Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-11
Norman VS.. Brooks.

card from Major z. j. Brooks, Of this city, late
Psymaster of the militia, in which he yindicsted
himself from The vile charges Of rebel papers, OF
mslfessance in Office. Since then, as shown in our
psper Of last week Major Brooks has been COM
pletely vindicAted by The official report Of Colonel
Boone, the officer selected by the Legislature to
make settlement with The militia In this card of
Major Brooks, he denounced IN bitter personal Ian
gusge Judge Norman, Of the Senate We give his
own words
Scarcely had my (Brooks) feet trod the soil Of
smother State, when the Hon John Norman, with
out cause, and with no shadow Of truth TO sustain
his action, in the most public put upon the
records of the State the npTovoksd the etshonoTG-
BE The sTosndlesS the 6Listerirg lie, that had ab
seconded from the State and was in New York with
$1,000 OF the State funds. ! cannot imagine his
motives for this attack. IL lie expected to build
himself up By stealing from that which is deRrer
| to nee than all things else my reputation, he de-
serves pity, and If be made his most cowsrdly ct
tack because Of my connection with the State Gov
/ ernment he deserves contempt, and whatever his
motives were, they were dishonorAble, and unwor-
thy the position be occupies else he had not pub
| lshed so base falsehood without investigation"
In reply 10 this, Judge Norman writes as follows
81 have quoted the above, with the view of set
ting in contrast with il what did say go that your
readers may know whether, in place of defaming
one with whom ! am personally unacquainted, l
/ did not wish TO protect him, and the State Gov.
eminent, of which have been an ardent and con-
listent supporter since Its reorganization
| Senate resolution No. - being under considers
ton 10 appoint q committee TO settle with the Guar
! termaster and Paymsster, / stated TO the Senate
that Tsinor outside said that the Paymaster had
some 81 900 or 5000 in his hands that belonged
/ 10 the State and that be was in New York. Wheth
/ CT this was or not did not know, bat thought
| it needed investigation
II had no interest in the question only as it af-
fected the State and the character of its officials,
and hence nv advocacy of the resolution, that the
settlement might be made and the reputation Of no
one suffer.
! ~ submit below plain statement Of facts to an
/ impartial public and ask them to determine isho
has told a biiStsring lie i0ithORt Investigation
This statement of Judge Norman as to what he
did sag is supported by the testimony of eighteen
Senator'S all of which we published last week, and
which ia but reiteration Of Judge Norman's state
ment else we would republish it in this connec-
ton, for we have no desire to do Judge Norman
any injustice. That Judge Norman is correct in
his statement as to the phraseology he employed,
we have no doubt. So much for this.
The concluding sentence Of the statement of the
Senators, as published is as follows
I'VE believe the attack was unproyoked and
without justification"
This paper was carried to the Senator'S by Hon.
A. M Gate, of Hamilton, and some who signed it
did not know this clause was in it, and-while en-
dorsing the accuracy Of Judge Norrnan's statement
as to what he said--do not endorse the language
above quoted, which would make them partizsns Of
Judge Norman in q personal controversy. We
have no idea that any Of the Senator'S unless it be
Mr.. Cate, have any feeling in tho matter save to
do Justice to Judge Norman in cerroborating his
e4rso,liiiss5 him the cour-
tesy due brother Senator.
Bot what are the facts as TO the allegation that
Brooks attack "Unprovoked and without justi-
fcstion." Taking Judge Normsns own statement
of his remarks, Brooks may we'll afford to abide
the verdict of impartial public 70 whether he
acted without justification and "provocStion,'
and in saying this We do not endorse his personal
denunoiation of Judge Norman, for we accept the
statement Of the latter gentleman that his motives
were good, and that he was not governed by any
unkind feeling towards Major Brooks.
Judge Norman, upon the authority Of All out
aide rumor, said that the Paymastar had $1,000
or So, 900 in his hands belonging TO the state, and
that he was in New York This was made the
basis for publishing as thief and defauter in every
rebel paper in the whole South and in the copper
head papers North, gallant Union soldier whose
character foT integrity is good as that Of any ot
izen Of Knoxville. Was there nothing in this to
provoke" an honorable man TO use harsh language
toward enc by whom, according to "rumors out
lide," he had been denounced as a defaulter and
theft For be it remembered that Brooke, in his
remarks about Norman, had as much right to act
Al, ii
State as the latter upon the authority of that unde-
Aned person." rumor outside Beside, the re-
marks Of Judge Norman, as reported by himself
inevitably created the Impression Senators them
selves have said it did upon them, that the Pay
master was defsulter or dishcnest and naturally
gave rise to the unfounded ISLANDERS which have
been published. Such was the effect Of Judge Nor
msn's language, let his motives have been what
they might. BY calling at the Executive Office, be
could have Learned that not one dollar Of the State
funds we're /" in his tthe Paymasters) hands" and
with him in New York, but that the Psymssters
accounts were entirely correct
After the Conservative press Of Nashville and
the whole State had gloried IN publishing to the
world that the Psymaster Of the Militia thief
and defaulter, and gloried in publishing this sim
plg because he gas connected l0ih the hated militia.
We think the Nashville Press and Times might
have done more than publish the report Of Colonel
Boone, without comment. Especially, since Il has
published the card Of Judge Norman, and failed to
poublish any portion of Asjor Brooks defence
This much from the official Ststs organ Of the Re-
publican party, and the only journal of this party
published in English at the capital the friends Of
MSjor Brooks and the party had right 10 expect