Year: 1861

WEST TESSEssEF4 Dec. 2S, 1850.


MR. FD1roE- I1er7 SIR: Iiaye you ever been
out in this ccslntry during Christmas holidays!
II not you have 20 Just conception OF what true
Tennessee lIfe and sentiment are. This people
unnnd.ul Of the great stir and excitement
about the Federal Metropolis, regardless OF the
Consequences as to whether the government
shall be destroyed by the Senator's killing and
eating each other as in the case of Johnston
and Davis, or by dissolution of the Union, they
20 on IN the even tenor of their way, having
Christmas parties Of every possible Kind; at
which egg-nog and hot whisky punch are the
order OF the day. They have way Of getting
up parties out here which, takeit is peculiar
to this country. They call them storm parties
and conduct them this wise: The young
men have understood among themselves where
the storm is to take place every night, and about
dark they mount their stceds and go at speed
that would terrify one not used to horseback
exercise, nor do they slacken their pace until
each has his sweetheart snugly slowed by his
side, or nicely packed up behind him on the
same horse one Of the party always careful to
take fiddle under one arm, and about eight
o'clock some honest, unsuspecting yeoman be-
holds, all at once, persons from every direction
alightng unceremoniously at his gate, and the
realization instantly rushes upon him that he
is stormed and storm it proves to be before
it is over, for they go to dancing Immediately,





! them uneil the shrill notes of the cock reminds
them of approach Of the aeee hours Just think
| of it, Mr.. Editor immagine or 10 stalwart
Young Tennesseeans with heavy mud boots
| drawn up exterior of their pants, With each
fair representative of mother Eve, equal to l6O
| TBS, for balance, and equaliZe their graceful
evolutions, and you have picture as near life
like as l am able to draw it. Then imagine
room 10 by - in the clear and this party
q a0IIlnCtS
and prefxes stepping to a tune performed IN
! thrbble quick time, and you complete picture
| that would put your professors Slater and Muir
| phy to the blush. Your correspondent was
| caught in one of their hurricanes but was for
tunate enough to make his escape, he hopes,
| without injury, and the Lord willing, he hopes
| not to be overtaken with another


Business in the commercial circles out this
way has slightly improved. No one, howev-
er, expects any stability until the storm clouds
of dissolution shall have passed away. There
is very little excitement here. The public
mind is decidedly against secession in case
the Northern States will furnish the necessary
guarantees for the safety of their property, 9th
| erwise they are determined to burst asunder.
| They say the time has come when the veXed
question must and shall be settled forever.
The whole responsibility, so far as Tennes-
see is concerned, rests witlfthe North. If they
will repeal those obnoxious personal liberty
bills" and give suitable assurances that In the
future the Constitution shall not be violated,


but that its provisions shall be faithfully car
ried out, all the powers that be could not pre-
cipitate her into revolution. but without 1t all
the powers on earth could not prevent her
from it.


The telegraph announced yesterday that Sen


ator Johnston of this State had killed jeff. Da-


Wis, of Miss, and the people out here are sorry


the result had not been the opposite, for though


they regard jeff too great sinner to live, yet


of the two, they regard Johnston as infinitely
| worse.


The course of Johnston has rendered him ex-
tremely obnoxious to large portion, may
say large majority of his constituents so en-
ragged have they become understand, they
are hanging and burning him in effgy, and
some of them would not stand back much to
shoot him if they could see him.


The withdrawal of South Carolina is regard
ed in the rural districts, so far canilear as
matter of no consequence whatever, and will
have but little effect in shaping the destiny OF
the country any way. They say she has want
ed to form . government of her own for long
time, and all hands seem willing that she
should doso and enjoy it to their hearts content.
Moys-Aaon, PETER.