New-York tribune., 1877-04-30
OBITUARY.
EX-SENATOR WIN. O. BROWNLOW.
KNOXVILLE. Tenn. April Ex-senator Wm q.
Brownow died at his residence here at o'clock this
afternoon.
ex-senator
RROWNT,OW.


County vs Aug. 20, 1905. nearly ~ yearsago. Being
left an orphan while yet boy of II years. he was
obliged to work in the humblest capacity for seven
years. When 1s years of age he removed to Abing-
don, Va, where he apprenticed himself TO a house
carpenter In 1926, after having learned the car
penter's trade, he entered the Methodist ministry,
and labOred ten years an itnerant preacher. In
1882 he was a delegate to the General Confer
ence at Philadelphia, but afterward trav-
eled crcuit in Sonth Carolina, the home OF
Calhoun. While in that State the notification ex-
citement led him into the controversy, and be ey
pressed his attachment to the Union with gre"'
freedom The fierce opposition soon excited against
him led Mr.. BrownlOw to publish pamphlet in his
own defense About the same time he also pub
Ished q pamphlet against the position OF inc
Methodist Church South in regard to slavery,
in which he predicted the troubles of the
country on the slave question, aud ayowod
his determination to stand by the Union.
Mr Brownlows political career in Ten
messee began when he removed to chat State in
1898 in which year he advocated the reelection
Of President John Quincy Adams having always
BEEN as be said. "a Federal Whig Of the Washing
ton and Alexander Hamilton school" In 1899 Mr.
Frownlow founded The RnorriIle HhiD and ho con-
tnued its publication until II was suppressed by the
Confederatcs in 1861. The Uhg was "a political
newspaper and it was partly from its bold and de-
6ant tone that it's editor obtained the sobrlquet Of
the Fighting FaTson." In 1913 he ran for Con
gress us the Whig nominee against Andrew Johnson
and IN 1850 was appointed by President Fillmore
a. one Of several commissioners to carry out
Congressional provisions for improving the
navigation of the Tennessee River. He was also a
member of the Constitutional Convention which re-
organized the State Government of Tennessee In
I,.lo ba Iran, Wlna
Examined and its False Spokes Extracted" being
reply to attacks made upon the Methodist Church.
Two years later he held public debate in Philade
phia with the Rev. A. Pryne OF New-York, which
vas published in volume entitled "Ought Amer-
can Slavery TO be Perpetuated?" !" Mr. BrOwnlOw
taking the Affirmative.
Wheu the secession movement began, Mr. Brown
low boldly advocated an unconditional adherence to
the UniOn holding that the presery alton OF the
Union was the best safeguard to Southern nstllu-
tions. His course subjected hmaO much persecu-
ton by his neighbors but his bold spirit never failed
him in all MS trials and hardshps. During the
early part of 1861 he dealt many hard blows to se-
cession and kept the Stars and Stripes flying over
his house during all the excitement and tumult
his flag was eyesore in the region
about Knoxville Some threats having been
made of taking it down MIR. Brownlow
torals in which he said
This hag is private property, private dwelling,
in state that voted herself out o! tho Union
or into the southern Coniederacy ana Is Therefore, law
STRIPES have f0atcd over my bouso IL these Cod
fcrsahen scoundre.s and heil.loserying assasslns
want satisfaction for what 1 have 3aid about
them-and il has has been no ttE lltte-'9ey can ~
life hut Sunday. am st all times pTenared TO give
thcu satisfaction take nothing back that have ever
said against the corrupt and unprnrpled villains but
II, UaSiafuly
down their lying thrOa.s their own Infamous calunnles
On the 26th of October 1861, Mr.. Brownlow pub
lished the last number of The WING, and was
Obliged to conceal himself from the violence of his
o,on,i,, Ii, lau uccn indicted by the Grand jury
for treason because he said i'll the last issue OF
The JJhig he had refused to publish garbled ac-
counfs of skirnshes in Kentucky, and other arti-
cles tho insertion of which was insisted upon by
the ConfedeYatos. "The real object of my arrest
and contemplated imprisonment" he said " Is to
dry up break down. silence, and destroy hc last and
ONLY Union paper left in the III socedcd States,
and thereby keep from the people OF East
Tennessee the facts which are daily trans
piring in the country" BY false PROMISE OF pro
lection Mr. Drownow was induced to report hlm-
self to the Confederate General at Knoxville. Upon
dining So he WAS arrested on the charge of treason
and sent to JAIL He was kept in prison under mill
tary authority until March, 1862. He was con-
stantly expecting death. and suffered greatly
from severe Illness. In March he was for
warled to the Union lines at Nashville, ana
from that point he made tour through
the Northern States, delivering speeches III ire pm
cipal cities aud giving Thrilling accounts OF the
su.lcrngs lie underwent for his sentiments. ADou'
thi, time he published his Sketches of the Rise,
Progrpss and decline of Soces, on, with Narrative
of Personal Adventures among the Rebels" During
tha
I,rownow was warmly received wherever he spoke
and hls hearers generally followed his speeches win
resolutions demanding a vigorous prosecution of the
war II WAS largely due to Mr.. irOwnlOws I'M
ceasing efforts that East tennessee remained loyal
To the Union TO the end although at Il feartuI
cost When he learned that the Legislature had
adopted an ordinance of secession lie denounced
the action in his paper in bold and fiery language
and called upon the people to vote against the ordi
nance. "Let every man. old and young, halt and
blind" he said "cOntriye to be at the polls on tiat
day If we lose then our liberties are gono ana we
are swallowed up by a military despotlsm." Ills
words were needed, for East Tennessee gave 3''ooo
votes against separation to 117O0 for separation.
OF the smaller vote Mr. BrS~now said at least one
half were cast by Rebel troops, having no author
itv unde, the Constitution to vote al any election
Al least 5000 quiet citizens, he affirmed, were pre-
vontad Inv drunken troops from swelling the larger
vote.
I'm 1864 Mr. Brownlow returned to Tennessee, ana
in 1868 he was elected Governor of the state WIN
out opposition. In 1867 he was reelectod'
having majority of 51,o36 over bmer-
son Etheridge, Conservative. He was supse-
ouently elected United States Senator TO
succeed David 4. Patterson, who had been elected
"a a War Democrat. He took his seat III March,
1859 and served until March 3, 1873, when he
was succeeded by ex-Presdent johnson. Inc
vacancy caused by the death of the
latter was filled temporarily by ID. NJ.