Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-06-17
BEAUTIFUL EAST TENNESSEE.

pennsylvania, who in the fall of 1S5,
was induced by a special business tt
make trip to East Tennessee by pri
vate conveyance. The time to complet,
the journey was seventeen DAYS, with
little intention to remain in Tennessee
but short time. After nv arrival
there seemed to be many incentive,
Tor admiration. So lovely and delight
iul country as East Tennessee. not
withstanding remote from the hustle of
large cities and busy throng, like
that of our Eastern cities and towns,
mat even in that day were slum beripg
IN a busy, prospering activity. After
'raversing and beholding the panoram a
OF mountains that lower in their gran
deur, the highlands and the loSlands.
rivers that run clear and swift to the
sea, with bubbling springs and beauti-
iul streams as clear as crystal, no less
praise Is due our lovely East Tennessee.
Then there are grand forests, with the
great variety of timber from the tall
ana sturdy oak, to the dogwood and
sassafras, and the last named by no
means insignificant. Then take your
stand upon some elevation and behold
the grandeur of the scenery of this
lovely spot; today she has need on!y
OF some great bard who will entwiue
about her hills and wales the witchery
OF music and deathless songs and some
day he will arlse-is it possible in our
country is one who is described by Sir
Walter SCOTS immortal words:
"Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Whom to himself has never said.
Ihls Is my own, my native land?"
Soon after my arrival in this remote,
romantic and delightful country, see.
merry grand, in prospects unexcelled, l
become convinced that kinder and more
generous people dwelt nowhere upon
this globe. 1t was Tennessee endeared
by the people, by all the ties and asso.
Citations of home and native land,
Proud of her history before she was
born into the Union She made a slo.
rlous record for herself in quelling the
prlmeval forests and carving out
habitation in the wilderness, as well as
on the fields of the revolution. Scarce.
iy had she grown beyond her child.
hood till she won the name she proudly
bears today, the Volunteer State, .
from the number OF her sons she sent
nnder Jackson to resist the British in
vaders; and her people can jnstly be
proud of their history, the splendid
achievements which were won by her
people Her valor was respendant on
many fields in Mexico and in the civil
war no morespfendfd act1fevementsfna
military movements have ever been re-
corded than were won by her people.
After being SO Hospitality and agree
ably entertained by old citizens, re-
hearsing and conversing upon various
topics, was struck. with the dream
thoughts of what had read and been
taught of the life OF the Southern gen.
tleman, such as driving slaves un6er
whip and lash, and the ground / had
travelled over through the State of Vir.
ginia and now in Tennessee, was the
soil which was used to such great poll
tical advantages in the East, in the
tyrannical and barbara lous,treatment of
slaves, heart rending par ings of the |
slaves, man and wife, father and Chill,
ren, mother and babe. Soon however
| was convinced by observation that |
such was Illuminated enlargement of |
elongated veracity. Only in one in
stance heard the lash applied, and
witnessed the transportation of one
drove Of slaves from Virginia to the |
South. With the exception of few
instances our young men of East Ten
nessee have achieved wonders in pro
gress in the various avocations of life.
From time to time in the last forty |
years they have exerted an influence
upon society that speaks loud in ap.
plause. Today many young men are
standing in the front of a progressive
and active life as farmers, whom were |
in the rear forty years ago, with no
railroads or telegraph communications,
no market for the productions of the |
soil, only now and then some hogs and |
mules would command cash. With a |
contented mind, not becoming dazzled |
by the idea of sudden wealth, only |
patiently awaiting for some lucky |
chance to pour her treasures in their
laps. Not by any means a sluggish,
slothful and indolent habit; but with |
energy and sufficient aim to the at |
tainment and accomplishment of all |
the legitimate ends of life. Our soil is |
equal TO any in point of agriculture and |
has been improved from twenty to fifty |
per cent as well as public improve
ments which have been advanced from |
fifty to one hundred per cent. Old log |
buildings have been removed and |
grand, magnificent dwellings erected,
by our enterprising and industrious
citizens throughout East Tennessee. In
public improvements, such as school |
houses and churches we readily see |
that our people show a willing mind
and lend a helping hand to public as
well as private improvements. We |
can only notice one great deficiency in
the progress of our country, and that is
our public roads. This deficiency is
due only to an imperfection OF our road |
laws which from my observation has
been little improved for the last forty
years. Then in closing this eulogy upon
our farming class must take note of |