The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-12-05
The Future of Tennessee.
lFrom lhs Nen.phIs Aprtal.l

lfrom tne Mehiphh apltAIJ
That the designs OF the trai,orous Fed
eral submissionists Of Tennessee 10 adhere
TO the Abolition government, by means
of the farce Of holding congressional cleo
tons, will fail of accomplishment, is not
among the least gratifying features of the
times TO Tennesseeans. That there are a
few sycophants, who would, for personal
advancement, engage in making traffic,
if allowed to do so, of the whole people.
there is no doubt; but unfortunately Tor
them and their aspirations, the rules pre-
scribed by those they are so willing 10 ac-
cept as masters will not permit them to
consummate their own and the States dis
grace, as they have contemplated, and
the probabilities are that they will be un-
tremendously kicked out of the abolition
compaDionship they are SO fast in seek
ing, or at least from saving their negro
property as the price of their submission
end Federal tesliy.
Lincoln, in his proclamation, lay down
a rule which is TO determine the extent
OF favor he proposes 10 extend 10 any of
the seeded States. He says: THE fact
that any State, or the people thereof,
shall, on that day, january LIST, 1861
be in good faith represented in the Con-
gress of the United SAFES by members
chosen thereto, al elections Uherein mcjOri-
ity of he qualified voters Of said State shall
hare participated, shall, in The absence of
strong countervailing testimony, be deem.
ed conclusive evidence hat such State,
and The people thereof, 'a'e not been in
rebellion against the United States" A
majority of the electors of the State are TO
decide by voting for representatives, ana
if majority do not participate in ''e
election, the State will then be held ito
be in rebellion" end ''all persons neld as
slaves" "shall be thencefor.h, forward
and forever, Free"
Tie submissionists cannot pretend that
there is any doubt as 10 what has been
the political status of Tennessee. They
cannot deny the fact that her position
has been one of open opposition, or "re-
bellion," as Lincoln calls it, to the aboli-
ton government. The action of her ex-
ecutive, her legislature, and the indorse-
ment of majority of fifty thousand Of
her people, united her destinies with the
Contederacy; fifty Thousand of her sons
are now in arms against the armies of alb
olitionism; and further, Io-day large
portion of the State is held by our armies,
and three-iourths of her people remain
true TO the cause III which they have cast
their loi. The "strong countervaiiing tes-
,imony" will be forthcoming; will be
against the purposes of the schemers;
will be positive as to what Tennessee has
done and is doing; and hence the con-
ienplated treachery can avail the traitors
nothing.
If an election is ordered by those who
are attempting to rule the State, it will
De illegal, of course. And in addition, a
majority of the legal ,"'ers of the Stale
cannot and will not participate. All Of
East Tennessee, where the Federal
strength lies, is in possession Of the Con.
! federates, who will not, of course, permit
such illegal action as the farce of holding
an election 10 take place. The great er
portion of Middle Tennessee is in the
same condition, and even if it were not,
the people are loyal and will spurn the
bride. West Tennessee, it is true, is at
present overrun by the Federal armies,
but even here the traitors will be found
few. The people as mass have remain
ed firm and refused to acknowledge The
Washington government, and under the
rule that has been prescribed, which re.
quires them TO take an oath of allegiance,
they certainly will rot exercise the elec-
tive franchise.
The ''mqjoriy" required by Lincoln can
not be obtained, even to participate in
an election. Of this Andy johnson il
aware, and to this knowledge we ascrib,
his hesitation in ordering on election
We cannot account for his failing to de
so in any other way. If he had the mos
remote idea that a majority would suppor
his schemes he would not delay an instant
but he knows the people too we'll to in
dulge such a thought. Their verdict
would be decided against him, and he
| fears IT,