Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-13
Iohnsop and EsrownIo,r.

.
IL the summer Of 1853, politics ran high in
Tennessee. Andy johnson, Lincoln's present
military governor was the nominee of the
Democracy for gubernatOrial honoTs. He was
opposed By man OF ordinary ability, and at
that time great lover of spirits more ardent
than his Own-the regular nominee of the
American" party-and also the champion Of
the "Maine liquor law" party The odds
against Johnson was fearful, and perhaps 10
candidate ever labOred under so many apparent
difficulties. The "Know-Eothing" party had, in
many districts, made clear sweep Of every
thing. The Democracy had become aWkWardly
mixed up with it, ali over the State, and es-
peclally IN the eastern and middle portions of
the State. Many leading Democrats had taken
the stump for the inYIncible "San," and there
seemed to be falling from grace among the
apostles Of Jefferson, generally
The contest opened In Murfrsesboro'; johnson
rarely ever INDUCED in a social glass; he was
them as now, cool, clear-headed, unscrupulous
demagogue His first speech was signal til
umph over his antagonist. He there inaugurated
a revolution in public sentiment, which subse-
quently swept over the entire border States The
prominent Democrats who had been stumping
It for Sam, were speedily whipped back into
ranks, and many prominent leaders Of the oppo-
sitiOn became converted to JJhnson'5 faith
some for the sake of position, others because
they doubted the loyalty Of the ' American"
party to the South. johnson made Southern
rights and religious persecution his hobby, and
invariably denounced kuOW-NOthingism' as g
new name for abOlitOnism. In turn, Brown
low, in behalf Of the Know Nothing party, de-
nOunced Johnson regularly, once a week, as an
abOltionist, and quoted some of bis old speeches
to prove it. Each wed with the other as the
exponent Of Southern rights, and in denunca-
tons OF the North and the FTee-soH party. Each
accused the other Of being in league with the
fres-negFo. party at the North the charge Of
wilful falsehood was freely passed between tnemi
both seemed to possess the patience of Job and
the foTbearaDce Of Socrates; no hostile meeting
was limited at no personal satisfaction was
demanded by either It was strictly a war of
words, in which each took especial pains to
show up the other as the greatest liar, as well ss
the greatest hypocrite and demagogus the world
ever saw.
The heated contest passed over. johnson
was elected by an overwhelming majority, aud
a Jubilee" meeting was held by the Democracy
ia Knoxville few weeks following, at which
johnson made a speech. In that speech he de-
nounced, among other parties, VIM. B. Camp
ball and Neil S. Brown, as being abolitionists
at heart and traitors to the South. We have
now before US short extract OF that speech in
which occur these words;
Not only has my political character been
assailed, out my private character has likewise
been the subject of shameful discussion. Among
the ferosst Of my essailants is one BrOwnlow,
whom you all know. His reputation for lying
is eqUalled only by his fame as common black
guard. He can slsndeI no one"
In January following at the regular meeting
of the Legislature, Brownlow made speech on
the public square in Nashville, in which occurs
the following sentence:
I here denounce, upon his own dunghill, and
I hope within sound of my voice. Andrew John
son, the Governor elect Of Tennessee, as vile
demagogue, an abolition satrap, an infamous
liar, libel upon depraved humanity" etc.
Many persons who heard both speeches, ex-
pressed their convictions at the time, that both
hal spoken the truth in reference to each other.
Having succeeded in satisfying everybody that
such was the case, they now meet in recOncilia-
ton, shed tears, make friends, and console each
other in thig their dav of tribulation