Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-05-18
" how TENNESSEE is sL.ypERED.y
The Real Enemies of our Peace.
"The Press and Herald Man" "Aanufac.
turing News"
"a Disgraceful Scene. In the Press and
Herald 0fice.

ntfdlu VInCt.
The Press and Herald of Tuesday, the 10th
contained highly sensational article, headed
A Disgraceful Scene" sc, which if true
might well excite indignation and provoke re-
buke. Upon reading the article, we determined
to send special messenger, at once, TO Blount
county, to learn the actual facts, but Just as we
were making such arrangements, we were in
formed that several gentlemen from Blount
county were in the city, who knew something of
the facts. The first of these we met was Capt
X N. Hood, clever gentleman, and one of the
most active and enthusiastic Conservatives of
that county. We knew Captain Hoods rela-
tons to the politics of Blount county very well,
and we knew that he would not report the mat
ter whit more favorable to the side of the ae-
cused than the facts warranted We are THERE
fore satisfied from what we know Of Captain
Hood, that the facts as he states them are sub
stantially true.
In response to the question: as to what he
knew of the reported mob, he said; II know
enough about it to know that what is reported
about it is - lie You know that have no
sympathy for the preachcr-whippers of Blount
county, but then don't believe in making mat
tiers any worse than they are The facts are that
the Church referred to has been in the legal pos
session ofthe Methodist Church North ever since
the war Who it belongs to of right, suppose
is a question of law, But if they are not en-
| titled to it, 1t ought 10 be taken from them by
law. As | understand it. this man Bays had no
| right to the Church, and his going there was
| calculated to get up a trouble There was no
force or violence used, or knives drawn, that
heard of and / think | heard all of it, As /
heard the story, they simply told Mr.. Bays that
he couldn't preach there and he went off, and
that is about the whole of it, We remarked
in reply that we were glad to hear the story con-
tradicted, for if it had occurred as reported we
intended to denounce it. His answer was II
have given the thing as we heard it at
Maryyille, and you can give me as authority for
what have said"
We have given Captain Hoods statement as
near verbatim as possible and We attach weight
to it, for he is of the same politics as the Press
| and Herald man."
A few moments after leaving Capt Hood, we
met with W. T. Parham, of Maryvile gens
tleman of veracity. His statement was some
what fuller than Mr.. Hoods, and is, therefore,
more satisfactory The two men so fully agree
in their main facts that we are satisfied they are
correct, and that the Press and Herald has
grossly slandered the quiet citizens of Blount
| county.
| Our second informant in substance said
1.-THE building is the property of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church. 1t claims, and has had
possession of it ever since the war Four
weeks ago last Sunday, Mr.. Kennedy, with
out the knowledge of the Trustees of the
in, tal nax, 10 ah
| announcement was made and the people turned
out and heard him respectfully. The whole
thing passed off and nothing more was said
about it, Some time last week the Trustees
learned that Mr.. Kennedy had again invited
Mr.. Bays to preach in their Church. As he had
never asked them for the use ofthe Church, they
thought it rather cool.
"At meeting of the Trustees held on last Sat
urday, it was unanimously decided that Mr.,
Bays should be notified that it was not agreea.
! BILE that he should use the Church, and that
Mr.. Kennedy had no authority to invite him
there, When Sunday morning came, the men,
bers of the Church met and awaited Mr. Bays
coming As soon as he came he was quietly
notified of the action of the Trustees. HI
promptly replied that he did not wish to preach
there if the people did not want to hear him
and went off Our informant says there was nc
barricadng of doors or windows with benches
nor any arriving nor preparing for trouble. NJ
violence was manifested, as none was called for
The whole transaction AZ the Church was order
| ly and quiet"
Now we submit, in view Of all these facts
that the Press and Herald has either been out
rageously imposed upon or has "manufac.
tured " the account in toto, In justice to the
parties named, and to the good citizens o
| Blount county, we call upon our contemporary
to give the names Of its informants, that W.
may all know who these slanderers are. Tn
Press and Herald must either do this sustain
its charges or stand convicted of deliberatel,
and outrageously misrepresenting an innocen
and unoAending community.
A CALL.-Rev. Andrew Phillips, VIII
/ hoo ham raoSfOr of the on,,