Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-21
LOWER EAsF TENSEssEE.

A memorandum furnished by . gentle
man ofacute observation and intelligence
represents the condition of affairs in
lower East Tennessee a. dismal indeed,
and growing worse and that that whole
section, pecuniarily socially, and politi-
oaly, is in dcplorable state He was
resident and property-holder there before
the war, and ON the termination Of hos
Utilities went back, but is greatly discour-
aged, and Ike others, is preparing to
abandon il lie states that there are
personal disturbances in every nrighbor-
hood, and damage suits founded upon oc-
currences during the war, which have
entirely Frustrated business and broken
up the very foundations Of society This
state Of affairs has melted disposition
TO enigrate, and the most substantial
portion of the communityare leaving it in
large Numbers Some are moving to the
Carolinas and Georgia, bat the larger
portion toTexas while some are going to
the Northwest. 80 unsettled and unsat
islactory is the condition Of things that
and-holders are Offering theirpr0perty at
great sacrifice, and are willing tOtlke any
price 10 obtain means to go anywhere
else The richest and most select lands
are being offered at from thirty to fifty per
cent less than their assessed value before
the war Fine farms with their dwellings
and improvements sinking into dilapidn-
ton are left untitled and uninhab-
tied and thrown upon the market
at ruinous prices TO their owners, and
without bidders The people are ener-
waited and depressed They have net re-
covered from the casualties and mislor-
tunes Of the war and in the midst Of the
pickering and strife which it has left, they
see no prospect in the future Poverty is
on every hand want stands staring on
the hearthstones that once knew plenty
and thrift ignorance is everywhere
aud crime, the necessary coucomitant is
rife in every form. The many are despe-
rate-the few are respondent Stagna-
ton in business and gloom in everything
is settled upon the whole face of that rich
and productive REGION And 50 country
possessing a soil, climate, a purity and
abundance Of water, and inexhaustible
mineral resources, and in every respect
one Of the most inviting sections of this
great land is hpsing and re1rograding
instead Of advancing and improving
This is. we belieye, a true statement Of
the case
II is the habit Of Radical partizans in
this State to contrastth Middle and West |
ern sections uufayorably with what they |
are pleased to call loyal East Tonnes
see butif " loyalty brings forth such |
fruits, it is "a custom more honored in the |
breach than the Observance ltisl-
however, patriotism, or Unionism in "a |
true sense, which has produced such re-
suits Il is a damnahle spirit of pro-
scription and intolerance, which selfish
and prodigate leaders in that region
have spread among the people-a content |
tiOus, litigious. loodthirsty spirit, which
is disrupting orierand law and bani hing
peace and prosperity 80 long as this
feeling is cultivated among the people
aud so long as unwiie and illiberal legis-
lation prevails. no other result can be
looked for Men who like peaceful
homes, and society in which good neigh
borship prevails and thrifty industry can
be pursued, viii continue to leave a re-
gion so cursedwith bad passions Property |
will depreciate Good men will not so
there Nothing can retrieve the damage
which is inflicted by such means
We sincerely regret to admit and be
compelled 70 state such facts. When they /
are forced upOn our attentiohJit would be
wrong 10 conceal them, or 10 lail 70 state |
he causes