sea blockade was anything bat perfect. This i'm
preston was fully confirmed afterward by the Incl
dents Of my journey Southwark.
Having completed my preparations for my proposed
pilgrimage 10 the uncoDgepial regions Of the South,
embarked ON the morning Of but dates might prove
treacherous) from the hoel for the depot of the L.
and n. Railroad. Two huge omDibuses, Tanned |
tull Of male female, aud juvenile passengers, TO-
gether with number Of hacks and large baggage.
wagon loaded with towering pile of trunks, carried
he contribution Of our hotel to the through train for
Nashville. Arrived at the depot, the passengers
were required, after purchasing tickets TO make the
acquaintance OF u Custom-House Inspector who was |
planted ON tie platform in front Of the baggage car
and informed US that the owners of ali baggage |
~oud have either 70 produce the customary permit |
from the Surveyor Of the Port or submit to an exam
tnaton of their efiectg biOhiv interos,ro .oo,,.