Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-22
EAST TENNESSEE.
Progress Of the Canyass-Senter RE-
ported as Gaining Ground.

| Progress Of the Canyass-Senter Ne
ported as Gaining Ground.
The Knoxville Press and Herald o
the 10Th inst, has this reference to the
discussion in Sewer county;
We had expected, yesterday morning
to give our readers an account Of the dis
cussion in Sevierville, but the mails be-
tween the points are somewhat uncertain
and irregular. We learn, however, thai
Senter mole than sustained himself id
the "banner county" Stokes, as usual
was guilty of the indiscretion of charg-
ing Senter with having been Rebel and
a member of the "Rebel' Legislature.
eyes," said Senter, az was member
Of the soScalled Rebel Legislature. Like
Fleming, OF Knox, Meek, Of Jefferson.
Hodsden, of Sewer, Mcdowell, Of
Greens, Randolph, of Cooke, Simpson,
OF Hawkins, and other Union men
from East Tennessee, | was elects
ed to represent my county OF Grain
ger At the instance Of the men who
elected me, and in their own interest, |
went to Nashville, and in company with.
my associates, took my seat in that
Legislature, though it was well>known
that every Union member from East
Tennessee preferred not to do any such
thing Among the men sent to that
Legislature was Hon. Samuel Pickens, of
your own county Of Sewer. A more de-
voted Union man never lived than old
Sam Pickens Every man in Sewer
county knows this. When the bridges
on the line of the East Tennessee rails
roads famed up and went down. it so
happened that the son or sons Of Sam
Pickens had been instrumental in the
great disaster to the Confederates. The
old mana member Of that same "Rebel''
Legislature-was singled out and SUBJ
jected to all the punishment that a
Rebel authority could impose. In
loathsome prison he was confined, and all
the hardships that prison life implies, he
endured, until yielding to tortureS which
younger and stouter constitutions could
Withstand, he gave up his life as the last
and final sacrifice which member Of that
"Rebel" Legislature could make on the al
ter ofhis country. In those same prisons, |
was an intimate. The same spirit Of
persecution that bounded Judge Pickens
TO his grave, was on my track; but,
thanks to Providence that had blessed
me with physical strength, / was spared
the fate of Sam Pickens. But it seems
to me that service Of five months, amid
the vermin OF Southern prison, is at
least some atonement for having, at the
instance of Union men, taken my seat as
the representative of my county, in the
Legislature. AS regards my conduct, in
that capacity, | appeal to those who
knew me best, and could the spirits of
the departed visit this people, the voice
Of Judge Samuel Pickens would be
here here tosday to denounce as slau>
der any imputstion upon my fidelity to
the Union people of East Tennessee"
Our informant tells us that Governor
Senter's remarks, on this point, drew
tears from most of his hearers. He went
further, and said that notwithstanding
the wrongs that had been inflicted upon
him, he cherished no revengeful spirit,
and would not think of imposing his per>
sonsl grievances against the rights of the
whole community.
The Knoxville Whig has this para
graph in regard to the discussion
We are informed that Governor Senter
kindled the most flaming enthusiasm for
him in glorious old Sewer. Stokes de-