The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-10-04


medicine. In this and other respects,
DIR. White has no superior in the State,
and furnishes a bright example to all
the younger members If the noble pro
I fessiOn. ~'"A N'H' ~ W /
The following letter, written by Hon.
Boiling G ordon to- a ;gentlemani ofsthls
place, is explanatory ola matter which
we had heard talked of before but had
never fully understood, Maj. Gordon is a
gentleman seventy odd years OF age.
long distinguished for his urbanity and
uprizhtness of character, which, taken
in consideration with his long acquaint-
ance and political and personal friend
ship for Mr.. johnson rendered the treat
'ment referred to strange and unaccOunt-
able, to use no hsrsher terms. 1--WE
think every sentiment. of patriotism and
prudence dictates that this resurrection
business is the most dangerous and dis
astrous thing that our people can engage
in, land no one more fully agrees with
and the Statement below IS made and
published merely to .dispel the various
exaggerat ed.statement being circulated
throughout the country, i'll regard to
the matter. 1t is due alike to Mr.. John
son and Major Gordon, that the latter's
own statement be published:
"a 'corTAGE HILL, Sept. 2lst.
&C DunniHgton and others:
GESrLkMEN4 letter of q recent dafe
reached nv home during an absence OF Q Tow
days, which is the cause of my delay ia an
swering.
In reply to your enquiries in regard to an
intervieW between Cor. Andrew johnson and
myself during the Investment of Nashville by
Gen1 Hood in DEC. 1864, I will briefly state,
that was arrested ~ the u S. forces at my
house, atthe time Gen'l Scot cid vas at Co.
lumbia AID taken TO his headquarters there,
and thence taken on as aprsoner to Nashville,
being with his forces atthe battles OF Spring
Hill Franklin, and Nashville. -
Alter reasbigg Nashville the day following
the battle at Frarklin l vas kindly given the
limits of the city free of restraint, by Col.
Hayes, Provost General of Genl Scofeld's
command, which enabled me to see-snd visit
sundry old friends, amoag- the number DR..
Thomas 4. Jennings of that city, with whom
l sought an interview on private business.
On Saturday, the 10th OF December, and the
last day of the battle, called at DR.. Jennings
and learned he had gone up to the capitol. l
went up &nG met with DR.. Jennings, Or. Whar-
ton, and Dr.: Porter gnowgo Of the thouss Of
Fhe, Porter Il Evens, and sftsr brief intef
view with them, ali of US came dowp the hll
rewards the Cedar street apprpa& the
capitol. - 4 Il
when in few steps of the stairway, Gov.
Johnson met us; calling me by name, and CIV
ing me his hand, Attic same moment saying
to mesWBAT DO you THINK OF THE EXISTING
STATE or THINGS HEpE TO DAY? The battle
then raging 10 6ursight.'E EtgEN
| replied to the Gov. that il was greatly to be
regretted that any event should have transpired
oforce so disagreeable q, necessity as TO inn
pel il. He then very impressiyeiy remarked 1:
:.is II HAD NOT BEEN FOR SUCH MEN AS YOU AND
nv IryStSGs AND MEN OF LIKE STRIPE, THERE
WOULD HAVE BxxN NOTHING OF IT., remarkng
at the same time, with good deal Of feeling,
that there was pothing but the DAMNED
KINKy HEAD at the botioni Of it,
q Understanding him to pleiniy SLIDE to the
institution of slavery, i remarked to him, that
/ did,nOt think l had ever seen the time 4
would have sacrificed the welfare OF my eouPS
try for pecuniary interest ] bad in that spe.
cies of property, except in defence of my just
rights thereto, as derived from the conshtuf
ton and laws Of my country. N tt 40
also further remarked, in support of my
position, that could not for q moment sup
pose that our forefathers. who framed that
venerated instrumept, could have been guilty
of infictlpg so gross afraud' on, thsr fellow
citizens as TO induce them to make their in
vestments in that cFecies of property, and then
turn around and say it was done, ~ Eiqlation,
Of the Federal constitution fuflIlffilti
He then remarked, to use his own words,
CONSTITUTION HE'LL" and with an oath de-
c.ared that that part OF the Federal Constitu-
ton which bore the subject Of slavery was
nothing but 'DANsED HEREsY," put in the
constitution in 1857 as "GULL-rRAP" TO de-
eeive the, people of the Southern States, to
induce them to ratify the constitution Of the
United States.
remarked soasm that I::thonsbt very diff
ferently; that there was another clause indie
pendently of the one WHICH tolerated the imper-
tation Of slaves until the year 1903, which
went far to show it q constitutional institH-
tion,-thst OF the provision hat secured to the
States, in which slavery existed, the rights OF
three fiiths of all others. in the superintendent
Of representation to Congress; and which
beneAt they enjoyed TO that day unaer the
a. He then remarked he had owned a sew of
the damned kISKr HEADS once himself, and
Kept them until they were not worth quarter
of dollar q day to him, and that he had got
clear ofthem and was glad ofit.
Then addressing himself to me more en-
pbatically, he lJohnsonl remarked, that he
would like for any man TO show him any au-
thority, either human oy divine, that war
rsptcd the enslavenient of one portion Of man
kind Cor tbs benefit OF another Immediately
following this declaration, he drew UP bis
coat sleeve. doubling bis list, and brandishing
it.close under my nose, denounced me as ga
piMsEp TRAITOR" and pointing his finger To-
wards The contending armies, then in deadly
conflict, sad. that ought to be over there
lighting with Hood, tsnd pointing the other
way) or, in Northern pf;;so9!. 2 - - ~.
Fearing might be soon ordered there, ! gave
Q waive with my hapS, apd LEFT the tyrant..
You further sak ne, what have been the re-
lations heretofore existing between Governor
johnson and myself fshaye only say, we
have been politically sssocisfsd ever since the
organization ofthe lIemceratie party in Ten
nessee. - Nc e 49,
Iserved With him in the Lerislamre of Ten
nessee the 6fst time he was ever - public life
have been on The same Presidsntixl Electoral
ticket with him-hare always Imported him
for Office when ever IN my power, except when
| he was a candidate on the Black Republican
ticket as candidate for Vice President of the
United States, and candidate for the U. s.
Senate two years ago. -. -
The foregoing statements which 1 have
made i vouch my honor for the truth of, and il
attempted to be controver;ed, will endeavor TO
substantive them with the proofs Of others
of untarnished reputation. ~ i
am very respectfully. yours,
BOILING GoRDoS.,