The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-28
TAYLOR, OF TENNESSEE.
How He won Wife and the Honors or a
Congressman.

On Wednesday, the tenth Instant, at hshe-
Vile, N. O., Congressman-eect Robt. Taylor
was united In marriage with Miss Sallie
Baird, niece OF Gov. Vance, Of North Caro-
lima. The marriage Is the conclusion OF q
somewhat romantic story. When Taylor was
nominated by tho Democrats as their candi-
date for Congress, Miss Baird promised him
that, II elected, she would marry him i
If defeated, it would be an indefinite
consum minated The district contains
some Of the strongest Republican counties In
the State, and has always given Republican
majority Of 2200 or 2300. The prospect for
Taylor attaining his desires were, therefore,
not at all promising. Besides, he had as an
opponent PettibOne, one OF the Republican
chieftains Of the State, an emigrant from
Michigan possessed Of unusual shrewdncss.
In the Presidential contest, as one Of the Re-
publican electors, he bore the banner Of his
party Ms gallantly as was possible, worrying
the Democrats considerably. For Taylor he
entertained seemingly nothing but contempt
Taylor'B nomination WAS simply lucky
stroke Of fortune. In the Republican conyen-
tion Taylors brother, q very pronounced Re-
publican, was the principal candidate for the
nomination against Pettibone; but the latter,
after bitter fight, secured the honor. Re-
publican Tnylors friends we're ali angry, and
the Democrats conceived that it would be
good thing To nominate his Democratic
brother. who would probably draw votes
from the Republican ranks. This plan was
carried out Taylor was only twenty-eight
years old, and in that region had made con-
siderable reputation and popularity as a
fiddler. AT the frequent gatherings for dane
ing he was a most welcome guest. His
nomination seemed to fire the young men
with enthusiasm. Numbers OF Republicans
and two or three Republican journals left the
party and went over to Taylor's side. Petit
bone WAS accused OF being In with the revenue
and custom-house rings, which had controlled
politics in that section. 1t was an under
stood fact that Federal money was to be
showered on the district. Taylor, as he after
ward told friends, had only SIS to commence
the canvass with, but once out, money and
assistance Of every kind poured in on him, 50
that after the campaign was over, very little
Of the $5 was spent. Pettibonc looked down
on him with contempt and in the opening
speech merely alluded to him as the beard
less boy who fiddlea."
When 1t came to Taylors rejoinder, he ap-
preached the table with fiddle In one hand
and carpet-bag In the other. He commenced
with the statement that he was q fiddler.
Then, laying the fiddle and the carpet-b bag
side by side on the table, he asked the crowd
to choose between them. The point was taken
up and carried from one end OF the district to
the other, producing any amount Of merri-
ment at PettibOnes expense. Pettibone, after
ward never alluded to Iaylors fiddle more
than once or twice. Taylor also taunted Pet
tibone with the fact that his regiment, at
the close OF the war; disbahded with more
men than it had started with. The young
Democrat was a ready, eloquent speaker, and
never failed to awaken enthusiasm. FIRE.
quentIy when the speaking was over, he
would entertain the crowd with music from
his violin. The district has its share Of
moonshiners, and they with all their friends,
were for Taylor, as Pettibone was in with and
supported by the revenue men, the enemies
Of the moonshiners. Taylor's majority was
nearly 1900, making Dem ocratic gain Of one
Congressman from Tennessee. His father
represented the State in Congress just after
the war. When nominated, Taylor was ad-
vsed to take very conservative course, but
answered firmly that he proposed to make
the fight on straight-out Democratic princi-
pies. He did so, and won.