Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-20
Question of Feracity--A Congressman
vs.. the RIind preacher.

The Rev. Mr.. MMBURN, in his very agreeable a1,-
photography from which we have already made
RHRsPo4s extracts, gives remarkable account of
the manneP IN which he became Chaplain Of Con.
gress. He was sailing up the Ohio in company
with number of Senator's and Representatives, and
was shocked to find that they drank good deal of
whisky and swore with an incredible atrOeity.
young and modest man, he, for long time kept 81
ent, but at last, his profession having been discoT-
cred. he was called upon to preach before the dgni
tariss in the cabin of the steamer. He could hesi
tate no longer, and, according to his own statement
sdniuistersd very sound reproof to their coun-
trys legislators for their want of reverence and de-
cency. His fidelity did not go unrswarded, Instead
of being angry, his auditors raised a contribution
for him. and adniring his zeal and eIoquence, pro
cured for him the appointment which he afterward
filed with so much credit.
Thus far the Blind Preacher" The Hon. ISAAC
E. MORSE, Of Louisiana in communication to the
New Orleans DeHa, tells very different story. He
says:
If Mr.. Miburn had seen and heard the 'profqaity,
gdnabng and dT1ulsenlesS which so stirred his spr-
it, and had fearlessly rebuked it. as he SAYS in
his sermon Christian charity not to say gratitude
should have induced him to omit it in his book,
which may perhaps live long after all of US But it
is neither true nor has it the resemblance of truth
was one of those members of Congress. Iheard
nothing like that sermon, and have too much pride
and sefrespest to have contributed to pay the ex-
penses of any one TO Washington and use my best
exertions to get him elected Chaplain, had heard
one tths Of what is there set down.
Having THade SO many trips up and down the
Ohio it Is difficult to say who were on board at this
particular time. Ny impression Is that there were
very few members Of Congress- and none answer
ing the description of this wholesale slander.
think Hon. j. j Crittenden, of Kentucky, was one
and without consulting him any other person, |
am satisfied that he and the other men on board will
corroborate everything state
1t is true that we all attended divine service on
Sunday. and were much interested for this very
Young man, on account OF his mOdesiy, poverty, and
great affection that made a contribution and in
yited him to BECOME candidate for the cbapainey.
/ think the idea originated with myself know that
| worked very hard to secure his election. l rec
collect one circumstance connected with his
election which will be probably reccOllected by
MANY members from the SOUTH, \ Pumor was put
in circulation that MIR. MlbuPn was an Ab0itonst,
and many of the Southern meplbers came 20 lAe ana
satisfied them that it nut tPRe. As loopd Y0qeh
for from the conversations had with him on that
subject: and it circulated through the Hall that Mr..
Nofss nsw and youched for him. And but for the
exertons Of two or three Of US, he could not have
been elected as he was an entire stranger by name
and reputation to vast majority of the House.
Mr. Milburn has published this wholesale sander
far and wide. and trust that those members who
we e on board at that time, viii give theP statements
to the public.
Mr. rrittenden know is neither drQnkard lop
GAMBLE -, nor am l. but the position which Mr. Mil
burn must occupy. whether his statement is true or
false, is not a all enviable