From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia East Tennessee Convention of 1861
East Tennessee Convention of 1861
state government allow pro-Union East Tennessee coun-
ties to form a separate state that would remain part of
the United States.[1] The Tennessee legislature, however,
rejected the request to divide the state, and Governor
Harris dispatched Confederate forces to occupy East Ten-
nessee.[2]
Background
Map showing June 1861 Ordinance of Secession vote in East
Tennessee. Counties shaded in maroon rejected secession by an
The East Tennessee Convention comprised a series of 80% or greater margin. Counties in red rejected secession by a
meetings held in 1861, on the eve of the American Civil margin falling between 51% and 79%. Counties in gray voted
for secession. Counties in white did not yet exist or their results
War in which 29 counties in East Tennessee and one
are unknown.
county in Middle Tennessee denounced secessionist ac-
tivities within the state of Tennessee and resolved to
Disunity between Tennessee’s three Grand Divisions—
break away and form an independent state aligned with
East, Middle, and West— had grown steadily since the
the Union. The first round of meetings was held on May
state’s creation. In the 1830s, Whig sentiment in East
30 and May 31, in Knoxville and the second round was
Tennessee solidified around opposition to President An-
held June 17 through June 20, in Greeneville. The conven-
drew Jackson, especially following Jackson’s snub of
tions comprised delegates from every county in East Ten-
Knoxvillian Hugh Lawson White in the 1836 presidential
nessee with the exception of Rhea County.[1]
election.[3] In the early 1840s, then-state senator Andrew
The election of Abraham Lincoln to the U.S. presi-
Johnson introduced legislation in the Tennessee state
dency in 1860 sparked a wave of secessionist sentiment
senate calling for East Tennessee to separate from the
across the Southern United States. In February 1861, se-
rest of Tennessee and form a separate state, although
cessionists in Tennessee’s state government— led by
the initiative eventually failed in spite of strong support
Governor Isham Harris— sought voter approval for a con-
from East Tennessee Whigs. While the Whig Party disin-
vention to sever ties with the United States, but Ten-
tegrated in the 1850s, opposition to Southern Democrats
nessee voters rejected the referendum by a 54-46% mar-
remained strong in East Tennessee, especially in Knox
gin (82% of East Tennesseans voted against it). Seces-
County and surrounding counties, throughout the Civil
sionists gained momentum in April, however, when fed-
War. In the 1860 presidential election, East Tennesseans
eral forces attempted to resupply Fort Sumter in South
rallied around Constitutional Union candidate John Bell,
Carolina, and sentiments in Tennessee began to shift in
helping Bell capture the state’s electoral votes.[1]
favor of joining the Confederacy. President Lincoln had
After Lincoln’s election in 1860, several Southern
called upon Tennessee to provide men to fight against
states made plans to leave the United States and form
the South, forcing the state to take sides. A second ref-
the Confederate States of America. Unionist leaders in
erendum calling for secession, held on June 8, was heavi-
Knoxville began an anti-secession campaign, and spent
ly approved by voters in West and Middle Tennessee, al-
much of the latter part of 1860 holding meetings and
though about 70% of East Tennesseans still voted against
speaking at rallies.[4] In February of the following year,
it. At the convention meetings in Greeneville, Unionist
the state government called for a referendum on
delegates drafted a Memorial asking that the Tennessee
whether or not to hold a convention that would sever
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia East Tennessee Convention of 1861
ties with the Union. On February 25, Tennessee voters re-
jected the convention by about a 69,000 to 58,000 margin.
In East Tennessee, the margin against the secession con-
vention was 33,000 to 7,000. Majorities in every East Ten-
nessee county opposed the convention with the excep-
tion of Sullivan and (by a slight majority) Meigs.[1]
In the weeks following the initial defeat of secession-
ism in the state, both secessionists and Unionists
launched an intensive public speaking campaign. The
threat of violence underscored many of the rallies, and
both sides were warned not to enter certain areas where
their opponents held a strong majority.[4] After the Battle
of Fort Sumter in April 1861, in which South Carolina had
opened fire on the Federal government fort and taken it
by force, feelings intensified across the country. Gover-
nor Harris called for a second referendum, this time to
approve outright an "Ordinance of Secession" and skip-
ping the burdensome step of holding a convention.[4]
On June 8, 1861, Tennessee voted in favor of this ordi-
nance, effectively giving the state government power to
sever ties with the United States and join the Confeder-
ate States. East Tennessee voters opposed the ordinance
by a 32,000 to 14,000 margin, although along with Sulli-
van and Meigs, four other counties— Monroe, Rhea, Se-
quatchie, and Polk— had majorities in favor of secession.
The percentage voting against secession was most lop-
sided in counties where Whigs were traditionally strong, Statue of Andrew Johnson in Greeneville, a few blocks from
such as Sevier (96% against), Carter (94% against), Camp- where the East Tennessee Convention met in June 1861
bell (94% against), and Anderson (93% against). The five
counties that voted in favor of secession were all tradi- just 10% of the state’s slave population, and overall there
tionally Democratic counties. Dramatic shifts occurred in was widespread ambivalence in the region regarding the
Rhea (88% against secession in February, 64% for seces- abolition issue.[1][7]
sion in June), Washington (94% against secession in Fe- While slavery alone may not have been a primary is-
bruary, but only 52% against in June), Knox (89% against sue in East Tennessee’s pro-Union stance, the practice
in February, only 72% against in June), and Roane (96% may have indirectly contributed to it. Many people in the
against in February, only 77% against in June).[1] mountainous region (what is now called Southern Ap-
palachia) viewed the Southern slaveholding planter class
Origins of Union support in as a de facto aristocracy with excessive and sometimes
autocratic powers.[5][7] Convention delegate Oliver Perry
East Tennessee Temple later wrote:
East Tennessee’s support of the Union should not nec- Seven-tenths of the Union men [in East Tennessee]
essarily be interpreted as a rejection of slavery. While were non-slaveholders. They cared little about that
East Tennessee was home to a substantial manumission institution. Some of them were opposed to it on
movement in the first half of the 19th century, aboli- moral grounds. With some it was no special, be-
tionists still constituted a radical minority within the re- cause associated with an aristocracy of wealth.
gion. Several delegates at the Unionist conventions were Many, perhaps nearly every one of the Union men
themselves slave owners who believed the U.S. Constitu- who were slaveholders, preferred the government
tion protected the practice.[5][4] William Brownlow, one to slavery.[7]
of the convention’s most prominent members, had de-
fended the practice of slavery in a well-received speech The strength of East Tennessee’s Whigs, who had long
just four years prior to the convention.[6] Convention co- stood in opposition to Southern Democrats (who were
organizer Oliver Perry Temple later recalled that when pro-secession), was another key reason for the region’s
speaking during the period, he defended slavery, but said pro-Union sentiment. The results of the February and
he would do away with the practice if that’s what it June referendums showed that support for the Union
would take to preserve the Union.[4] East Tennessee had was strongest in counties that had traditionally voted
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia East Tennessee Convention of 1861
Whig.[1] One of the convention’s speakers, Thomas D. Greeneville, June 17-20
Arnold, had been among the Whigs who were vehement-
ly opposed to Andrew Jackson in the 1830s.[8] Convention
delegate William Brownlow was publisher of the Knoxville
Whig, in which he espoused radical Whig views. Conven-
tion co-organizer Oliver Perry Temple once called the
Democratic party "antichrist",[5] and later wrote that
East Tennesseans were "disciples of Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster, both as to the theory and the adminis-
trative policy of the government".[7] The Whigs of East
Tennessee were very well organized, and were able to
mount aggressive pro-Union political campaigns in the
first months of 1861.[4]
Conventions
Knoxville, May 30-31
In early May 1861, Governor Isham Harris and the Ten-
nessee General Assembly formed a military league with
the Confederate States of America and initiated other
moves to align the state with the Confederacy. In re-
sponse, Knoxville’s Unionists called for a convention to
be held at the end of the month to address the state’s pro-
secession actions.[4] The convention was held at Temper-
ance Hall in Knoxville, and was attended by 462 delegates
from 28 counties (Scott County didn’t send a delegate
to the Knoxville meetings, but did appoint a proxy for
the Greeneville meetings). On the first day (May 30), the
convention appointed Congressman Thomas A. R. Nelson
(of Washington County) president and Colonel James G.
Spears of Bledsoe County vice-president. Nelson spoke
for approximately one hour, mostly to recap recent Thomas A. R. Nelson, president of the East Tennessee Conven-
events and blast the state government’s recent actions as tion
unconstitutional. After Nelson’s speech, a committee was
appointed to prepare business for the convention (name- After Tennessee voters approved the Ordinance of Se-
ly to list grievances and adopt resolutions). This com- cession on June 8, 1861, the East Tennessee Convention’s
mittee consisted of 28 delegates— at least one from each president, Thomas A. R. Nelson, called for a second round
county present— with Connally F. Trigg of Knox Coun- of meetings to be held in Greeneville on June 17. Along
ty as chairman. Long-time Whig Thomas D. Arnold spoke with delegates from 29 East Tennessee counties, a dele-
in the afternoon, attacking the governor and legislature, gate from Fentress County (which is legally part of Mid-
and calling secession "ruinous and unwarranted".[9] dle Tennessee) was also admitted. On the first day, Con-
On the second day of the Knoxville convention, An- gressman Horace Maynard (one of the Knox County del-
drew Johnson (at that time a U.S. senator) spoke for near- egates) suggested a system of allotting one vote to each
ly three hours in favor of keeping ties to the Union. The county per 1,000 votes cast in the previous election,
business committee also issued its report, condemning which the convention agreed upon. Most of the first two
the state government’s disregard for the U.S. Constitu- days were spent on convention organization.[9]
tion and stating that law and order had yielded to "fa- On the third day (June 19), the committee on business
naticism" and "passion". The committee resolved that (still chaired by Trigg) delivered its report, resolving that
East Tennessee was still opposed to secession and that 1. East Tennessee was not required to attach itself to
the General Assembly lacked the authority (under the the Confederate States; 2. East Tennessee and any willing
U.S. Constitution’s Contract Clause) to form leagues with Middle Tennessee counties would continue as part of the
the Confederacy. The committee also resolved to meet Union; 3. East Tennessee desired to maintain a neutral
again at a place and date to be determined by the conven- position in any coming war; 4. East Tennessee would de-
tion president.[9] fend itself if occupied by Confederate forces; 5. Conven-
tion delegates would retaliate if any convention mem-
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia East Tennessee Convention of 1861
bers were harmed; and 6. East Tennessee would form In late 1861, Andrew Johnson and Horace Maynard,
military companies. Shortly after the committee deliv- who had both retained their respective seats in the U.S.
ered its report, Knox County delegate Oliver Perry Tem- Senate and House of Representatives, urged President
ple submitted an alternate set of resolutions less "vio- Lincoln to send forces into East Tennessee to drive out
lent" in tone. Temple’s resolutions resolved that 1. East the Confederate army. In a letter to General Don Carlos
Tennessee had no desire to be involved in any impending Buell in Kentucky, General George B. McClellan wrote
civil war; 2. East Tennessee was not bound to support the "Johnson, Maynard, etc., are again becoming frantic and
Confederacy because secession was unconstitutional; 3. have President Lincoln’s sympathy excited. Political con-
a Memorial would be submitted to the General Assem- siderations would make it advisable to get arms and
bly seeking its consent for East Tennessee to form a sep- troops into East Tennessee at a very early date."[5] Con-
arate state; 4. a third round of meetings would be held vention delegate William B. Carter went to Washington
in Kingston whenever the convention president deemed to meet with Lincoln and McClellan, and conceived a plan
necessary. The 5th and 6th resolutions established modes to burn several bridges along the East Tennessee & Geor-
of elections.[9][8] gia Railroad between Bristol and Bridgeport, while Buell
Most of the third day of the convention and part of would simultaneously march across the Cumberland
the fourth day were spent debating which of the two Mountains from Kentucky to capture Knoxville. On
resolutions to adopt. Horace Maynard, John Baxter, and November 8, 1861, Carter and his co-conspirators carried
John Fleming (all of Knox County) supported Temple’s out their half of plan, burning nine bridges along the
proposals. Nelson, Arnold, Robert Johnson (son of An- railroad. Buell, however, was unable to invade due to
drew Johnson, who was unable to attend), William Clift difficulties in crossing the Cumberlands. Zollicoffer’s re-
(of Hamilton County), and William Blount Carter (of sponse to the bridge-burning was to institute martial law
Carter County) were among those who supported the in East Tennessee, under which the region remained un-
original, more aggressive stance. By the afternoon of til the arrival of Union forces under Ambrose Burnside in
June 20, however, the convention had adopted Temple’s September 1863.[5]
alternate set.[8] A "Declaration of Grievances" (written
primarily by Nelson) was attached to the resolutions, Legacy
proclaiming that the June 8 election was fraudulent in
the Middle and West divisions, that East Tennessee would
remain with the Union, and that the Lincoln Administra-
tion had given them no cause for secession. Before ad-
journing, an executive committee was appointed to act
in the interests of the convention should it be unable to
meet.[9][8]
Aftermath
Shortly after the Greeneville meeting, the business com-
mittee of the East Tennessee Convention presented the
Memorial to Tennessee’s General Assembly calling for
the formation of a new Union-aligned state in East Ten-
nessee. Although the Assembly rejected East Tennessee’s
bid for statehood, it assured the region that the state
would not pass any conscription laws. Governor Isham
Harris dispatched Confederate forces to East Tennessee
to protect secessionists in the region. Harris chose Gen-
eral Felix Zollicoffer— a former Whig and one-time
Knoxville resident— to command the Confederate army
in East Tennessee, hoping to pursue a reconciliatory path
with the region. Nevertheless, many of the convention
members fled to the north or went into hiding, although
some agreed to support the Confederacy.[5] Late in 1861,
the county court of Scott County, which had voted
against secession by a 521 to 19 margin (the highest per- William Gannaway "Parson" Brownlow
centage of any county), passed a resolution stating that
it was breaking away from Tennessee and forming the While the initiatives of the East Tennessee Convention
"Free and Independent State of Scott".[2] failed, its members would play important roles in the
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia East Tennessee Convention of 1861
Civil War and Reconstruction. Lincoln selected Andrew City, Tenn.: East Tennessee State University Press,
Johnson as his running mate in 1864, and upon Lincoln’s 1965), pp. 122-126, 217-233.
assassination the following year, Johnson became presi- [2] ^ Larry Whiteaker, Civil War. Tennessee Encyclopedia
dent. William Brownlow spent much of the first half of of History and Culture, 2002. Retrieved: 10 February
the war speaking at rallies in northern states before re- 2009.
turning alongside Burnside’s forces in 1863. Brownlow [3] ^ Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History
was elected governor in 1865, and his controversial and (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 87-89.
highly divisive policies helped Tennessee to become the [4] ^ Oliver Perry Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil
first ex-Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union. War (Blountville, Tenn.: Burmar Books, 1972), pp.
Brownlow was succeeded by fellow convention delegate 80-90, 160-163, 180-185, 196-209. Originally
Dewitt Clinton Senter, who was on the Grainger County published in 1899.
delegation. David T. Patterson, a member of the Greene [5] ^ Stanley Folmsbee, Robert Corlew, and Enoch
County delegation, later served in the U.S. senate, and Mitchell, History of Tennessee (New York: Lewis
along with Maynard and Nelson, several convention del- Historical Publishing Company, 1960), pp. 34-35,
egates, including Leonidas Houk (representing Anderson 69-74.
County) and George Washington Bridges (representing [6] William Gannaway Brownlow, "Sermon on Slavery:
McMinn County), were later elected to the U.S. House of A Vindication of the Methodist Church, South: Her
Representatives. A number of delegates served as Union Position Stated, Delivered in Temperance Hall, in
officers during the war, namely Joseph A. Cooper (who Knoxville, on Sabbath, August 9th, 1857, to the
represented Campbell County), James G. Spears of Bled- Delegates and Others in Attendance at the
soe County, and Andrew Johnson’s son, Robert.[5][8] Southern Commercial Convention." On file at
Whig strength in East Tennessee evolved into sup- Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection, Cornell
port for the Republican Party toward the end of the Civil University. Retrieved: 10 February 2009.
War.[3] After the war, East Tennessee remained a rare [7] ^ Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil War, pp.
consistent pocket of Republican support in the former 545-558.
Confederacy, voting for the Republican candidate in [8] ^ Temple, East Tennessee and the Civil War, pp.
nearly every presidential election from Reconstruction 340-355.
through the 2008 presidential election (the lone excep- [9] ^ Proceedings of the E.T. Convention: Held at Knoxville,
tion coming in 1912, when Theodore Roosevelt ran as a May 30th and 31st, 1861, and at Greeneville, on the 17th
3rd party candidate).[10] day of June, 1861, and following days (Knoxville, Tenn.:
H. Barry’s Book and Job Office, 1861). Obtained via
References Microform at Volpe Library, Cookeville, Tennessee.
[10] Presidential election map by counties. Retrieved:
[1] ^ Eric Lacy, Vanquished Volunteers: East Tennessee 10 February 2009.
Sectionalism from Statehood to Secession (Johnson
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