Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-02-28
The slanderer Cornered.

During our absence in Washington several weeks
since, we saw in Nerthern Copperhead papers q
letter copied from the Nashville Anti "Repuo
lican Banner" which professed to be written az
Knoxville, under the anonymous signature OF n
We sent by mail a short editorial in reply WHICH
was published in the WING, and in which we cnar-
acterized tho accusations against Gov. BrownioW,
contained in this letter as wholly false and
GUS. without the slightest foundation we saiu iU'
Their that the writer of the letter was a N"-'
Scoundrel and Coward" and pledged ourselves
de,,ou,trate that he was Coward should nc uAi0
give his name. ,s,o a..
The letter which was lengthy, was lame AZ
toront 70 bring odum on the Governor, sucn as We
.oo d.;1v in rebelCapers in Tennessee and elsewhere
18th North and South The only sentence which
contained charge specific and serious in character
and 20 which we thought it worth space to reply,
was couched in the following language:
nOn arriving at Knoxville, as agent of the Treas
ury Department, he Gov. Brownlow) collected
$50 900 worth of abandoned rebel property which
he has never accounted for"
The writer of this Nashville rebel paper give
this statement originating with Esquire Andrew
Knott, of this county, by whom it was made to
John NJ. Fleming, Esq, of Knoxville, and whom
this lying writer gives as his authority
On the 23d inst we called on Andrew Knott,
and handed him the letter referred to. After read
ing it carefully, Mr. Knott said that it was an in
famously false statement, and he would bsglad to
give certificate to that effect
We pointed out to him the sentence quoted as the
only portion of the letter worth reply.
On Monday the 26th inst, Mr.. Knott gave us the
following:
KNOXVILLE, Feb. &C. 1866.
Sir Il have carefully read the letter of the anon
ymous correspondent of the Nashville Republican
Banner, writing from this city under date of Jan
9th. In reply have to say that it is wholly falst
that ever said to John NJ. Fleming, or any one
else that Gov. Brownlow as Agent of the Treasury
Department collected $50, 900 worth OF abandon
ed rebel property which he has accounted for
Nor have ever said to Mr.. Fleming, or any one
else that he had collected cent for which DC
had not accounted. On the contrary, do not be-
lieve that he has done so.
l will add that Mr.. Fleming told me he had
made no such statement.
1 am, sir, very respectfully,
ANDREW KNOTT.
To Col JOHN b BRowNLow, Editor Knoxville
Wing.
MT speaker helskelI Ol Iue OhS VI
the leaders of the opposition party to the Governor
pronounces the charge a base falsehood.
From the establishment of the Custom House
here cntil the Governor gave it up, lat which time
the sale of abandoned property ceased) Mr. Il. wal
in the Office as LEGAL Agent, and understands the
manner in which it was conducted. Hon. S. r
Rodgers, NOW Chanceor) was all the time an As
sis ant to the Governor, and gave his whole atten
ton to the business. He publicly brands the trai
torous charge as a base, unfounded calumny. W.
mention the names of Heiskell and Rodgers to show
the character of men the Governor entrusted thu
public interests to-
We seldom notice this sort of gross aspersiOn o
Gov. Brownlow. 1t is the penalty he pays for hav
ing dared to oppose treason and traitors and do hi
duty. 1t is the spirit o. John Wilkes Boothe mani
testing itself through safer instrumentalties thai
! those which made Fords theatre memorable ant
linked the of the traitor and assassin with eter
nal infamy. But the poisoned arrows aimed a
! Gov BrownlOw fall harmless at his feet.
We now notice the liar and scoundrel of the trea
sonable Nashville sheet because he writes from thi
place. or PROCESSES to, and gives the of names par
ties here as his authority who are responsible. w
repeat the pledge, given weeks ago, to demonstrate
that he is COWARD if he will give his name Anc
we say further that responsible man in this com
munity, however hostile his feelings toward the
Governor, will publicly endorse the SANDER.