Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-05-25
DEMOCRACY VERSUS EAST TENNESSEE.


''Since the State Government has passed into
the hands of the Democracy, the prospects of
Knoxville are less bright than formerly Du-
ing the domination of Governor Brownlow and
his party, the main strength of which lay in
East Tennessee, Knoxville, as the metropolis of
this section, sprung forward in a rapid career of
prosperity. Indeed the interests of Eastern
Tennessee received the proper consideration at
the hands of the State Legislature in the devel-
opment of her mighty resources boon which
had been denied her in the long period preced-
ing when the interests of Middle and Western
Tennessee had overshadowed them. The Gov
eminent, under the new Constitution, soon goes
practically into the hands of Middle and Wes-
tern Tennesseeansi and these have their fancied
wrongs TO avenge on the loyal East tennessee
ans and the policy and practices of the Brown
low government must be reversed, right or
wrong just or unjust"
The above is an extract from an interest
ing letter written from this place and pub
lishcd in the Atlanta NeW Era, of Sunday
morning. The gentleman who wrote that
letter has been close observer of events
in this part of the country, and knows
whereof he writes. That the prospects of
Knoxville are less bright than formerly"
we are reluctantly compelled to admit.
That Knoxville "sprung forward in a
rapid career of prosperity" dating from
the spring of 1866, astonishing even our
selves, is fact fresh in the memory of our
readers That Eastern Tennessee received
consideration at the hands of the State
authorities never before accorded this sec
ton, is another fact which cannot be de-
MED. 1t is well known that the settled
policy of Middle and West Tennessee has
always been to disregard and ignore East
ern Tennessee in every measure looking
toward general improvement. We in this
section have been regarded as ignoramuscs,
incapable of improvement, producing
nothing for market except few barrels of
"dried fruit and other unimportant ar
ticles. The reason for this course il that
we have always differed politically from
other sections of the State. In the good
old days of yore, East Tennessee rolled up
Wing majorities, and was voted down by
the Democrats of Middle and West Ten
nessec.
When the war came up, the people OF
Tennessee voted in solid columns against
casting our fortunes with our rebcllious
sisters of the South, while Middle and
West Tennessee went just as solidly the
| other way. We remained opposed 20 Sc
cesson and rebellion, with all their con-
comitant horrors, but were forced to be-
GENE unwilling sufferers in the great and
| bloody tragedy. This has served to in
crease the feeling against us in the other
| portions of the State, and now that they
have the power, the first time since the
war, they are determined to make Us feel
| it. 1t is unnecessary for Us to point out
circumstances to show this, for they are
patent to every one acquainted with the
facts. Just as the above correspondent
says, 1.-THE State has gone into the hands OF
Middle and West Tennessee" and they
''have their fancicd wrongs to avcnge on
| loyal East Tennessecans, and they intend
| to do it,
! We may just as well prepare to meet our
fate. The decree has gone forth from Ten
nessee Democracy that our section of the
State must be dealt with for treason to the
Southern Confederacy, and that decree,
like those of Medcs and Pcr-ians is UNI
changeable. We need expect no f,vors
| from that quarter.