Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-06-09
From tie lpoughkeepsI Telegraph.
4 SENATOR FL. I L.gTUNNEY.

SENATOR II. L.sTUNNEY
The New-York Evening Mirror gives
The following singular account Of the life
Of the Hon. Hopkins T.. Turney, Senator
from Tennessee. 1t is the neatest piece
Of romance roal life that we have seen for.
some time. fiSs
In the late poelical controversies the
U. s. Senate referred 10 Mr. Calhoun;
called TO The arena a Senators ho has
lived 10 comparative Senatorial sobscnriiy
ever since he has held The seat fhiIi.he soc-.
cupies. The name OF that Ssnator IS
Hopkins L.. Tnrney: He is ssEGewhat
remarkable man. and tbs last oneS indeed,
that any one would baveIis isuppossli would
have presented himself. as the displ itaantof
John C. Calhoun: A. brief sketch of the
life Of Turney, l think will notit|esunac:i
ceptable 10 our readers. Il lie sdaewhat.
romantic, and reflects ND discredlt The.
athor of its paternity. MI. Hopkins LII
Turney is a native Of one ofthesnountain.
counties OF Tennessee, and was in early
life apprenticed to tailor. Hss learned
the trade of his master, and, at dhlis lend OF.
his novitiate established himself 81 shop in.
the little villageaoft NJ Minville. Heiwas
Industrious, prudent aud ecohin ical, at
the outset Of life, and iwon}dspr robably.
have remained on the shop boarda aill this
day had he not acquired habits OF dissipa.
tion. After The lapse Of few years he
became very dissolute. neglected IBIS bu.
siness, and was regarded as a lost man. z
In the village Of McMinvilleihele lived
woman Of very questiouabIeisif moi OF
absolute abandoned characterss Sies.was
old aud ugly, and in all things offensive
and repulsive. One night len flhe
Court Of the county was in session and
when the village as crowded with reckless
and laugbter-Iovipg lawyers, eyerJ ready
for row, it was agreed that Mr. Hopkins
L.Turney,w happened to beinsa spree,
should be married TO the fen,alsrin allu-'
sion. 1t was thought that a tiirg of the
kind would be a good joke, andit was
carried into execution-lhe county clerk
officiating as master Of ceremonies. Mr..
Turney was 10 condition thai left him
unconscious Of the act he was perpetra.
ling. The next day. however, when be
awoke to behold in himself a married man
welded 10 woman who was the re-
Yproach and The abhorrence Of ALL the
reputable people in ihe village OF Nc
Minyile.
S,ung to the quick, by ahe psrfidious
joke that had been palmed upon him, ne
painted for revenge, and determined il
should be had; and it was very speedily
obtained with syengeances Whilst the
Court was 10 session, he repaired to the
court house and up 10 there Jerk, said TO
him, II understand was;married last
night 10 woman ofthe village, aud that
you officiated as master ofthe ceremony"
The charge was notdenied; onihe con-
trary it was freely. admitted aasbnt; at the
same time il was urged that The whole
thing was but joke, and sass snch should
be regarded. The womaIstad, however.
in her possession a sealedsscerli6cale Of
marriage, signed by the clerk, and there,
was no, escape from it. SesingSthat there
was a storm Of Indignation changing over
on coomnm5epced mem a series 81 fsndh dhsiFahtes AID
esxhorlations. All. however was unavail-
ing; and at the next instant he found both
fhis ears cut of close to his head, by the
swift hand Of tho mau whom he had so
grossly and YET SD jocosely Injured. This
savage act, though done in The presence
ofa Court Of Judicalurs, was deemed
righteous relribution, and no legal steps
veye taken 10 arfesg the agEressor.
The late Felix Grundy happened to be
present, and although he did not advocate
the deed, he did not denounee it,,but ta-
king Mr.. Turney 5y the hand. said 10 him :
You have done that Today, which
proves tina, you possess the spirit Off man,
and vet il may subject you q the dungeon
of The Penilenliary. But I'll protect aud
defend YOU. Come with me 10 Nashville;
abandon your vicious habits; place your.
self under my instruction ; and Iii make a
lawyer Of YOU The invitation was ac-
cepted. Mr.. Turney was entered as
student of law in the Office Of Felix Cru
ndy, became at once an exemplary. abste-
mious. studious citizen, andFwas speedily
admitted 10 the bar. His iife-frum that
day TO ,his-bas been pure and irreProach-,
able.
10 the year 1887, Mr.. Tuiney was ele-
c,ed TO the u. S. House of Representatives,
and held sea, 10 i, Till the ySar l843. 10
1874 he particularly distinguished himself
in the famous Tennessee canyasH Of the
United States Electors, as ap advocate of
Mr.. Polk. III the year lS45 be was
prominent as a candidate for United States
Senator, and had expected tfe united sup
part oflhe democracy Of the Legislature ol
Tennessee, and The influence II the present
President Of the Union.-Coitrary 10 his
hopes and expectations, a caucus OF the
Legislature was held, aud Mr.. C.P. Nlchol-
uon was agreed upon as the cal sdida,e OF the
democratic party. Mr.TurneJ avowed that
this result was brought about unfairly and
uujus,ly, aud determined that he would
not abide BY il. ~
The election took place last winter.
When il came on Mr.. Tumey aVowed
himself an Independent democratic csntil.
date, drew of from tho caucus the moon-
tain democracy and the Wings vdtlng