The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-02
What arc the People Thinking
Aknuf

The new State Of Tennessee! Are the
reople well aware what they bre doing in
this project? Are not few men attempt
ing 10 take hold Of the Constitutional ma
chine and run East Tennessee, noieaS 90
lens, into ali the responsibilities and fJBe-
tions Of new State, just at time when
she is il the worst possible situation 10 car
~ the load We ask fer information.
What interest, commercial, financial, So
cisl, or POLITICAL, demand or warrant any
such a change? We csnLot, fer the life Of
Us, see anything but political ambition,
and inOrdinate thirst for Office, that can
prompt the present movement T a dis
lnemberment Of the State. We trust the
people viii consider and discuss the prOP0-
sition, and not be hasty in actiOn.-KaOs-
Uiiie COMMERCIAL.
The Convention which has been call
ed to consider the subject of erecting
East Tennessee into q separate State
meets on the 3d. inst-to-morrow.
We presume it will be well attended,
and if SO, we may take the fact as evil
dence Of the sincerity of the delegates
at least.
If the people of East Tennessee re-
ally desire TO have a State Government
of their own, they ought, if possible, to
be grati6ed. But if tie specimen Gov
ernor aud Secretary of State they have
given US, is the best they can do in the
way Of officers, we wouldn't advise
them TO make the venture. There
would be no peace for them any more.
But how is it possible for them TO form
new State within the juris jiction Of
TENNESSEE The Constitution of the
United States says, on the subject Of
new States
ART. ], SIC. 3. " New States may be ad-
mi,ted by the Congress into the Union
but no nclO State shall be formed or erected
tOithin the jurisdiction Of any other State
nor any State be formed by the junction o.
two or more States, or parts Of States, with
out the consent Of the Legislatures OF the
States concesnsd as we'll as Of the Con.
gress."
This provision is peremptOry. "NC
new State shall be formed or erected
within the jurisdiction Of any othei
State" So, therefore, there is no power
10 divide Tennessee into two States
Much as We would like to zee the PEG
pie Of Rast Tennessee accommodated
we would not violate the Constitution
to favor them. But, asks some objectoT
does not the clause you have quoted
permit the division of the State if th'
Legislature and Congress consent2 No
q bit That part of the clause has re
ference exclusively 10 States formed Q
'two or more States or parts of States
Tat il has no reference to the prohiLi
ton of the formation Of State with
in the jurisdiction Of any other State,
is rendered certain by the words with
out the g .Ioent of the Legislatures o
the States concerned" There is bu
oae Legislature and one State cor
csrned in the division of Tennessee
But, continues the objector, ''was no
West Virginia formed into q new Stat
Just as it is proposed TO do in the cas-
of East TENNESSEE" True, but wba
of that2 1t is precedent, but yer
bad one. 1t was an open and dire
violation of the Constitution of tn
United States, committed during
period of war when constitutional obi
cations we're no serious barrier
usurpation and tyranny. The tim
will come when it will be so regaTde
by alt men who respect law and const
buttons, and reverence justice; and
will then be a matter of profound 81
constituent that the Congress of tn
United States lent itself to the cor
summation of the iuiamy.