Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-24
BROWNLOW AND HIS FRIENDS.
The "BIaeh burn-Brie Defense''-A
Question of VeraeIty-Judge Brsens
Defense.
From the Knoxville Wing, Nov. q.

1 AAoS11oNAf wac hAAAlGu hAtl - HADM W 10
publieatic n, and hence we give the writer
the benefit of our circulation. All we
have heard from Blackburn is that he
stated to several gentlemen on the streets
OF Nashville, in substance, that the whcle
story was false, not only as given BY the
Rebel papers, but by Judge Brien hims
self:
NASHVILLE, Nov II. IS6S.-His Excel
lency, VIM G. Brownlow Governor, etc.
dear Sir: see an article in the Press
and Tunes OF this morning, under the
nead of That Blackburn-Brisn disclO-
sure, with Won: card, dated Knoxville,
November Is, 1868 In this, Governor,
you seem to eensure me and i1npate ims
proper motives to me Now, sir, | again
desire to set you right 1t is true did
apply to you to be appointed Supreme
Judge. l done so because l desired the
position, and knew quite large mum,
Der of both our personal and political
friends desired it In my letter to you,
| suppose | technically violated the rules
of modestY, bnt owing to our personal
and political relations, | presume to VIC.
late the polite rule and appeal to you per
sonally, and at the time Of the Bradley
trial, | did not know but what would be
| appointed. believed was entitled to it
and believe sOyet. You state that you
saw proper not to make the appoint
ment That If you had commissioned
Mr.. Brien | have no doubt these cues.
| lions would neverhave been asked Black
burn. In this you censurs me wrong
fully, l had no improper motives under
the sun. You have been misinformed,
no doubt The article referred to was
unauthorized, was a strike at both you
and myself; and, in my opinion, done to
keep you from making the appointment,
as the question had been previously no
ticed in the newspapers. But to the
point l am not TO blame in the slightest
| will again state now this occurred and
your censure should be as to others and
not me-.
was employed to prosecute Bradley,
the adopted son of Col Blackburn, for
the murder of Parrish Col Blackburn
had himself introduced as q witness for
the defendant He stated on his direct
examination, without a question or init
nation from me or any one on the side of
the prosecution, that he arrested Parrish
on suspicion of horse stealing, placed
him in charge Of Bradley and others, di-
rected them to keep him safe until morn
ing, when they should accompany him to
Nashville, where he would get 4 reward
Of $500, which he, Blackburn, would
divide with him, Bradley, and the other
guards.
[ have never heard Of any reward for
Parrish, and to test Blackburn, l asked
him, if there had been any reward offered
for the arrest Of Bradley. He answered
not publicly, | then asked him what he
meant by that, and state here, had no
idea what his answer would be, when he
answered as before written to you. l did
not believe it, and in order to catch him,
not to reflect on you, l had MIN to repeat
it, and had it written down. In my ar
gument denounced it as untrue, that
Col Blackburn was mistaken too, and
appealed to him that he was mistaken,
when he in his plea said he was not mis-,
taken. Now SIR, defended you against
this vile charge, and for this in the dis
charge Of my duty, my friends blow me
instead of Col Blackburn
Blackburn did not say nor did any one
intimate that the reward or any part OF
it was TO 90 to you, but he, Blackburn,
was to divide it with his guards Now
Sir, / state again, that | have ever been
your personal and political friend, and
really thought q confidential political
friend | have even defended you and
no mortal man ever heard me say a wOrd
against you or your administration
am a Radical upon principle. Your re-
mark that You neither want the advocacy
or friendship Of any man OF set Of men
who believe You capable Of any such con-
duct as attributed 20 You by this Blacks
burn BrieH insinuatlon, although aimed
suppose at me, does not bit me, for you
know l never believed one word Cf it, |
never charged it
l think yourquarrel should be in another
direction. ] am not begging your friend,
ship, ] only want you % know the facts
and then if you thought was censurable
then blame me. | think if anybody has
a right to complain it is me, as l had
written you a private letter requesting
the appointment, to bring that before the
public, | suppose for some cause TO injure
me with my party for fear as some efthem
do, that am in somebody's way, but this
is only | suppose a matter of taste as
for satisfactorily reasons to yourself it
seems You had determined not to cOmmisG
sion me before the Brady trial Of which
however, / have no intimatiOn, but it
must be candid believed you would. L
disclaim any notion whatever to even
reflect upon you in my course of exam.
nation. The testimony Of Blackburn was
not elected by meupOn cross examination,
it was voluntarily on his part, only bad
him to explain himself as was my duty
to do in prosecuting the most cold blOOde1
murder ever saw.
In this communication l am asking no
fayors, only to be set Alright You had
the appointing power, and when you de-
clined to commission me- you mistOOk the
man, if you think | reflect upon you and
that would cause me 70 injure you No
sir. While | know it is the policy of
certain ring or lick spittle to injure me
for fear | am in some ones way. i
thank God | am independent Of them all
do what think to be right and risk the
consequences. state facts to you sir,
and you have no right to doubt them, and
you can print this or any part Of 1t. /
have never done you any harm or injury
in my life, and if You are DESTROYS to
crafty few political tricksters and the
rebels by casting blame or censure
upon me, do 80.
Respectfully, yours etc,