The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-10-14
JoInIng Tennessee,

For several years previous to the war
the Kentucky counties west of the Ten
nessee river, commonly known as the
Purchase, seriously considered the
idea of being cut loose from the State
of Kentucky and being attached TO the
State Of Tennessee. At that day, we are
confident, a large majority of our people,
decidedly favored such proposition
The State of Tennessee went so far as to
sppoint commissioners to submit some
such propositions to the State of Ken
lucky, but Kentucky declined to part
with any portion of her territory. The
circumstance of the war, and the evil
government which has since afflicted Ten
pessee, had nearly silenced all thought
of such movement; but the inaug2>
ration of Governor Brown, the return OF
popular government in that State, to
gether with the rapid reduction of taxa
tion promised by the present Tennessee
Legislature, are we'll calculated to again
bring the question before the public.
The burden of taxation resting upon our
Tennessee neigbbors is the greatest OBJ
stacle to the movement, allowing that the
State governments were favorably dis
posed
Geographically, the counties west of
the Tennessee river, should belong to
Tennessee. We are, comparatively, an
Insignificant neck of land, cut off from
the main body of Kentucky, and our pc
litical and material interests sadly ne
elected by the parent government up in
Central Kentucky We are too weak IN
numbers at the polls, too poor in purse.
to demand or expect consideration from
State, whose absorbing interests are
elsewhere. and who scarcely know we are
part of the State, except under general
provisions, such as collecting taxes, and
every two and four years permitting US
to go through the form of voting in gen
erai elections. This neglect is attribu
tsbleto a want of identity of interest, and
to our isolated location from the rest Of
the State, and not to a want of that
generous sympathy and philanthropic
magnanimity which ever characterize
Kentuckians. The situation of these
counties naturally attach them to Ten
nessee; our commercial aud agricultural
interest are identical; our manners and
custom the same; and our material wants
in every respect reciprocal.
The great river courses, the Mississip-
pi, Ohio, and Tennessee, have mapped
out as Tennessee teIFtUory. a people
as clearly united as are ours with the
people of Western Tennessee in bust
ness and social relations should have
common laws and common officers. The
delay and Inconvenience, such as the
collection of debts aud all other legal
proceedings, can in no other way be
renedied. Tennessee in developing the
resources of her territory, building her
great railway avenues, etc., is compelled
to stop at our borders, short of her
objective point-the river courses named,
aud the distance is so short and our
possessions so small, that Kentucky
never can be induced afterwards to lend
any degree of encouragement. 1t is
natural, that Kentucky so separated from
us, by geographical and political inter
ests, should be unmindful of our wants,
and it is also natural that many of our
people, identified with Tennessee by
birth, education, association, business
and political sympathy, should desire
closer union. These facts are especially
pointed in regard to the counties of
Hickman and Fulton. 1t is doubtful if
Kentucky will ever part with any por-
ton of her territory. Perhaps, Tennes-
see would swap slice of her East Ten
pessee country for Mississippi river
boundary.