The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-10-04
THE PORTER-THOMAS ROW.
Gov. Porter's Version of the
y
Nashville American. 26.

A representative OF the AnleflcQn
called on Gov. Porter, at the Safold |
House, Fayetteville. last Sunday
morning. shortly after breakfast, for
the purpose Of having an interview
with him in regard to the passage
that occurred between him and Mr..
Thomas, at Shelbyville, last Thurs
day.
The reporter found Gov. Porter in
excellent spirits and in good health,
except that he was suffering TO some
extent from hoarseness contracted
by outdoor speaking. The Govern
or spoke of the canvass and of his
prospect of election very encourag-
ingly. Having expressed himself as
being willing to give statement of
the affair referred to, our reporter
took out his tools and went immedi-
ately to work.
The following is full statement
of the facts elected in the interview
Governor Porter said that he had
charged Mr.. Thomas, in his speeches
from Carthage to Shelbyville, as be-
ing opposed to and voting against
Senator Cooper's bill exempting
$3.50 worth of raw material in the
hands of mechanics, and that Mr..
Thomas had not taken exception to
it until the Shelbyville meeting. AIR.
Thomas reason Tor voting against
the bill was that there was already
a general exemption law in force
which exempted raw material in the
hands of mechanics to the value of
$50. During his speech Mr.. Thorn
as had used language in reference to
the charge preferred against him
that the Governor friends thought
was not proper. The Governor left
the room after he had finished his
speech and was abou TO start to
Winchester, where he was announc-
ed to speak the next day. Just as
he was about TO leave, some of his
friends, who had heard Mr.. Thomas
denunciation of him, informed the
Governor of what had been said
about him, and he Immediately re-
turned to the courthouse with his
books in his hands. Mr.. Thomas
then repeayed what had been said
about the Cove or. Gov. Porter
said that he listened to him quietly
and attentively, and when he con-
Guided he stepped upon the stand
and pulled his overcoat off and put
it on chair behind him. He told
the crowd that as Mr.. Thomas was a
non-combatant by his own confession
he Gov. Porter did not intend to let
him place him at disadvantage by
striking him. The Governor said
that he proposed to discuss the ques-
ton at issue between them fairly and
squarely. and taking up the Senate
journal read from it to prove that
what he had said about Mr.. Thomas
was true He regretted this little
unpleasantness and said there was
no cause for it. Mr.. Thomas had
taken exception, for the first time.
to an argument that he had made in
every one of his speeches since he
left Lebanon, and Mr.. Thomas now
proposed to make a martyr of him
self, but he declined TO make mar
tyr of him. He closed q ten min.
utes' speech by saying that any man,
high or low, great or small, who in
situated that he Intentionally mis-
represented him, or was guilty Of
making any false representations,
lied in his heart and teeth,
Just then, said the Governor, Mr..
Thomas reached out slowly for a
large bludgeon in the shape Of
crooked stick. Suspecting that Mr..
Thomas intended to strike him. the
Governor waved his left hand at him
and said: :. Thomas, take care and
do not strike me; if you do, you do
you do it at your peril" Some one
caught the stick, and that was the
end of it. The Governor said that
when he waved his left hand at Mr.
Thomas he placed his right hand in
his overcoat pocket, which he said
contained a pistol, but which he had
no intention of drawing unless it
happened that he should be compel
led to defend himself from violent
assault. lie continued to address
TIC CiOAt AOt "a tt" dGO Ib
the conclusion Of his speech some of
the old citizens of Shelbyvilie took
him by the hand and told him that
he had done exactly right, and that
he exhibited wonderful GOODNESS and
forbearance. lie was satisfec that
the crowd was with him and sane
toned the manner in which he had
thwarted the attempt of Mr.. Thom-
as to commit violence upon him
Gov. Porter said he was not ex-
cited in the least, but was as cool as
he ever was, and all he wanted was
to set himself right before the peo-
pie. 1t was for this reason that he
as he had done to Mr..
Thomas unjust denunciation,