Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-02-20
EsTIoN OF PRIVILEGE.

Mr.. Duggan rose 10 question OF priVH-
eye The Jonesboro' Union Flag, profes
sing to be Radical paper, but edited by
renegade rebel, saw fit, in recent issue, to
hold him in contemptuous way, ostensibly
because of his actions and votes in the
House. He wished it distinctly understood
that, for his votes, he was in no way respon-
sible to the Flag, or the scoundrel who con-
troled the sheet This Grisham had better
tell what Federal officer had deserted the
Confederate army and joined the Federal
cause. Was it he who stole five hundred
dollars and gold watch from Peleg Cornell?
1t didn't become liar, thief, drunkard
and scoundrel to cast up to him the charge
of drunkenness. He hadn't drank drop
fer over two weeks. This fellow Grisham
is simply deserter, liar, scoundrel and
a puppy. fEH0
Mr.. Weleh had better opinion of Capt.
Grisham. He thought he was a true Union
man, and was not guilty of stealing the
he could not stand here and hear Captain
Grisham denounced as a thief
Mr.. james thought that injustice had
been done to Capt. Grisham. He always
considered him loyal man.
Mr.. Patton was sorry to hear this per-
sonal matter brought up. 1t could do no
good, and should be dropped at once
The affair then subsidized.
The parties to this personal controversy
are well known to the people of East Ten
nessee. For the information of our readers
elsewhere, who have seen or may see the
above, we have something to say.
We viii premise our statement with the
remark that both Duggan and Grisham are
and have always been our warm personal
and political friends, and neither of them
have better friend than the editor of this
paper. We, therefore, claim to be an I'M
prejudiced, impartial spectator of the con-
troversy, and from thorough knowledge
of the character of both parties, we claim
to be competent, as well as impartial, ar
bitter of the merits of the misunderstanding
We say misunderstanding, for nothing but
this could have produced this disagreement
Col Duggan is a Radical member of the
Legislature. He is kind-hearted gentle
man, and has always been q consistent
Union man, and in his course in the Leg
islature has been governed by what he hon
estly believed to be the wishes of his loyal
constituents and the interests of the Union
party.
When he has given vote contrary to
the interests of his party, he has been gov
erned by what he believed to be the express
will of his constituents. To illustrate Col
Duggan voted against colored suffrage
That he would have cheerfully voted for it.
regarding it as eminently just and polite,
we have no doubt, had he not thought it
contrary to the will of his constituents.
That he should have exercised his own ma
ture judgment, and voted for it, regardless
of other considerations, or that he was mis-
taken in what he honestly believed to be
the wishes Of his constituents, and his duty
in the premises, is not german to the ques-
ton
His course on this or other questions did not JUS
tify personal attack his private character, snd
we sincerely regret that it has been made
On reflection, we are sure our ardent, mpulsiye
friend, Grisbam, would not have said anything to
create this alienation among those fighting in the
same great and sacred cause.
Already every rebel paper in the S'ste is rejoic-
ing this unfortunate affair. We not strong
enough to successfully contend with the malignant
cohorts of treason, and fight among ourselves.
Now, as to the charges against Capt. Grsham, we
viii say they are WHOLLY UNToUNDED.
Colonel Duggan has been imposed upon by som
malignant personal enemy of Grisham's. Personally
he knows little nothing of Grisham, and his
statements necessarily based upon the statements
Of a second party. They live hundred miles apart
and, to our knowledge, there has never been any
ISOLATION between them, more than passing intro
duction Ccpt. Grisham 'oas neeer at any time las
Col. Duggan indirectly charges) disLoyaI, or a de-
serter from, tie Confederate cause. He imbibed
from his parents hatred of the institution of sla-
very There is not an element of his nature which
would not revolt at the idea of ssnctioning the
shareholders rebellion. If Capt. Grisham is a de-
serter from the Confederate service then thousands
Of Federal soldiers and Union men are deserters.-
When the war commenced the Captain was citi-
zen of Richmond Va, whittier he had gone from
East Tennessee. If his name was enrolled in the
rebel army, it against his will, and arbitrarily
DONE as the case with thousands of Union men
in East Tennessee As soon as he could get away
from Richmond, he came TO East Tennessee, and
with his brothers and kindred escaped in 1862, to
Kentucky and enlisted in the Union army.
Here he served until the war terminated The
writer of this served with him in the same Brigade
for more than two years During this time, Capt.
o. -
ments and his personal courage was never ques-
toned. On the contrary, he was brave and eff
cient officer.
The charge against Capt. Grisham is, that he
"stole five hundred dollars and gold watch from
Peleg Cornell" The facts of the transaction re-
ferred to within our knowledge arc these
In the engagement at Morristown, the sth, 9th
and 18th Regiments, East Tennessee Federal Cav
airy whipped and routei a rebel Tennessee Brigade
under John c. Vaughn All of Vaug Inns Artille-
ry, six pieces captured, with three hundred
prisoners, and about sixty OF the enemy killed and
wounded
In this engagement Capt Grisham's gallantry
was conspicuous. At the head of his Company, be
charged upon the rebel battery taking many priso-
ners, and the first piece of artillery taken on the
field. One of the number had a considerable sum
in gold. We heard it asserted much as FIVE hun
dred dollars Soon after the engagement was over,
the writer of this, with other officers visited the
Head Quarters of the Commanding 0ficer-now
Major General A. c. Gillem-to congratulate the
General on the victory achieved. While in Gen.
Gillems quarters, we saw Capt. Grsham deliver to
him belt containing gold which he (Grishsla,
alleged to have been taken from one of the rebel
prisoners. Whom this belt was delivered it had not
been opened, each piece of money being sewed up
in the same, The fact that Capt. Grisham prompt
ly delivered it to his Commanding Officer, is evil
dence .aat be did nor as charged, appropriate it,