Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-17
sspEARNEAIIAN

The Rev. DR.. Thos. II. Pearne is a
shining light in the Methodist Episcopal
Church (North) and the Radical party,
being Presiding Elder in the former and
q High Priest il, the latter. He came to
East Tennessee a few years ago in the
interest of these two organizations: to
take possession of, occupy and hold
the church buildings belonging to the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, and
disseminate and illustrate the principles of
the Radical party. That he performed
his mission to the satisfaction of the
higher dignitaries is shown in the praises
and hOnors that have been showered upon
him. His praise was in every Radicals
mouth as he swooped down on each sue
cessive church building or organised
''Loyal League" and when Brownlow re-
tired from the editorial control of the
Knoxville Wig and Rebel VentiLatOr,
who so worthy to step 10 his Old shoes as
the good elder and the valiant disciple of
'goyalty!" Then it was that his praises
were on Radical lips pat as the ritual of
the league, and when he ''laid out" Sec
rotary Fletcher, who had dared to ques-
ton the fallibility of BrownlOw, the
Radicals proclaimed him q second David
He was the obsequious henchman of
Brownlow, and when the latter sent him
here to break up the Radical convention
in May, 1869, he did the work as effect
ually as if he had been ordered to seize a
Methodist church in East Tennessee. For
his distinguished services in this State, he
has been rewarded by Grant and the Sen
ate with the Consulship 10 Kingston,
Jamaica. Some of the Radicals in this
State who have not been so lucky as
Pearne, are growing good deal at his
promotion, and saying rather hard things
about the faithful old servant. For in
stance, the Jonesboro Union Flag gives
him this parting blessing:
'eBe his intentions what they may.
General Grant has conferred q lasting
favor on the people of East Tennessee by
sending this most cOnsummate vagabond
out of here, for which he has the pro-
found thanks of all parties. We trust a
n1erciful Creator will never afflict US with
his like again! Selah!"
The McMinnville Enterprise, edited,
we believe, by brother "clerical politi
cian," blesses the memory of Pearne
after this fashion:
ENOthing has occurred for some time
in political circles more surprising TO the
true Republicans of Tennessee than the
announcement of the nomination of that
old political disorganizer to q foreign
mission, Rev. DR.. Thomas II Pearne,
ex-presiding elder of the Methodist Epis-
cOpal Church and late editor of the
Knoxville Wig when it sold out to the
enemies of loyal rule. That Pearne was
the chief instrument in bringing about the
overthrow of the Republican party in the
State is well known. And that he did
more than any other man in breaking up
the convention and preventing q regular
nomination for Governor last May is
fact still better known. And now for
the Republicans of the State to be thus
Inundated by the promotion of this prince
of disorganizers is little more than could
have been looked for. Does the Presi-
dent know that the course of this miscr-
able old ''carpet-bagger" and clerical poll
tician during the gubernatorial campaign
was so discreditable that the members of |
his own church in Knoxville refused TO |
take the sacrament of the Lords Supper st |
his hands, and that he was discontinued |
by the bishop as a presiding elder and left |
without a regular appointment in the con-
ferenCel Surely material for the con
sulship is not so scarce that one must DC |
picked up who has perfectly played out |
and is virtually thrown overheard, both |
by his party and church. For he is a
to the Republican party IN Ten
nessee, as well as the Methodist Episcopal |
Church, which he came here Ostensibly to |
and build up, but in reality to
procure Office For what cares Pealne |
for souls if he can get office and make |
r ,