The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-04
rAnsoN unowNLow's DEATH.


--rcrnessee's noted preacher, Governor,
ra,tor and senator-One Of the Most
remarkable Of American Politicians.
IN. Y. SUM-
rbe Rev. William Gannaway Brown
low better known as Parson BrOwnlow,
diad Yesterday afternoon at his resi-
sience In Knoxville, Tenn. He was born
August 2s, 1906, in Wythe county, Va,
and was the eldest son OF Joseph A.
Rrownlow. who cultivated farm there,
and was q private in q Tennessee COM
many in the War Of 1912. Two uncles OF
the Parson were privates under Gen.
jackson, and two others were officers in
the navy. The Parsons father died in
1916, and mother, formerly Catherine
Gannaway, died three months af-
forward, leaving three sons and two
daughters to the care Of relatives.
William was eleven years Of age at the
time and was taken In charge by his
mothers family, who bred him to farm
work until he was eighteen. and then
apprenticed him to carpenter OF Alb
ingdon, Va, His education, casually
obtained In country schools. had been
very imperfect, and as soon as his trade
was learned, he sought to increase his
knowledge by regularly attending. q
school, He entered the Methodist min
istry in 1895 as an itinerant preacher,
was chosen by the Holston Confer
ence as q delegate to the general
conference in Philadelphia. and dur
ing the same year travelled q
circuit in South Carolina and Georgia.
He took strong ground against nullifi-
cation, and drew upon himself furious
animadversion. At the same time he
became engaged with clergyman of
another denomination upon slavery,
and, in a pamphlet, said that 1t would
one day shake the government. to Its
see that day, and not to be an old man
at that. The tariff question now threat
ems the overthrow Of the government,
but the slavery question Is one to be
dreaded. While [ shall advocate the
owning Of men, women and children, j
shall, when the battle comes, stand by
my government and the Union formed
by our fathers"
Mr.. Brownlow began his political ca
reer in Tennessee, in 1928, by siding with
John Quincy Adams against Andrew
Jackson. He advocated strong and
concentrated Federal government, and,
as an ardent Wing, regarded Clay and
Webster as his political standards. In
1897 he became editor of the Knoxville
Whig, and from the vigorous and defi-
ant style of his articles, obtained the
title OF the "Fighting Parson." He en-
gagged also in religious controversies,
and wrote several religious books. In
1858 he held O public debate In Philadel-
phia upon slavery with the Rev;
Abram Payne, Of New York, and
defended the institution. AT the
outset OF the secession movement,
in 1860, Mr.. Brownlow advocated in his
newspaper an unconditional adherence
to the Union, as it was the best safe
guard of Southern institutions. On ac-
count OF this he experienced much per-
secution, and ceased publishing the
JFhig in October, 1861. He announced
that he would not again print the news.
paper until the State had become cleared
Of rebels, and avowed his determination
never to take the OATH OF allegiance to
the. Confederacy. 81 shall 60 to jail"
said he, "for my principles. / shall go,
because have failed to recognize the
hand OF God in the breaking up OF the
American government, and the inaugu-
ration of the most wicked, cruel, unnat-
ural and uncalled for war ever recorded
in history" He was taken by friends
to place OF concealment in the noun
tains of Tennessee, but was induced
to appear at the Confederate
military headquarters In Knoxville,
under promise Of a safe escort to the
Union lines. Upon his arrival there, In
December, 1861, he was arrested on a
Civii process for treason and thrown into
Jail. After a months confinement he
was released, but was Immediately rear
rested by military authority, and kept
under guard in his own house until
March 8, 1862. He was then escorted to
the Union lines at Nashville. He SUBJ
sequently lectured or made speeches
upon the war In various cities OF the
North, and wrote his autobiography,
which became known as PEARSON
Brownlow's Book" and had an extern
sive sale. In September, 1868, he re-
under Union sway, and again printed
his newspaper, which is still in exist
Bnce.
In 1866, when Tennessee returned to
the Union, Mr.. Brownlow was elected
Governor by q heavy majority, and was
reelected in 1867 He showed excellent
executive ability, great honesty and
flrmness, and was thought to be one of
the best Governors the State ever had.
He was elected by the Legislature to
the United States Senate for the term
beginning March 4, 1869, and at the ex-
piration of the six years returned to the
editorship Of his journal.
Senator Brownlow was six feet in
height and of spare, STOPPING figure.
His face was dark and smooth, and his
intensely black hair was but little silver
ed to the last. His aspect was grave,
and he laughed seldom. He pride him
self upon never having played card,
sworn, drank dram Of liquor, except
for medicinal purposes, smoked cigar
or chewed. He never, he said, attend
ed q theatre or horse race, and never
courted but one woman, and her he mar
ried. He had seven children.
INITIATING NEW ORLEANS.
The Carnival i'm New York