New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-23
East TESNFsSGE.

II is the policy Of the Government 10 sustain
Union men aad The national cause in the Rebel
States. 1t has wisely throyu strong body OF
Federal troops into Western Virginia, erecting 4
standard there around wkich loyal citizens re-
jocc to rally. At the earleet practicable day it
should penetrate still further eOuthwar0, making
thai patriotic locality the bare Of its advancing
columns. in all the romantic region between
the Allegheny and The Cumberland Mountains
comprising the westerly parts Of Virginia and
North Carolina, and tie easlerly portions Of
Kentucky and Tennessee, Slavery has feeble
footing, and the Union sentiment ia vigorous.
One of the most picturesque snd important see-
tious of this Switzerland Of the Southern States
is East Tennessee. At the recent election,
though caetiDg its ballots in the face Of pre-
anpton and terrorism, it gave twtiye thonsand
majority against the Confederate conspiracy, and
in favor of The flag Of the fathers. Andrew
johnson, Nelson, Maynard Parson Brownlow,
and other bold iriends of the Union, refids in
this part Of the State.
Eslern Tennessee has never followed TIE
fortunes Of the Slavery Propagandists of the
Calhoun school. There are but about 20, 600
slaves in its thirty counties. Some Of them have
Only 100 or 200, and very few haye as many
an 1000 Single counties III the middle and
western sections Of the State contain nearly as
largo slave population az this whole region.
This is in some degree owing to its topography.
II is high, broken country, repoAing in part at
the feet OF the Allegbany and Cumberland
ranges, while other portions Chamber up into the
laps OF tie lofty ridges. No cotton and very
little tobacco or hemp are grown there, the fields
being mostly devoted 10 grain and grazing. The
climate ia mild. and the country remarkable for
the health and longevity Of its inhabitants.
Free labor abounds, negro traders are hold In
special scorn, and q mild type Of Anti.Slavery
sentiment pcryades all classes. The Cumberland
Prcsbyterians, o sect whose opposition to Slavery
is of the moderate character Of that of tho
Quakers, arc numerous in this region, and have
exerted strong influence in molding public
opinion on this subject.
The early occupation of this locality by Fed
eral troops, ia point of great stra!egcal con
sequence. IL is tho very center Of tic rebel
States. 1t undcrlcs Western Virginia and East
ern Kentucky; bounds the entire westerly line OF
North Carolina;. and skirts tie nortlerly corners
OF Georgia and Alabama--all Of which resemdle
it in physical characteristics aud paucity of
.!oyes.S Righ, through IL, from northeast TO
southwest, runs the Virginia and tennessee
Railroad, whoee connection, northward reach
Richmond and rapify ali through Virginia, and
south,yard extcBl through Alabama, Mississippi
and Louisiana. II 10 over tls road and along
$50 miles of this loyal locality, tIat JEFF. Davis
has been transporting rekel troop ard munitions
Of war from tue South-westorn States into Wiz
,inia, for tho last elk weeks.
Our army shopld possess East Tennessee in the
sourse Of tie Summer if possible; but certainly
:. ,,. dawn Of Autnpu. Tie temperature OF