The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-30

umns the .Ass he kept mp constant fire upon the
secession leaders o. me STATE hurting an:,hemas
South. A second time the people was called upon to
decide by their vote whether Tennessee would stand
by Union throw herself into the vortex of
luton. Middle and West Tennessee voted by an
wheming majority for immediate secession; but the
mountaneers Of East Tennessee strengthened by tho
rcdoubtable parson and HIS fiery editorials stood rm
anu voted against the measure
Until the Gath Of October. 1851 Mr.. Brownlow con-
tinued the publication Of tho WAig in Knoxville
Every week the Confederate government came IN for
SOUND castigation Az length the authorities refused
ened to suppress it, and finally the proprietor
received an insima.on tina, unless he a..
tered the tone OF his articles he would
be arrested. Brownlow responded in a card
addressed TO his subscribers, in which he announced
the suspension Of the Wing. He then Tor some tune
alter renamed In retirement At Knoxville subject
many ndiguities from mis- enemies, who were incensed
by his refusal 10 give any AID or countenance 10 the
confederacy A. length, believing his lie in danger,
nc gave heed 70 the entreaes OF his family and friends
and ned the mountains for safety. While in conceal
menL he wrote TO Richmond asking tor permission
leave the lines, and received TO
the effect that the authorities would be glad 10 learn
that be had lett the State Mr. benjamin. the Conicd-
crate Secretary of War; also wrote to General Crtten
den authorizing him furnish Mr. Brownow
with safe conduct 10 tho federal lines.
About this time IL was that the Union men OF East
Tennessee destroyed several railroad bridges OF
portance Rumor charged the Parson with participate
Ing the act aud when he presented himself before
General Crittenden instead Of receiving the expected
pass he arrested and sent 10 jail Mr.. Brownlow
denied ali knowledge Of the bridge burning, aud In
card which he published at the time declared that he
ed the 'n the most unqualified terms.
Nevertheless. he was detained IN prison until March,
1862 when he was allowed TO pass through the lines.
ON his arrival in the Northern States SIR Browniow
made tour, speaking TO large audiences In behalf OF
the Union cause Upon the rcoccupation OF Knoxville
bv the Northern forces, returned there, previously
m his purpose To revive his paper under The
title OF B,ownipso's Knorruie Wig and Rebel Veati-
fufor Previous this no had written and published
..Parson Brownlow's Book" containing an ac-
count OF hts adventures in tho Confederate
lines during tho carly DAYS Of the rebel
liou. As as tho PROSPECTUS Of his paper
appeared sympathizers At The North nberay niplicd
him with funds 1850 go, It was saidl, and the
money thus tanned he resumed his editorial duties.
II need hardly that all OF his prev literary
productions were thrown completely into the shade
when he returned TO Knoxville. u the Coniedcracy
could have been ovcrthrown by vehement abuse II
would have been utterly annhiaied by the first mum
Der oil the revived paper
ms CARRIER AS GOVERNOR AND SENATOR
Shortly before the enced Mr. Brownlow was
elected Governor OF Tennessee by the loyal voters OF
the State Great as his services had been to the coun
try IN q moral poiut of view his election office
proved u most unfortunate occurrence. VI bitterly
rcvengeiul disposition, he used his powers TO pay on
Old scores with his enemies Tho ex-rcbes were
treated IN the most rigorous manner possible. No
sooner had they returned To their bones than the
Un,onsts began to persecute them. In this emergency
IA number oil highly respected and influential ctzens
OF Eastern Tennessee. memorIaizcd the Governor9o
issue proclamation "calIing upon returning federal
soldiers that section OF the State cease
under OF personal wrongs, 10 resort to tho IN
fiction OF violence upon the persons Of others who
symluthlZeQ Win the lutt 10 cease
threats against persons who have returned under pa
role homes ugrccabiy 10 the terms accorded TO
the armies Of Lee ana johnston" Governor Brown
low complied with the request so lar as To issue
procla nation, but Instead OF counscillng peace and
ulnity he distinctly announced his sympathy with
those who sought vengeance the cx-rebes, declir
ing, ~ not among those who would
restrain their vengeance against their oppressors"
HIS rule was one of iron. With an obcdlent
Legislature at his back he organized largo iorce 0f
militia and turned II upon the people. Vocrs were
DISTINGUISHED by tens OF thousands Counties that
cast 900 at the Presidential election OF 1850
were reduced 10 less than one hundred Men who bad
been consistent unionists throughout the war were
DISTINGUISHED because they refused 10 support the Gov
crnur. BY tho exercise OF the most urpitrary power
he reelected himself 10 1857, and soon after was
chosen a Senator Congress TO succeed Mr.. Patterson
When tho contest between the President aud Con-
press began the Governor sided tho latter In
speech winch he made IN Knoxville in March Of 1866
he said -'I am favor oil the test oath, and don't
want IL repealed-and IL won't be, thank God There
crippled rebels IN Washington who want TO govern
this country, and am opposed 10 letting them In.
Johnson can't carry single State north OF Mason's
line but kentucky, and l wish he would carry that
state 70 hell" Almost 10 tho last he cherished I'm.
pacable animosty Tor the exrcbcls BY his speeches
ard his writings the State OF Tennessee was kept in
absolute anarchy. lie encouraged the persecution Of
rebels and when they retalated he his militia
10 aunt down ana murder them There was no punish
ment, in hts estmation too severe tor them. TO give
the reader clear idea Of the virulencc he exhibited
tho following public utterancc OF his soon alter the
closed is appended Speaking OF the exrebes, he
said
Impoversh the viains-takc all they have-gve their
and lot them have their Southern fights" They
would y on tho war aa sy ss se sa as
vice, ielgiousyheece them aud lot them know how
punished lot them be impoverished let them be slain
aud after slain, let them be damnedI
When next Mr. Brownlow took his seat In the Senate
he sad spectacle of physical debility. Shaking
palsy, ho took tho oath OF oico and then sank
back IN his cushioned seat, exhausted by the effort
Tho that he during the session were all
partisan Almost his last appearance In the political
arena was his support OF Mr. Sener the conservative
candidate for Governor OF Tennessee against Colonel
s. Jokes. His action surprised all persons who were
aware Of the extreme views of the Governor
as the issue on which the canvass was
not unlikely that tho old man had begun to reent.
Stand ng he did, at the verge OF the grave he must
have perceived that II was time for HIM to make MS
peace with all men, TO forgive mis- enemies and In hts
last days to display little OF that magnanlmty 10
hch he had been stranger during the whole OF his
public life But, whatever his motive, II Is certain
that his action and tho result Of the election
trbuted greatly to restore Tennessee to peace and
tranquility. After years OF bioodshed and disorder
that state at length restored to quiet. and II the
deceased contributed even indirectly TO this he de-
serves the credit for so confronting.
While nothing but praise can be gwen for the un-
hinching loyalty OF William g. Brownow to the Union
during tho darkest and most critical days OF the Re-
public cannot be said that his death will seriously
aoct the country. HIS personal feelings entered too
largely nto ms public career 10 render hts services OF
signal benefit. With less of ability than Thad
Stevens, he possessed than the 'Grcat Com
moner's'' bitterness OF temper With him tho
OF a revengeiul eeiIng was paramount
to all considerations founded on statesmanlkc
policy Moderation was unknown to him. magnanlm-
ity not ono Of his virtues. Still II be said
that he was rs warm friend as he was implacaoe
enemy. His private character was also good. But he
was no statesman, and a. politician he will only DO
by the extreme views he held aud by the
almost tyranncal manner in which he exercised the
power placed IN his hands
EDWARD SEYMOUR.
Mr. Edward Seymour, OF tho hrm OF Scrbner, Arm
strong Co., publishers, died at Bloomfield, N. j., on
Saturday evening last, alter short bu, illness.
Mr. Seymour was one OF the best known and most
highly respected AMI esteemed Of our literary men.