Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-13
Address 10 the President Of the United
States In Behalf Of the People OF East
Tennessee.

DEAR SR-Wc have the honor to make
known to Your EXccIlcncy that on the 9th
instant, in this city, an Association Of loyal
citizens was organized entitled THE East
Tennessee Relief Association" The oh,
iccts Of said Association are definitely set
forth in the Second Article Of its Constitu-
ton, which declares
oThc objects of this Association shall be to con-
tribute as far rs possible to the relief the people
of East Tennessee who are now suffering under the
effects of protractcd war; by receiving and DIS
pcnsng any donations or contributions, whether OF
monies or supplies that may be appropriated for
that purpose by individuals, associations or corpo-
rations by aiding the people in every Legitimate
way. in securing from the authorities both civil and
military Federal and State proper projection IN
the resumption and prosecution Of their industrial
pursuits and in obtaining from the Government
more speedy and satisfactory compensation for Their
properly that may have been destroyed by authority
or appropriated by the army us necessary Tor inc
public service aud, furthermore, it shall be the OBJ
iect of this Association to encourage and support,
bv every means in its power, any end every PROJECT
or enterprise calculated to open up 70 the pcop" OF
East Tennessee the channels Of communication
with the markets Of our more prosperous sister
States
BY a resolution adopted by the said AS
ISOLATION on the 9th instant the under
signed were appointed a committee in be-
half Of the Association and Of the people
Of East Tennessee, "to address the Prcsl-
dent of the United States, and, through
him. both Houses Of Congress, on the con-
diton and wants Of the people Of East
/ Tennessee and ask their attention TO the
necessity Of some action on the part Of the
Government for their relief
In former times and under ordinary cir
cumstances, il would hardly nave urv''
deemed proper to address Your EXccIIency
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
througb which to communicate with Con
gress. we will be warranted, we trust in ap'
proaching the Governments through loul
ExcclIcncy, in something like an original
capacity. In attempting therefore, Tho
discharge of the duty imposed upon us BY
the Association we represent, we feel tha
it is hardly necessary to recount to You
Eyceleacy the painiuly interesting history
Of the people Of East Tennessee since The
outbreak of the rebcllion though bric
recital of their wants and sulerngs may no
be out Of place.
In the beginning Of the pending civi
strife, East Tennessee, by an overwhelming
majority, declared against the rebellion
From her geographical position, her rail
road communications, her trade and socia
intercourse bad been mainly with thu
Southern States. Her domestic institution
and social organization were the SAM
as theirs or nearly assimlatcd thereto
and according 20 the commonly-receivc'
opinion, her future success and full dc
yclOpment were identified with and Deepen
dent upon She growth and prosperity of tn
, south Nevertheless. when the scheme O
: corrupt and ambitious men to dismcmbc
the National Government was fully dis
closed, her people did not stop to conside
their local or pecuniary interests. Thei
innate love of country pose above tho nar
row and selfish considerations that controlc
: the people, and dictated the policy of othc
y States. Appeals to local interests and sec
,ional preiudccs and hatrcds were alike I'M
needed. and, in her isolation from all tn
loval States, and amidst the iecrs an
!. threatened violence of a Southern mob, he
G people stood firm in their determination t
d maintain the Federal Constitution and tn
!. Union OF States existing under it. In th
: second and last election in Tennessee upo
this question on the Sth of June, 1851, on
of an aggregate vote of about $4,000 i
East Tennessee, only 14,7O0 votes wel
!, poled in favor of Separation, and many {
p these were the illegal votes of rebel soldiers
' and even after the pretended ordinance
j separation had been passed and formal
= announced, the loyal people of East Tel
u nessec, through convention Of their del,
gates at -Greencville, Tenn, on the Goth
juno, 1861, unanimously resolved" TIL;
J the action of our State Legislature in pas
ing the so-called Declaration Of Indcpei
d denee, and in forming the Military Leagu,
r with the Confederate States, and in adop
y ing other acts looking to a separation Of II
= State Of Tennessee from the Government
y the United States, is unconstitutional an
" Illegal, and, Therefore. not binding upo
e us az loyal citizens
But the trusted leaders of the people
!. the Middle and Western Divisions Of III