Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-28
A Scratch Among the misunderstanding
Fletcher's Defense.

We give brief synopsis of Secretary
Fletcher reply to the Knoxville Whig.
He seems leath to say anything that
might wound the feelings of the old
saint; and seems not to regard Brown
| low as the author of the article that ap-
peared against him in the Whig few
days ago. 1t was hoped that this nest OF
thieves had fallen out, and that the Sec
retary, in his reply, would give forth to
the world some facts in connection with
the present administration of Tennessee
affairs that would be highly edifying to
her people; but "the ass knoweth his
masters crib" The letter of reply goes
or to say:
As nothing was further from my pur'
pose, in writing my letter 10 the Press
and Times, than the provoking of a
personal quarrel, shall not be betrayed
in this article to the use of such bitter
epithets as you have so freely dealt out
Truth does not need such auxilaries.
The people of Tennessee are not de,
lighted with such terms as coward"
"lisr," traitor" wretch" treason
to mankind" etc., which pervade your
entire article nor is the dish made any
the more ssvory when served up by one
whose profession should lead him to imi-
tate the Child of Bethlehem.
Spoken like a Tennessee Radical
would not be persuaded into personal
quarrel" etc.
You have 30 interviewer the course Of
Governor Brownlow and myself that it is
impossible for me to defend myself with
out speaking great deal of him; yet as
do not regard him as the author Of the
article to which l am replying, do not
design anything may say as personal to
him.
You represent me as saying that "the
partyis about to explode for the want OF
caliber." You misquote my language.
The meaning of my language is that the
policy Of the State Government us about
to explode for the want of caliber." See
ing my language was liable to be misun-
derstood as il appeared in the Press and
Times, had it corrected in the Banner
so as to read This narrow policy is
about to explode" etc. Much of your
bitter sarcasm and many of your choice
epitheis hang upon this misquotation.
shall meet your charge of ipgratitude
by simple statement of facts, nearly all
Of which are known to hundreds. You
say was poor and an exile, and in sub
stance that Governor Browniow has given
me wealth and honor. As | conscien-
tiously believe that l have done more for
the Governor than be has done for me,
you must excuse me if / state all the
facts. Ii is hard TO be poor, and still
harder to have It cast up to one in the
public prints. Yet, honest poverty is
not always disreputable. If il had been,
neither you nor j, nor the Governor,
would have stood very high during most
Of our lives.
When the Governor was informed at
his roor Of my election be laid down,
saying, "now / think can get along"
For the honor of being selected and
sent for to come from Indiana 1 am
mainly indebted 10 my lamented friend,
Colonel Sam. Rodgers, then the Speaker
Of the Senate. That gentleman, an ex-
perienced lawyer himself, saw the abso-
lutte necessity of having some one con-
nected wiih'tAe State Government with
some legal experience. he had known
the Governor for many years, and then
roomed with him. He had served with
me in the State Senate in 1856, and
praciicsd law many years with me, aud
he was untiripg in urging the Governor
to senu for me. The venerable Colonel
Heiskell also earnestly joined Colonel
Rodgers in his advice to the Governor.