Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-04
FROM EAST TENNESSEE.

FROM EAST TENNESSEE.
She Follows the GIorous f zample OF
Western Virginia, and Will Never
go out of the UnIon--Her DeclHrn-
ton OF GrIevances--An Eloquent
RecItuI of the Wrongs and Infa-
mics OF the Secession Movement.
From the Proceedings OF the Greenvle Convent IN,
Reported in the Tennessee Whigl
DECLRATIoN OF GRIEVANCES.
We the people of East Tennessee again
assembled in Convention of our dele
gates, make the following declaration in
addition to that heretofore promulgated by
Us at Knoxville, on the Both and 3lst days
81 May last.
So far as we can learn, the election held
intlIis State on the slh of the presentmonth
was free, with but few exceptions, in no
part of the state, except East Tennessee,
no speeches or discussions in favor of the
Union were permitted. Union papers
were not allowed TO circulate. Measures
were taken in some parts of West Tennes-
see, in defiance of the Constitution and
laws, which allowed folded tickets, TO have
the ballots numbered so as to mark and
expose the Union votes. a disunion pa
per, the Nashville Gazette, in urging the
people TO vote on opea ticket, declared that
'.iI thief takes porket-b book or effects an
entrance into forbidden places by stealthy
means-0 tory, in voting usually adopts
pretty much the same mode of procedure"
Disunionists, in many places, had charge
of the polls, and Union men, when voting,
were denounced rs Lineolnitcs and Abo-
ltionists. The unanimity of the votes,
where, 6nt - few weeks ago, the Union
sentiment was so strong, proves beyord Il
4 doubt that Union men were overawed by
q, IsT
still greater tyranny of corrupt and sub
sidizcd press. In the city of Memphis,
where 5,6l3 votes were cast, but five free
men had the courage to vote for the Union;
and these were stigmntized in the public
/ press as 'igporaut traitors who opposed
1.-the public edict." Qunsearnest appeal 10
our brethren in the other divisions of che
Smte was published then only TO a small
extent, and the members and names OF
those who composed our Convention, as
well as the counties they REPRESENT
ed, Iwere suppressed. and the effort
made 10 impress the minds of the people
that East Tennessee was favorable to Sc
cessiou. The Memphis Appeal, a promi
net disunion paper, pGblished a false ac-
count of our proceedings under the head,
"Traitors in Council" and styled us who
represented every county in East Tennes
sec Dul LMOs tllG lANtAG 1'lRNi Va dAS9'AL4ShGu
traitors who hcver around the nOxious at
mosphcre of Andrew JOhnsOn'S home."-
Our meeting was telegrIphed to the New
Orleans Delta, and it was falsely said that
we had pissed Il resolution recommending
submission if 10, 900 were mot cast ngainst
secession. The dispatch added that THE
SOUTHERN RIGHTS MEN ARE DETERMIHED TO
HOLD Possession OF THE STATE THOUGH
THEY SHOULD BE IN a MINORITY. Nuluu-
teers were allowed to vote in and out of
the State in fragrant violation of the Con
stitution. From the moment the elertion
was over, and before any statement of the
vote in the different counties had been
published, and before it WIS possible to
ascertain the result, it was exuiting-
ly proclaimed that separation had been
carried by from $4,000 to 10000 votes
This was to prcpire the public mind to
fenahle ..the Secessiouists to hold posses
sion of the State though they should be
in minority The final rc3ult is to be
announced by Disunion Governor, whose
existence depends upon the success of Sc
cession, and no provision is made by law
for an examination of the vote by disintcr-
ested persons, or even for contestiiug the
election. For these and other causes, we
do not regard the result of the election as
expressive of the will of II majority of the
ffreemen of Tennessee. Had the election
everywhere been conducted as it was in
East Tennessee, we wOnld entertain diff
ferent opinion. Here, no effort was made
to suppress secession papers, or prevent
secession speeches or votes. although, an
overwhelming majority of the people were
against secession. Here, no effort has
been made to prevent the formation of mile
litary companies or obstruct the TRANSPORT
tation of armies, or to prosecute those who
violated the laws of the United States aud
of Tennessee against treason. The Union
men of East Tennessee, anxious to he neu-
trail in the contest, were content to enjoy
their own opiuions and to allow tue ut
most latitude of opinion and action to
those who differed from them. Had the
same toleratiOn prevailed in other parts of
the State, we have no doubt that major
ity of our people would have voted to re-
main in the Union. But, If this view is
erroneous, we have the same-(and, rs we
think much better right to remain in
the Government of the United States, than
the other division Of Tennessee have TO Sc
cede from it.
We prefer 10 remain attached to the
Government of our fathers. The Consti-
tuition of the United States has done us no
wrong. Tue Congress of the United
States has passed no law to oppress us =
The President of of the United States has
made no threat against the law abiding
ipeople of Tennessee. Under the Govern
ment OF the United States. we have enjoy
ed as a nation more of civil and religious
freedom than any other people under the
whole heaven. We believe there is no
cause for rebellion OF secession on 7he par;
of the people of Tennessee. None was as
signed by the Legislature in tue misralled
Declaration of Independence. No nde-
quale cause can be assigned. The seiee,