Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-16
FURAY HAS A TALK WITH BROWN.
LAW

some nntorlety, good or bad, mas become
quite fashionable of late years Furay,
(Y. s. of the Cincinnati Gazette is pos
sessed Of the weakness Of his tribe in this
respect, and has had an interview with
Gov. BrownloW in his "mountain-begirt
home" in Knoxville, the result of which
is communicated in letter to tho Gins
cinnati Gazette. Those who know Brown
low, need not be told that the language
put in his mouth by Furay is not his own
His crude ideas are generally clothed in
cruder language. The Governor claims
to be in quite robust health, and as an
evidence informed Furay that on the 9Th
inst he erode four miles in a carriage,
and then walked a mile and a quarter
through the hot sunshine He says he
does not often walk 50 much, but he rides
"either in a carriage or on horseback
almost every day." In addition to this
evidence of good health, he claims to eat
heartily and sleep sOundly. Here is Fac
rays gossip about Senator Fowler
The subject of Senator Fowler's lreach-
cry was, of course, discussed, and / was
struck with the forcible manner in which
the Governor spoke.
"Fowler was bought" said he, Gas better
men have been before him." Whether
the consideration were money, or hope Of
future political preferment, or ideas of gem
eral advantage held ont to him, the Cover
nor did not say; but as TO what he meant,
l had not the least trouble in drawing my
own inference.
ado you think" said /, "lhere is any
truth in the story that Fowler was led to
take the course he did through love for
Johnson's daughter p
mo-" said he, mot at ALL Fowler is
exceedingly weak, but his weakness does
not lie in that direction"
"The worst result Of his detection / re-
marked, SIS that it has caused the loyal
1 people of the land to lose faith in Tennes-
see Unionists generally"
"Yes," he replied, with sigh, az feel
that keenly; he is in no sense representa-
tive man, and yet we are all to some ex
tent judged by him. Would to God the
fellow could have fallen only for himself"
So Brownlow seems to have regarded
Fowler as purchaseable. 1t will be res
membered that the Washington CORES
pendent Of the Louisville journal fur
nished that paper with some dispatches
which purported to have passed between
Gov. Brownlow and Col Stokes, in which
a seat on the Supreme Bench was offered
Fowler if he would resign and let Brown
low appoint Stokes Senator, and the as
surance was given that Judge Harrison
was willing to this arrangement After
taking a whole week to consider the
matter, BrOwnlow denied that these disc
patches had passed between him and
Stokes, but there was something in the
manner of this denial which created the
suspicion that although these particular
dispatches may not have passed between
them, something of like character had.
Brownlow charges that President
JOhnsOns influence elected Fowler Sens
ator, and here is his explanation, as
furnished by Furay
"Well," replied BroWnlow, "the cir
cumstances we're peculiar. At that time,
of course, Johnson's influence was all pow
erful. Patterson was elected Senator
simply because he was Andy's son-in-law.
Maynard might have gone in successfully
for the other seat, had it not been conceded
that one Of the Senators must be chosen
from Middle Tennessee. w. H. Wisener,
of Bedford county (Shelbyville,) was the
only candidate spoken of from that section.
But he was not popular with the East Ten
nessee Union men, because he had retained
a seat in the Rebel Legislature of 1861,
and gave some votes there which they did
not like. Besides this he was distasteful
to johnson, having in former days been
particularly and warmly opposed to him.
Such being the situation, johnson, at the
proper moment, artfully suggested his
Clerk, Fowler, as z proper person for the
place; and, although not one-tenth of the
members had ever heard of him before
they found him in his clerkship, and was
slipped in, Notwithstanding he had for the
place neither fitness, qualifications nor
claims" ..t.
] listened to this narrative with deep in
terest, and at the close remarked: John
sons influence must have been great IN
deed"
EYES," said Brownlow, ut was remarked
sfterward that there was but one thing
which at that time he couldn't do"
"And what was that ?" / asked.
Prevent my nomination for the Gov
ernorship."
"But surely he didn't endeavor to do |
that"
Certainly he did, both directly and in
directly, and 30 far az the Middle and West |
Tennesseans were concerned, he might |
have had some success but the East Ten |
nesseans, who knew both johnson and my
self upon this point were utterly immOva- |
BILE; consequently L was nominated unani
mously in convention of more than five |
hundred delegates"
1t is remarkable if johnson sought to |
defeat BroWnlOws nomination that be |
failed, for he was always successful
against Brownlow. The latter was his |
bitter opponent in every political contest,
yet johnson always came off victorious,
and even when Brownlow made the race
for Congress against him, he ran eonsid,
erably behind his ticket There was no
reason at the time of Brownlow's nomi-
nation, why Johnson's great popularity
and influence should have waned, and it
was universally felt here that he cheer
fully acquiesced in the nomination
Brownlow still entertsins wholesome
dread Of JOhnsOn's power and influence,
as this incident, narrated by Furay, will
show
And what think You, will johnson
do" inquired, " after he returns home at
the close Of his term Will he settle down
quietly al Greeneyille p
Not he" replied the Governor +" he
will never willingly live out Of Office"
And what will his influence be among
the people ?"
Here, In East Tennessee, nothing at all.
In other portions Of the State il will be
great. His services to the Rebel aristocra-
cy since be became President have fully