Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-10-08
DAMNED KINKY-HEADS.' .
Andy johnson on the Negro In Private
Conversation During the Battle.
OF Nashville.
How he Treated q Venerable Gentleman,
his lifelong Political Friend
and Supporter.
Letter from Hon. Boiling Gordon to
Hon. F. c. DunningtOn-Andy'S
Brulal, OTer-beariBg
Tyranny,
From the Columbia Herald.l

From the Columbia Herald.l
The following letter, written by Hon.
Boiling Gordon 10 Hon. +. c. Dunning-
ton. Is explanatory Of a matter which We
had talked Of before, but had never fully
understood. Major Gordon is a gentle
man seventy odd years Of age, long dis
tinguished for his Urbanity and upright
ness of character, which, taken in con-
siGeration with his long acquaintance
and political and personal friendship for
Air. johnson, rendered the treatment
referred to strange and unaccountable, to
use no harsher terms. We think every
sentiment Of patriotism and prudence
dictates that this resurrection business is
the most dangerous and disastrous thing
that our people can engage in land no
one more fully agrees with Us on this
point than Major GordOnl, and the state
ment below is made and published mere
ly to dispel the various
EXAGGERATED STATEMENTS
being circulated throughout the country
In regard % The matter. 1t is due alike
20 Mr. johnson and Major Gordon that
the latter's own statement be published:
COTTAGE HILL, September "a.
+. c. Dunnington and others:
GENTLENES-Nourl letter Of a recent
date reached my home during an alb
EenCe Of a few DAYS, which is the cause
Of my delay in answering.
Ia reply 10 your inquiries in regard to
an interview between Governor Andrew
johnson and myself during the invest
ment Of Nashville by General Hood in
December, 1854, ! viii briefly state that
1 was arrested by the United States
forces at my house, at the time General
Schodeld was at Columbia, and taken TO
his headquarters there, and thence taken
on a. prisoner TO Nashville, being with
bis forces at the battles Of Spring Hill,
Franklin and Nashville.
After reaching Nashville, the day fol-
lowing
THE BATTLE AT FRANKLIN,
I was kindly given the limits Of the city,
free OF restraint, by Colonel Hayes, Pro-
vost-General Of General SchOfield's COM
mand, which enabled me TO see and
visit suUdry old friends, among the
number DR.. Thomas r. Jennings, of
that city, with whom / sought an inter-
view on private business.
On Saturday, the sixteenth Of Deem
ber, and the last day Of the battle, l
called at DR.. Jennings's and learned he
had gone up 10 the capitol. / went up
and met with DR.. Jennings, DR.. Whar-
ton and Mr.. Porter NOV OF the house Of
Fite, Porter d Evans, and after brief
interview with them, all Of US came
down the hill toward the Cedar street
approach 20 the capitol. When in few
steps Of the stairway, Governor johnson
met u; calling me by name, and giving
me his band, al the same moment say
ing b ME, " What do you think Of the
existing state Of things here tO-day?'
The battle then raging in our sight.
! replied 10 the Governor that it was
greatly 10 be regretted that any event
should have transpired to force 50 disa- !
greeable a necessity a. 10 impel It. He +!
then very imprs 7sively remarked: "If
it had not been for sBch men as you and |
DR.. Jennings. and men Of like stripe, /
there would have been nothing Of it, 1
remarking at the same time, with a !
good deal Of feeling, that there was 4
nothing but the
DAMNED KINKY-HEAD
at the bottom Of it,"
Understanding him to plainly allude |
20 the institution Of slavery, i remarked |
% him that l did not think that had /
ever seen the time / would have sacri- |
feed the welfare ofmy country for pecu-
MARY interest I had in that species Of /
y
rights thereto, as derived from the con- |
sttutiOn and laws Of my country.
also further remarked, in support OF |
my position. that / could not for a mo-
ment suppose that our forefsthers, who |
framed that venerated instrument, could |
have been guilty OF inflicting 70 gross a !
fraud on their fellOw-citizens as 20 in |
duce them 20 make their investments IN l
that species Of property, and then turn /
around and say il was done in violation /
Of the Federal Constitution.
He then remarked, TO use his own /
words,
CONSTITUTION HE'LL"
and with an oath, declared that that |
part Of the Federal Constitution which /
bore the subject Of slavery was nothing 1
but damned heresy,n put in the con /
stitution IN 1857 as "gull-trap" 20 de- 1
ceive the people of the Southern States, /
10 induce them 20 ratify the Constitution
Of the United States.
] remarked TO him that thought very 4
differently; that there was another clause
independentlyof the one which tolerated
the importation Of slaves until the year
1905. which went far to show II a consti-
tutioHal iustitutiOn-that OF the pr0vis-
ion that sesured 10 the States in which
slavery existed the rights Of three-flfths
Of al Others iu the spp0rtionment oil
Representatives 70 Congress, aud which
benefit they enjoyed TO that day under
the constitution.
he then remarked lac had owned q
few OF the damned kinky-heads" once
himself and kept them until they were
not worth
A QUARTER OF A DOLLAR A DAY
TO him, and that he had got clear Of
them and was glad Of Il.
Then, addressing himself TO me more
emphatically, be (JOhnson) remarked
that he would like for any man 10 show
him any authority, either human or di-
vine, that warranted the enslavement Of
one portion Of mankind for the benefit
Of another. Immediately following this
declaration be drew up his coat-sleeve,
doubling his fist and brandishing II close |
under inv nose, denounced me as "a /
damned traitor, - and pointing his finger /
toward the cOntending armies, then In /
deadly conflict, said that l ought 20 be /
over there fighting with Hood land /
pointing the other way or in Northern /
prisons.
Fearing J might be soon ordered 1
fbene I gave a waive with my hand, |
and lefi
THH TYRANT.
You further ak Tne what have been [
tAs relations exasttng bstWesR GSYsrASr