The convention, in its “Declaration of Grievances,” testified with emphasis to its love for the Union, whose virtues and benefits it extolled; and its hate of secession, whose “treacheries, falsehoods, violences and evil results,” it arraigned in detail and condemned. Yet manifestly, it was averse to angry strife with fellow-citizens of the State who differed from it in opinion, and it was inclined to cultivate forbearance and peace with them. At first it had even contemplated standing aloof from any conflict with arms that might take place without and beyond the State. But it complained that its political opponents had shown a self-willed, intolerant and severe temper towards Union men. The Declaration said, in speaking of secession: “Its bigoted, overbearing and intolerant spirit has already subjected the people of East Tennessee to many petty grievances.”--They “have been insulted; our flags have been fired at and torn down; our houses have been rudely entered; our families treated with insult; our peaceable meetings interrupted; our women and children shot at by a merciless soldiery; our towns pillaged; our citizens robbed and some of them assassinated or murdered.” “No attempt has been spared to deter the Union men of East Tennessee from the expression of their free thoughts. The penalties of treason have been threatened against them, and murder and assassination have been openly encouraged by leading secession journals. As secession has been thus overbearing and intolerant while in the minority in East Tennessee, nothing better can be expected of the pretended majority, than wild, unconstitutional and oppressive legislation; an utter contempt and disregard of Law;--a determination to force every Union man in the State to swear to the support of a Constitution he abhors, to yield his money and property to aid a cause he detests, and to become an object of scorn and derision, as well as a victim of intolerable and relentless oppression.” “In view of these considerations and of the fact that the people of East Tennessee have declared their fidelity to the Union by a majority of about twenty thousand votes,” the convention appointed three of its members to prepare and present a memorial to the State Legislature, asking its consent to the formation of a new State to be composed of East Tennessee and such counties in Middle Tennessee as desired to co-operate to that end. Other resolutions were adopted, which provided for a convention of delegates, duly elected at the polls by the constituency of the new State, to be held at Kingston. Unanimity prevailed, except that two of the Hawkins county delegates protested against the action of the convention.