Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-19
A Card from Major E. ]. Brooks.
Knoxville, February IS, 1858.

KNOXVILLE FeOrusry ID lcoe,
Col. j. B. BTogHIOW, Editor, &C.
DEAR SIR;-As my name has, during the last
few weeks-thanks 70 the Press and Herald of this
cty-been blazoned throughout the country as that
of defaulter to the State, am forced, in order
that the facts may obtain as wide circulation as pos
| sible to ask you to publish the following:
About the first Of August last, at the request of
the Governor, and by the advice and with the con-
sent Of my (then) partner, John NJ. Fleming, &C.
cepted the position of Paymaster Of the Militia /;
since which time there has come into my hands the
sum of $685. 4l 49, out of which have disbursed
about $4,000, leaving in my hands about $4,000
on the 18th Of December 1857, when the last pay
ment wss made, Early in December I was in
Nashville ready and anxious TO settle with the
State but could not effect settlement for the rea-
that the Comptroller had not the time at less.
he said he could not settle with me until late in JAN
uary or the frat Of February. Not being able to
relieve myself Of the responsibilities of the position
at that time, consented to pay of two companies
more Of the militia at and near this place, which
did, as above stated, on the It'll of December The
balance of the money, my salary not having been
drawn, deposited in the Exchange and Deposit
Bank Of this city, and first informing the Governor
of my sction with his full approval, went to Now
York on private business, of the nature Of which
my friends were fully advissd> And what was the
result? Scarcely had my feet trod the soil Of
another State when the Hon. John Norman, with
out cause, and with no shadow Of truth to sustain
his action ia the most public manner put upon the
records of the State the gnpro0o.sd TIE ishonoTG5ls
the grOnGlsst, the clustering he that had Gbscond-
ed from the State, and was in New York with
$1,000 of State funds. I cannot imagine bis mo-
tives for this attack If he expected to build him
self up, by Stealing from that which is desrsr to
me than all else my reputation, he deserves pity,
and if be made his most oowardly attack because Of
my connection with the State government he de-
serves contempt and whatever his motives we're,
they were dishouorsble and unworthy the position
he occupies, else he had not published so base a
falsehood without investigation.
| Scarcely had the echoes of Judge NoTmsns voice
died in the distance before the editor of the Press
and Herald seized upon the rumor "a be claimed it
to have been, and here at my home, where the
facts could be and were obtained by him, the lie, il,
a asOrs agprovoksd, more ooloardly, and mare dis
honorable manner, put in print, in the columns
Of his paper, and heralded throughout the whole
country. The editor, as he said, hired drsy to
haal him over to the Governors very anxious to
know if the State funds we're safe, and, doubtless
fearful that the unfortunate" Executive hRd again
been msplacing his confidence, At the Governors
he was informed that the State funds were in bank
here, and that l yss absent with leave, &c, and,
in his next issue, was magnanimous enOught to say
that, We are authorized by the Goverror to state
that the accounts Of the Psymas.er sre all right
A few days later the same gentlsmanly editor
called upon my aged mother, claiming to be very
warm personal friend Of NINE and telling her IN
substance that he did not believe a word Of the ru-
mors regarding me- sRd then as an exalted speci-
men of his .-uthfulness as am informed, be stated
publicly in the streets that no believed bad run
Of with the State funds, and my mother knew il
and was in collision with me- lid he think Of
his own really noble and good mother when he was
acting so falsely with and towards miner Did he
imagine what his own feeling would be if some
thing, wearing the form Of man, should attack his
mother in as gentlemanly % mhnnes as he did mine
A day later, with full knowledge Of the facts that
the money was in bank here, and absent with
lesve from Gov Brownlow, three articles, IN one Is
sue Of his truthful and valuable paper, were devo-
ted TO me One dedicated 10 the "Unfortunst,
Man, reiterating Whist may have been TO him &
rumor At first but had now, from his knowledge o.
the facts grown 70 be base fslsehod that is thst
was sbsont without leave with my pockets vel
filed with public money, and did not contemplate
returning; and the others, headed, respectively
Personal and Notice, being as truthful as tbs
frst. And with these allow me 20 deal for few
moments.
Mr.. Fleming intImstes that be found something
in the firm books that reflected upon me Anxioul
to iniure me, a. be doubtless was judging from hi
conduct for the frst time in two YEAR, As opened
firm account book, no. for the purpose Ct giving
client credit for money paid, not for the purpose O.
charging himself With money recsivsd, but 70 ie'
what frauds had been committed upon him oy th'
man be had taken into the most intimate relations
Of friendship" What be found, and al he found,
will state that il may be knowa from my Own Up
what my actions have been, AID not De left % hi
co,rardy .7sEa1t5s 70 force false conclusions upcl
the minds Of the public
When Mr.. Fleming and myself became associated
together in business, 1 Set spsrl { page near III
back PAT Of ore ofthe arn books or which 20 kee
& cash account with myself aud on that page 70
the FIRST eight months Of our partnership, eniere
every item of cash BY nc received. During thos
. months discovered that he never made IN entry
! in book, neither eredising client with none,
J paid, nor charging himself with money had, an
never informing me Of 8 cOllectiea made, If sucl
was to continue 20 be the ease aud death accden
should ovcrtake ne, could clearly see the result
? The firm books would show against ne every dol
lsr which had received, and not exhibi: an iteH
against him. Judging from my knowledge Of hi