Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-06-13
Parson Brownlow's Last Dying
Speech and Confession"

Parson Brownlow, in his recent speeci
in this city, alluded to speech which he
had prepared for delivery on the scat
fold when he fully expected to be hung
by his prosecutors in Knoxville. The
danger was imminent. Several Union
men had already been executed, and the
infuriated troops in camp and in the
liquor shops about the town were clam
orous for the blood of the Parson
Under these circumstances he prepared
the following speech, in pencil, in prison.
He thinks they would have granted his
request to address the crowd, from an
intense curiosity to hear what he had TO
say at such trying moment, and they
would certainly have been edited. The
Parson handles the leading traitors with
out gloves. The speech, with other Incl
dents Of Parson Brownlow's eventful
career, will soon be published by Geo.
W. Childs, of Philadelphia, in a work
from the pen of Parson Brownlow, en-
titled, Sketches of the Rise, Progress
and Decline of Secession; with a Mar
rative of Personal Adventures among
the Rebels"
Felioac Couatrynea l have often ad-
dressed many of you, upon different
topics, but never under circumstances
like those which now surround me, as
feel that | am speaking for the last time.
| suppose l have been sentenced to be
hung by court-martial sitting in this
cityi ! say suppose so, for have never
had any trial, or even notice Of trial
being in progress So it has been with !
those who have been executed before me.
1t is alike matter Of Indifference whether
| was tried by htat court-martial iu my
absence and in the absence of witnesses
and counsel, or whether I bad been
present; the result would have been
death. The judge advocate, Thomas j.
Campbell, is perfdious man, as destitute
of real honor and purity of purpose as
be is of true courage and manly virtue.
Associated with him is James D. Thoma,.
a man who was expelled from the Meth
odist ministry for whipping his wife and
slandering his venerable old fatherin-law!
This man Thomas has advocated on
the bench, in open court-martiaI, the i
sending of the Union masses of East {
Tennessee to Alabama and Mississippi, |
and working them in the field, under {
negro oyerseers, and the hanging of
The Union leaders here Justice at the
hands of such q set of men is the last
hing would expect. Indeed, there is |
more glory in being put to death by such /
men than in being acquitted, after going b
through the forms of trial.
1t is known to many of you that l had a
eft home to avoid personal violence, and o
vas out of the reach of the mob, who h
,ould not find me, after repeated efforts |,
~ squads sent out armed, by that arch Il
lypocrite and would-be murderer, W. B. d
Wood Of Alabama. In my concealment I
was informed by letter from Major n
General Crittenden, in command at this s
'lace, that he was instructed by the Sec O
etary OF War at Richmond, Mr.. Benia- Fl
min, to give me passports and military c,
scort to conduct me out Of this bogus b.
government into the Federal Govern fc
1ent /; and l was invited to appear at G
is headquarters in twenty-four hours, in
there be promised me that l should be tr
FINISHED with said passports. 1 was til
here within the time specified, accom- III
aned by Colonel Baxter; the arrange C
lent was made, and the company Of tn
'aptain Gillespie designated as my so
'cort. But that evening, just before til
lndown, | was arrested upon a warrant B
sued by that disgraceful specimen of or
ur nature, Commissioner Reynolds, W
pom the false oath of Attorney Ramsey, lie
corrupt man, for whom no decent of
ecessionist entertains any respect. The aft
large against me was treason, founded Ia
oon editorials, one of which has been d.
lblished, iE part, by Ramsey, in the 81
knoxville Register and although the sol
iserable man swore that the editorial an
as published since the 10M of Jtne, tel
which time the State voted out, my In
es will show that it was published on be
e 25th of May. Fe
Thus was taken out of the hands of ect
major general and o. bis Secretary of Bu
ar bya worthless little Confederate usi
wyer, and thrown into the common fec
| Of this county refused bail, when wh
e best the country affords was offered hes
d, up to this eventful hour, have been Wis
MED a trial, and an opportunity to de- Dor
I'd myself before the court condemning woI
, to an ignominious death. The proof Mi
all that is here CHARGED will be found the