The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-04-08
HILLSDALE, MICH, TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1862.
From the Cincinnati Gazette. March %.
THE HERO BR0wNL0w IN CINCINNATI.
His Account OF Rebel Prosecutions.

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His Account OF Rebel Prosecutions.
Mr.. Brownlow was introduced to the mem
bers by the President Of tho Chamber, and
then addressed them as follows:
l am sorry, gentleman and fellow citizens,
that | am not in condition to make you
even a short speech. / havo been accustom.
ed for thirty five years TO making public
speeches, and have only failed in the art du
ring the past three years, while suffering from
bronchial affection Of the throat. | am get.
ting better, however, and although for two
years past could hardly speak above whs-
per, can now mako myself heard at the dis
tauce Of few feet, particularly when l am
talking about Disunion-for | never get on
that subject that God, in his Providence, does
not increase the volume Of my voice.
In addition to my other sufferings, have
been incarccrated in a damp, gloomy Jail, shut
out from the fresh air and free exercise, for
three months. This has been hard on me,
who was always accus'o omed to jump higher
fall ila,ter, and squsll louder than any other
man in Tennessee, cheers, always saying
what | pleased, going where | pleased, and
coming when | pleased. For three months
have been kept in close confinement, and the
only favor allowed me was that my little son
should bring me my meals three times a day
The food that was given my fellow prisoners
by the officers in charge of the Jail, was the
foulest offal from the hotel. No true Vir,
ginian would give such food to his dog. My
food was prepared by my wife, and was
brought to me by my little son in little bas
ket.
The officers in charge used to take this bas
ket, lift off the napkin, examine between tho
plates. and watch all my movements TO sec
that some little bit Of paper containing infor
nation from my friends was net concealed in
the basket, and when | had flushed my meal
the same examination was made to SEQ that
did not communicate with them. The only
information | obtained was from my lit (
son, who would whisper to me that fgh'
had occurred here or an engagement there
but no details, whatever were given me, fol
they charged that in the absence Of Governor
Johnson and Horace Maynard, that was at
the bottom Of the conspiracy and the leading
spirit in tho opposition to the Southern Con
feGcracy.
|, however, entered into learned diplo
matte correspondence with little miserable
jew, naTcd Judah p. Benjamin, the social.
cd Secretary OF War Of the Southern Confed
cracy. In that corr spondencc / have tn
vanity to believe that got the better Of him
This correspondence" has never been printed
although, now that am at the North, shall
take tho opportunity to lay it before the pub
lie.
In that correspondence lie stipulated to LET
me out. He said | was bad man. and q
dangerous man to the Southern Confederacy
and, said he, 81 have directed Major General
George b. Critenden to send you through
the lines to the people you serve" agreed,
said /; "fit out your escort. and will accom-
pany it. propos, to do for the Southern
ConfeGeracy what the devil never did quit
the country" Choers.] About the time
was ready 10 start, an officer came in with @
warrant for my arrest. Holding in my pock
ct the passport of tho Secretary of War Of tho
bogus Government Of the Southern Confcder
acy, and the order for my removal signed by
Crittendcn, | declined to notice the warrant.
This officer, Il little upstart namel James G
Ramsey, seized upon me, and swearing to his
own warrant, the pcrjured villain, that had
committed treason against the State Of Ten.
nessee in writing certain editorial which was
published in the Knoxville Wig, a5d which
mark you, was printed May "a, one month
before tho ordinance Of cession was passed
and Tennessee had passed into the Southern
Confederacy, aud yet Il is was treason to the
State. | was taken out Of the hands of the
military authorities, denied a trial and thrust
into jail on the affidavit Of this miserable, de-
bauched little puke.
After being in Jail three weeks, was at
tackled with typhoid fever, and for twelve
weeks was very low. was removed to an
other room, and becoming worse they calleC
in an additional physician. Although | wa
80 low that had to be turne1 over in ms
bed, and could not move Of my own will, the
guards were doubled and extra precauti, n
were taken to prevent my escape. The ex
cuse they gave for all this was that was on
ly pretending to be sick. In this they show
nessee. | intended TO see them out if al
were trumps, and never to run from them.
intended carrying out the arrangements made
with Benjamin.
Tho Brigader. General commanding n
Knoxville came in to see me one day. Th,
prisoners all rallied around to hear what was
said. Hc said: "Brownlow, you ought no
to be here Il think so, too," said L.
snow says he, "comc along with me anj
VIC will make it all right. We will 60 up tc
Judge Humphrey, at tho Court House, aud
you can take the oath Of allegiance to the
Southern Confederacy.' | turned round tc
him, at this insulting proposition. ash,
said l., "bcfore | will take the oath Of allie
glance to the Southern Confcderacy, to OBJ
tain my freedom, ] will rot in Jail with dis
ease, or die with old ag9. Nay, more--I
deny that you arc authorized to administer
the oath of allegiance cf your rotten mob
government, which no power on earth will
nunr rncnnnizn Rafnrn L rnl In "a | will