Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-20
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On, Che 9th Of February, 1891, che people
81 East Tspnessee decided, BY majority d
tkiriy tAoasaad, against holding conven.
ton and against rebellion. The stats de-
eided the same question 10 the same way by
. aalority Of near sixty thousand. This
vote, Tor fcw brief weeks, tilsoomflted the
traitors Of the State. They trembled BE-
fore the mighty storm Of popular lndigna-
tioa Bat their silence WAS Of no long da.
ratioa. The echoes Of traitor artillery n
Charleston, fred at Fort Sumter. rekindled
the hopes Of treason within them. Il was
music 10 their earn. and brought gladncas
10 their hearts Il announced aisAoaor to
our Gag and country. The head aaitor,
Harris, and oil the little traitors in Nash.
vile, Memphia and Knoxville, were filed
with Joy Nioy. Harris again called his ODE.
dieht Legislature together But they re-
msmbered the Och Of February, and feared
the people, BY legislative enactment they
passed an ordinance OF Secession; in other
words. . legislative body, elected nearly
twelve months before, assumed the functions
OF q convehtion Decsney required that
they should submit their action TO the peo-
pie lor their ratification, In the meantime
Harris and his eo-traitors had formed q
Military League" with the rebels of the
cotton States, and transferred the State 10
tho so-cailed Southern Ccnfederacy But
for fear the people might not ratify all they
had done az the bailot.box on the sth of
June, the day fixed for the vote, tbeyappro-
priated Ave millions Of money TO be used in
raising, arming and equIpihg an army of
twenty-five thoasaRd men. Major Generals,
Brigadier Generals, QGartennastcrs and
Com.nissaries were appointed by the dozen.
Many Of them were selected from among
Union men. (and come from among the
members Of the Logislatarc,) who accepted
the bribe, and henceferth became traitors
The Organization Of the army at once com
rneaecd. From that hour all free speech
was gone, IN alI parts Of tho State, save IN
East Tenneasec. InNashviile, Bell. Brown.
Foole, the Ewings-in sword. al our lead
ers either saddenly turned traitors, or qai-
city bowed 10 the storm. The press gave
way also and there was one universal reign
Of terror all over the State. always except.
Ing our mountain gift region. Here, al
though they raised regiments and compa-
mics II nearly every county, and excited
MODS Of armed rufIisns to murder Union
men; and although . constant stream OF
outlaws and desperadoes, in the form Of sol
diers. from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and
other rebel States, passed along our rail
road, both night end day, on their way 70
Virginia, and were turned loose on our eiti-
Gems 1t each town and depot, yet the great
body Of our people, God bless them, stood
iarm. Here, the people attended the public
discussions with their arms in their hands,
and openly de6ed the monstroas eaemiea Of
FREE government and Of mankind. First
Henry, then Foote and House, and lastly
Bell, all old and trusted leaders, were gra-
ciously sent by the traitors Of Nashville in.
10 East Tennessee 10 enlighten our minds
and open oar eyes to me newly discovered
beauties Of treason. We sparned their
counsel, and sent them beck, mortified In
their pride, and ashamed Of their impu.
denec. Our own public speakers. Johnson,
Nelson, Eetheriand, Maynard, A
Trigg. Fleming, and others, nanfally beaved
the storm, and everywhere boldly denounes
ed traitors aud treason. The people stood
Arm, and thirty-three thousand out of Sarsy.
seven cnshrihed their nance in immortal
honor The balance Of the State, with a
few exceptions, wavered, gave way, and
stained their names with undying inihsay -
traitsrs.