The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-04-13

character OF the different portions OF
the State. While there is no sympa.
thy of sentiment between tho East
and the West, there is also none of in
torest. The people of Middle and
West Tennessee arc emphatfcally an
agricultural people, while they OF
East Tennessee ought TO be n manu-.
featuring people. While cotton is
thor chief product, ours ought to be
the manufactured articlc--iron, lead,
copper, zinc, brass, marbc-and in.
Guiding articles consumed by an agri-
cultural community. There is no rea.
son why East Tennessee shonld not
rival and outstrip tho most favored
and prosperous other Northcr nsisters.
Witha climate unsurpassed by none
in The wGrld-a soil sufficient to sup.
port n community five times as large
rs it is-with water.power in almost
every civil district sufficient to turn
all the spindlcs ola Lowell or o Law
rcncc-with immense forests Of the
finest timber, and with its hills and
mountains filled with the richest guam.
titles OF all varieties of the raw ma.
%tcrial, what could prevent the State of
East Tennessee from taking position
second to mono as u manufacturing
State. A separate State Government
would give a now life and impetus to
all branches Of industry. Capital and
industry, labor and skill, would flow
in upon us like a river, and there is
every reason to believe that our pop
]uIation would be doubled within ten
years. Daily is the question asked by
earnest, intelligent, cntcrprising men
of the North, What assurances of
protection oflifc and property can you
give us. What assurances that in n
few years we shall not pass under the
dominion of rebelsY' A division of
the State would quiet all fears and mp.
prehensions Of that kind, and remove
n great obstacle to tho rapid devcl-
Opement of our country. Our Senators
and Representatives would be at once
admitted to Congress, and prompt
provision made for the payment of
just claims of our loyal citizens.
1t is urgcdby some hat our terri
tory would be too small but it would
DO onc.haIf larger than Maryland,
New Hampshire or Vermont, two
thirds larger than New Jersey, twice
as large as Massachusetts,, three times
as large as Connecticut, seven times
as large as Delaware ard eleven times
as large as Rhode Island.
1t is also urged that taxation would
be greatly increased. This would not
be so necessarily. 1t would not be
necessary to expend n large sum for
public buildings until as a State we
should become able to do so. All con.
siderations of that kind, it seems to
me, would be vastly outweighed by
the increased wealth of the State.
Manufactures would spring up on ov.
cry side-vast mineral resources now
hidden under the ground would be
brought to the Highland through all
our beautiful valleys would be heard
the steady hum of industry-while
the sound Of the hammer and anvil,
mingling with the shriIl whistle of the
steam engine, and the joyful ringing
Of the school bell, would be echoed
from hilltop to hilltop in one grand
chorus Of happiness and JOY.
Why, then, should VIC not step for.
ward to a consummation 80 ardently
to be wished fory Why will not some
Of our leading mon take hold of the
matter and call a convention of the
counties of East Tennessee; to bo as.
sombled hero at no distant day, TO
take the matter into consideration,
and petition the Legislature to pass
an enrolling act, with proper provis.
ions for the division of tho public debt,
and the distribution of of the public
funds! Then before another session
of Congress, and perhaps before the
present session closes, we could be pre-.
pared to ask from Congress our admis.
sion as tho free and Independent State
Of East Tennessee.
OCCASIONAL.
tG- An editor out West has mar