Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-08-27
A Telling Law Speech.

10. Marcunl, q Well-known character in
a certain county of East Tennessee, who
has several times run for the Legislature,
and who has held the office of constable in
his district, was lately indicted for carry
ing a pistol. Jo. determined TO avail him.
self of his constitutional privilege and de-
fend himself The proof showed that 10.
was at a road working, and an old pepper
boxn pistol was seen sticking out of his
pocket. The testimony being closed, 10.
thus addressed the jury:
"Why, gentlemen, one would think, to
hear the bill of indictment, that | was an
eminent nonresident; that had captured
the country, torn down the Stars and
Stripes, and had trampled them in the
mud, and had raised n great warhoon in all
these parts. But, gentlemen, the proof
shows that when | was arrested, / gave
the sheriff no trouble, that 1 made good
bond, and acted the man, like a respecta-
ole highway nuisance. The States Attor-
ney has made chunk of a iowerment
about me, when all the people in my dis
trict know that honest 10. Marcum kept
the peace and dignity of the State, and of
the United States, and that L could not
have done this, had it not been for my
good old 'pepper-box"
why, Your Honor, What did 1 swear
when was made constable l swore
well and truly To keep down all jower-
ments, to support the Constitution of the
State and of the United States, to squelch
all eminent nou-residents, TO carry myself
like a respectable highway nuisance, to
preserve the peace and dignity of the
State and of the United States, and to
stop all warhoons in the land. The States
Attorney, who is an eminent nonresident,
saws that there was no need to carry a
pistol to a working-that woodwork
ing is lawful and peaceful assemblies. l
will answer the States Attorney in the
words of the Baptist preacher. A Bap-
list preacher, in the old Injun times, was
goin' on journey, and thought he would
take his gun. Now this preacher believed
that what was goin' to be would be II
il never happened.' So his wife said it
was no use to take his gun, for if Injun
was goin' TO kill him, his gun would not
save him. That's so, SAL says the
preacher, but suppose i should meet an
Iniun, and his time had come, how could
l Kill him if / didn't have my gun" So
[ say to the States Attorney, suppose q
government had gotup at the road,workln'
how could a squelched the warhoon un-
less l had my loaded 'pepper-box with
me?
THE people where I live know well
enough that if it had not been for honest
10. Marcum, there would have been many
eminent non-residents disturbing the peace
and dignity of the State and they al
respectable highway nuisance all the time
who has been true to the great principle o.
liberty; who never captured the country
or tore down its flag, and that this whole
thing agin himis only huge, big warhoon
got up by certain non-residenters to injur'
Jo Marcum athe most respectable highway
nuisance iuall these parts; man who ha!
canvassed three whole counties for til,
Legislatures who has made speeches Oh
thousand stutnps, and agin who, no maj
has ever got up a warhoon until this bill
And now, gentlemen of the jury, anC
vor!r honor, L appeal TO both of you to lie
honest 10. Marcum loose to bleach thi
black spot out of his character to squelcl
this monstrous warhoon, to show this elm
inent nonresidenter, who is here prose
cutin' me, that the iuries of this land viii
never harm SIGH a respectable highwa,
nuisance as your own honest 10. Marcum.
It is needless to say that 10. was acquit
ted, and departed with the air of injure
but vlndicated innocence.-Edst Tennes
seeQn.