The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-24

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Address 20 the President or ths
Unired states in Behalf OF Ehe Pee.
pie OF East tennessee.
KNOXVILLE, TENN Feb. 9, 1854
10 His Ercsl7ency ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of The United S,ates:
DEAR SIR-We have the honor to make
known to. your Excellsncy that on the
6'h inst, in this city, sn association of
loyal citizsns was organized, entitled
{" The East Tennessee Relief Assoeia-
tion." The objects Of said Association
are definitely set forth IN the 2t article
of it's Constitution, which declares
"The objects Of this Association shall
be TO contribute, as far as possible, to Il g
relief of the people Of East Tennessee,
who sre now suffering under the effects
of q protracted war by receiving aud
dispensing any donations or contribu-
lions. whether of moneys or supplies,
that may be appropriated by individuals,
associations or corporations; By siding
the psorle in every legitimate way, 10
securing from TIE authorities, both civ i
aud military, Federal and State, proper
protection in the resumption and prose
cution of their industrial pursu ts, and
in obtaining from the Government more
speedy and satisfactory compensation
fer their property that msy have been
destroyed By authority or sppropriased
by the army as necessary for the public
service: and, Furthermore, it shall be
the object of this Association to en-
courage and support. by every means in
its power, any and every project or en-
tsrprise calculated 70 open up to the peo-
Die Of East Tennessee the channels Of
communication with the markets OF cur
more prosperous sister States"
By resolution adopted By the said
Association on the 6lh-inst., the UNDER
signed were appointed committee in
behalf of the Association and of the
people of East Tennessee, Z" to address
the President of the United States, and
through him both Houses of Congress, on
the condition aud wants Of the people
of East Tennessee, aud ask their atlen-
ton TO the necessity Of some action on
the part Of the Government for their re-
lief"
Ia former times and under ordinary
circumstances. it would hardly have
been deemed proper to address Your Ex-
cellency in this extraordinary way; but
when It is considered that the people of
Tennessee, by reason of the rebellion,
are now without representation in either
branch of Congress, and that they have
no State Legislature through which TO
communicate with Congress, we viii be
warranted, we trust, in app sching thr
Government, through 7 mr. Excellency.
10 something lise an cr i Al cap city
In attempting, tnerefOIe, the Discharge
of the duty imposed upon us by the As
sociation we represent we feel thai il j.
hardly necessary 70 recount to 7 ,ur Ex
oejlency the painiully interesting history
Of the people of East Tennessee ST
tbe outbreak of the rebellion though
byief recitaI Of their wants and suffer
iugs msE not be ont Of place.
In the beginning of the pending civil
strife, Esst Tennessee, by an ovsrwheln
ing minority, declared against the rebel
lion. Feom ker geographical position,
heF railroad communications, her trade
and social intercourse bad been mainly
with the Southern States Hsr domestic
institutions aud social organization were
the same as theirs, or nearly sssimilated
thereto, and, according 10 the commonly
opinion, her future success and
fall developments were identified with /
and dependent upon the growth and /
Of the South. Nevertheless, |
when the scheme of corrupt and smbi- /
tious men 20 dismember the National 1
Governmsnt was fully disclosed, her
people did not step 70 consider their To- /
cal CT pecuaiarY interests. Their in |
nate love of country rose above the mar
row and selfish considerations that con-
srolled tbs people, and dictated the poll /
~ Of other States. Appeals to local in-
.e~ests and sectional pref adicss snd ha-
tred we're alike uBheeded; and, IN her i
isolstion from sIl the loyal States, and 4
amidst the jeera and threatened violence
Dt 4 Southern mob, her people stood Eirm
IN their liberalization 70 maintsin the
federal Constitution and the Uaian Of
States existing 0ndeP Is. Ia tn5 8ec1no
sad lass election in Tennessee u0on this
question, n the e,h Of Jane, 1861, out
4 an aggregate vote Of about 48 900 Ia
3 ast Tennessee, only 14,700 votes were
5Olled in favor Of Separation, and many
4 these we're the illegal votes Of rebel
IoldisEs; and, evsn sitter the pretended
,rdiuaEos Of separation had been passed
md formally announced, the loyal people
Il East TENNESSEE, through q eonvention
4 their delegates at 6rsenville, Tesn
n the 20sh Of june, 1881, unanimously
the nction Of our State
legislature in passing tbs so-caiied De.
,larstion Of Independence, and 10 form-
ne the Military League with the Goa
sderate States, and in adopting ether
,cts looking 10 ; separation Of the State
4 TsnNessee from the Government q
be United States, IL Unconstitutional
nd illegal, and, tbersfors, not binding
mon as - loyal citizens"
Rat ths trdated lsadsEa Of the peepls
a he Middle and Western DlFisisns Of
hs SLATE, as 90 early day, yielded ta