Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-07-27
Letter from Clinton.
CLINTON, TENN, July 14th, 1870.

IN town. We have a great many candi-
dates for county offices, and some excite
ment exists among their respective friends
IL is generally conceded, however. that
there can be but one elected to each office
which legal provision necessitates the
martyrdom of several score of the most
unseltish patriots, who have kindly con-
scented TO receive the votes of the people.
IN order that the people might have rood
0fhcers. Alas that there is not an Office
Tor all, at least all who can read and write
But there is not, and many are, therefore.
doomed to disappointment. Salt river
VIII receive immigrants from Amber
son this time.
The most startling feature of the Judi
cal canvass transpired here Oh Monday.
About O'Clock the whistle announced the
approach of the train, with the court and
Knoxville bar OH board. No DarticuIar
notice was taken of the event But as the
crowd decended from the cars. q tall. lanll.
ana some what lean looking gentleman.
measuring not less than six feet three
inches in hight, weighing, we should guess
about one hundred and ninety pounds
Wearinga black suit, with white hat.
presenting very much the appearance of a
mHdeUcd churn or half-torn up hornets
nest, under laid with raven-lille locks of
mar, dyed to perfection, and falling care
lesslly, yet comely, about his neck leaning
upon d0g-hcdded walking stick, his
pockets pulled up and sticking out with a
load of newspapers and documents, some
or which We're peering out of his bosom,
Whlle he held one secured under his left
arm, folded into about the size of a "fOols-
cap" sheet of writing paper, was seen
winding his way from the depot to the
vicinity of the court house.
All eyes were centered upon him many
enquiries were made as to who he was and
what he designed. Some insisted that it
must he Parson Nasty, just from Confede-
rate Roads. This view was strengthen
ed by the vinegar-like smell that impregna-
ted the air as he passed along. Others sup
posed 1t was the forerunner of John Rob
lnson's circus-the huge load of papers and
documents with which his person was bur-
dened, being "show billsh for hosting
One shrewd little fellow who had seen the
patent-medicine men passing around, ex-
claimed, by George! It's old Railway
HIMSELF" Another cried out, mo! it's
Hostetter, or John Bull" While vet
another declared it was "the chief of the
Chinese Embassy One gentleman, Just
from New York, assuming to know more
than we mountain people, tapped him on
the shoulder, and with AN air entirely un-
known to this latitude, and in Il Ian
guage not at all understood by our people, /
asked him, Where is your room, and !
what's your ante?" We failed to catch the
response, and consequently do not pretend |
to know whether any satisfactory arrange
ment was perfected. BY the time he reach !
ed the public square, he found himself in |
the midst of an immense crowd, all eager
to know the mission of the mysterious
stranger. Pausing near the stepping block |
of Mr.. Ross, placed in front of his store for |
the convenience of his customers, this re-
markable man who had maintained a per-
feet disguise, hesitated for moment, and .
then sprang to the uppermost height of the |
said block, presenting scene very much
resembling the exhibition of Ku Klux in
ohm Robinson's circus. Having attained
his position, standing erect far above the
heads of those by whom he was surround
ed, presenting the appearance of some bust
or statue commenorating greatness, he
gently raised his five-story hat, and waiv-
ed it TO the gazing multitude, while the
sun shot its burning rays upon bald-head,
Overgrown onion, which had been so re-
Gently pealed as to leave it to glisten
as piece of finely polished steel
Thus securing the undivided and noise
less attention of the bewildered spectators
he said, in somewhat tremulous voice
= My fellow-citizens Profoundly grateful
TO you for this demonstration, can but at
tribute it to the cause | represent, and not
altogether personal to myself When |
came among you last, the STARS and Bars
foated proudly from yonder dome" Here
pointing to the courthouse becoming very
much affected and wiping his eyes with an
,ld-fashioded bandana handkerchief, he
;ontinued,) "Then it was that you had
lon-partisan judiciary. /, as your Circuit
Judge, had the supreme satisfaction of eX-
'cuting, in the most faithful manner all
he laws which had been passed for the
purpose of expressing the Union people,
md continued to discharge these duties
With a pilgrim-like zeal, until the Peniten-
larry was captured by the Yankees, when.
instead of sending them thar, | was forced ,
o use the influence of my office to drive
men into the rebel army" Just here, he
vas recognized by Zeke Taylor, who ex- ,
,laimed, as that you, Judge Brown ?"
The reply was in the affirmative, and he |
proceeded with his speech Us follows: " |
vas about to say, fellow-citizens that, be- [
ause of my devotion to principle, and UNI !
iinching attachment to the Bonnie Blue
flag the same men who then sought to |
rec the South and build up glorious Con-
ederacy, have honored me as their stand i
I'D bearer, and L am before you as their !
hoice for Chancellor of the ID Division [
low presided over by that prince of parti-
anship, who is not guided by written |
but by the higher law of 4
'artisan politics. Confident am that Won Y
will honor me with your votes because YOU f
NOW Temple stated in his evidence before I
he Reconstruction Committee that he was
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