The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-07-05

was ro96lved:
LIST. THAT we do earnestly desire the
restoration of peace to our whole country.
and most especially that our own section
of the State of Tennessee shall not be
involved in civil war;"
2. "That the action of the State Legis-
lature in passing the so-callcd Declare
ton of independence and in forming
the Military League with the Confeder-
ate States, and in adopting other acts
looking to separation of Tennessee from
the Government of the United States, is
unconstitutional and illegal, and there
fore not binding upon us as loyal citi-.
GEMS" 49,
3. "And it was further resolved, That
In order to avert conflict with our broth.
rem in other parts of the State, and de-
string that every constitutional means
shall be resorted to, for the preservation
of peace, we do, therefore, constitute and
appoint o. p. Temple, of Knox, John
Netherland, of Hawkins, and James z.
Mcdowell, of Greene, commissioners
whose.duty it shall be to prepare me
mortal and cause the same to be present
ed to the General Assembly of Tennes-
see, now in session, asking its consent
that the counties composing East Ten
nessee, and such other counties in Mid
die Tennessee as desire to cooperate
with them, may form and erect separ-
ate State.
The idea of separate political exist
ence is not a recent one, but it is not nee
essary here to restate the geographical,
social, economical, and industrial reasons
which have often been urged in support
of it. The reason which operated upon
the convention and seemed to them con-
elusive was the action of the two sec
tions, respectively, at the election held
on the Sth INST, to determine the future
national relations of the State. In that
election, the people of East Tennessee,
by a majority Of nearly twenty thousand
votes, decided to adhere to the Federal
Union, established pryor to the Ameri-
can Revolution, and to which Tennessee
the rest of the State is reported to have
decided by a majority approaching even
more nearly to unanimity, to leave the
Federal Union and to join the body
polite recently formed under the name
of the Confederated States of America.
The same diversity of sentiment was ex-
hibited, but less distinctly, at the cleo
ton on the 9th of February last, when
the people of East Tennessee decided by
a heavy majority against holding a con-
vention to discuss and determine our fed
eral relations, overcoming by nearly four
teen thousand the majority in the rest of
the State in favor of such convention.
This hopeless and irreconcilable differ
ence of opinion and purpose, leaves no
alternative but separation of the two
sections of the State; for it is not to be
presumed that either would for mo-
inent think of subjugating the other, or
of Coercing it into political condition
rcpugnant alike to its interest and to its
honor. Certainly the people of East
Tennessee entertain no such purpose to.
wards the rest of the State. And the
avowals of their Western brethren, in
connection with their recent political ac-
ton, have been too numerous and ex-
plicit to leave US in any doubt as to their
views.
1t remains, therefore, that measures be
adopted to effect a separation, amicably,
honorably, and magnanimously, by a
settlement of boundaries, SO as to divide
ties or districts which may desire to adj
here to her, from the rest of the State,
and by fair, Just and equitable de-
NlslOil vi thC PuoilS p'optt'y eho 'fS
common liabilities. 1t has occurred to
the undersigned as the best method of
accomplishing this most desirable end,
that your body should take immediate
action in the premises, by giving a form
al assent to the proposed separation, pur-
suant to the provisions of section 3, arti-
Gle 4, of the Constitution of the United
States; and by convoking convention
representing the sovereign power of the
people of the respective divisions of Ten.
nessee, with plenary authority to amend
the Constitution of the State as to carry
into effect the change contemplated.
With view to such action, or to action
leading to the same result, the under
signed ask permission to confer with
your body, either in general session or
through a committee appointed for this
purpose, SO as to consider and determine
the details more satisfactorily than could
otherwise be done.
Awaiting response to this memorial,
the undersigned beg to add assurances OF
every endeavor on their part not only to
preserve the peaceful relations heretofore
subsisting between the people in the two
portions of the State. but to remove, as
far as possible, all causes of disturbance
in the future, so that each may be left
free to follow its chosen path of prosperi
ty, and honor, unembarrassed by any
collision with the other.
I,fT.-.r o. P. TEMPLE,
JOHN NETHERLAND,
,.'a. JAS. P. MCDOWELL.
On the reception of the Memorial, q
Joint select committee was appointed by
the two branches Of the General Assem-
bly,, to consider of the same. The com
mittee consists of the following gentle
men: On the part of the Senate, Mcssrs
Stokes, Peters, Mcclellan, Boyd and Min
mis-, and on the part of the House, o
Messrs. CAN'T, Dudley, Martin, Caldwell
Havron, Critz, Lea and Hurt.
REPORT OF THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE o.
- THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. z
The committee to which was referred
the memorial of o. P. Temple, job,
Netherland, and Jas. P. Mcdowell OF
behalf of themselves and certain citizen
of East Tennessee composing the Greene
vile Convention, respectfully submit tn
following report: B@H
The Committee are not satisfied tina
the citizens seeking by their memorial b
have East Tennessee erected into new
State, represent the sentiment Of thu
people Of East Tennessee. They are no
aware that the important subject of thu
memorial has been canvassed in tn
State, except in the Greeneville Consen
tion. a-
That Convention. as they are informed
was composed of delegates to the Knox
Vile Convention, which met on the BOIL
of May last. These delegates were con
seauently chosen before the vote on tn
9Th of June, and without reference Il
the particular result Of that vote. Thor