Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-03-09
ADDRESS.


On June |, 1896, George Washington
approved the act which made Tennes-
see the sixteenth State in the Federal
Union.
The cession by North Carolina to the
United States of the territory embraced
in Tennessee provided for its State
hood, but there was strong opposition
to admission at that time in both houses
OF Congress.
The settlers of Tennessee were inn
bued with constant and all-controll-
ing idea OF law aud order as an express
sion Of local government.
They were irrepressible constitution
makers. Wherever they established
their settlements, they hardly took
time to build their houses before they
set about constructing system of gov
ernment i>.. ...
And so. when the time approached
for shedding the chrysalis condition of
a territorial government, and putting
on the larger life of Statehood they,
following this bent, and also profiting
10y the experience Of Kentucky, which
had repeatedly been rebuffed, antici-
pated the action of Congress, took their
own census, adopted a constitution,
elected Legislature and Governor and
inaugurated him, passed laws dividing
the State into congressional districts
elected Congressman and Senators and
presidential electors, and were in the
exercise of the full fupctions of State
for q month before the bill for admis'
sion came up in either house of Con.
gress. And what seems almost auda'
cious, her Senators presented their ere.
dentials, and asked admission to the
United States Senate before the act was
passed. .....
1t is apparent that even then the
question of balance Of power between
the States was a potent, though not an
avowed factor.
Vermont, the first accession to the
original thirteen States, admitted in
1871, was an assured notwithstanding
State, though she did not eXtinguish
slavery by constitutional provision un
til 1903.
Kentucky was admitted in 1899.
Tennessee, slave territory, next of
fered, and her admission was the only
departure from the system of alternat
ing slave and free States, which wa:
unbroken up to the admission of Mis-
souri, in 1921.
1t is a significant fact that, when the
test came in the House of Representa-
tives, every member who voted from
New England was recorded in the op
position, except Israel Smith, of Yer
mont.
Party interest was strong undercur
rent, for the Federalists opposed thu
admission, knowing that the electora
vote of Tennessee would certainly b,
cast for jefferson.
William B. Giles, Robert Ruterford
Nathaniel Macon, Albert Gallatin anc
James Madison were earnest advocate
of her admission.
Mr.. Madison said
"The inhabitants Of that district o
country were at present in degraded
condition; they were deprived of RICH
essential to freemen-the right of be
inc represented in Congress Law
were made without their consent, o
bv their consent in part only. An ex
terror power had authority over thei
laws: an exterior authority appointed
their e xecutive, which was not analo
gous to the other parts of the Unite
States. and not justified by anything
but an obvious and imperious neces
sity."
Mr.. Rutherford said;
"He did not wish to cavil with thi
brave. generous people. lie woul'
have them taken out of leading strings
as thew were now able to stand alone
It was time to take them by the han'
and TO saw we are glad to see You STAN
on your own feet. We should not, n
sa;d. he too nice about their turning
ont their toes, or other trifics; the
will soon march Justify along. The
had complied with every requisit
for becoming a State of the unio
they wished to form an add
tiopai star in the political hemispher
~ the United States-they have erecte
State Government and wish to com
into the Union, and to resist their claii
would be out of character"
1t is pleasing to note that every on