Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-08-27
A Misrepresentation Corrected.
GREENEv1LLE, Aug. rs, 1879.

IN tue memphis Appeal, dated Au>
gust 9th, concerning the debate
between Mr.. Merriweather, of Mem
phis, and Hon. 4. Ell. .Pettibone, of
Greeneville. On Monday, the 4th
of August, Major Pettibone had an
appointment to address the people
| Of Greeneville in favor of the fifty
and-four compromise. There was
no other speaker expected until Mr..
Merriweather sent in his request for
| the Major to divide time with him
land | suppose the whole Merris
weather family, as they all had their
say before the speaking was over,
which the ] Major cheerfally did.
On the day@appointed, the people
came from all parts of the county
to hear the Major on the State
debt question, and he handled his
subject in manner which did
credit to himself, as well as gave
satisfaction: to- all who heard him,
and resulted in causing many to
vote in favor of the fifty-and four
that would have otherwise voted
against. it. At l o'clock the court
house was filled to its utmost ca~
pacity, the speakers were in the
stand and q female sitting in front
Of it, which I will have the honor
of making your, acquaintance with
by and by. The time having ar
rived for the speaking to commence,
Mr.. Merriweather rose and ad
dressed the honest people of
Greene county : in favor Of
repudiation, J. consuming : about
one hour and a-half in speaking
his piece. After he closed, Major
Pettibone, in . very able manner,
showed not only the perfect fallacy
Of Mr.. Merriweather's arguments,
but also the ignorance Of the man
upon many points upon which he
should have been better informed.
In the course Of his speech, by way
of an illustration, he had occasion
to refer to Sherman and his
army, not thinking he would offend
any one, but the name of Sherman
had no sooner fallen from his lips
than Mrs. Merriweather, who sat in
front Of the stand, jumped to her
feet, and as the, poet would have it
Z "She with one terrific shout, Ca. ,-
Pours all; her wildcat fary out"
upon the Major. shaking her fist
and telling him she had heard
enough of Sherman and his army,
and continued her wild talk about
the army while. she Historically
crossed the floor to a chair on the
opposite side Of the house. Major
Pettibone paused for a moment and
stated that he hoped he had not of,
Tended any one, and then resumed
his speech to the end. After he
had finished, little Merriweather
requested to ask Maj. Pettibone a
question. The request was granted,
but instead of asking a question, he
made few hot headed remarks, de-
nouncing the Federal army as a
band of thieves and rob
bers that had burnt their
homes, desolated their country
and seized innocent women and
hung them by the neck Until dead.
Little Merriweather saw that things
were getting warmer for him than
he anticipated, and he hastily drew
to a close. But Mrs. Merriweather
about this time,
Much rejoicing in her hopeful son,
Deems all her own, the laurels he has
won,"
and rushes across the floor and pats
him on the head and kissed him, and
then with arrogance and pride re-
turns to her seat. Did I say pride:
swell. pride, like pigs Of a certain breed
Will manage to live and thrive on feed
AS poor as a pauper's pottsge." te
The people being somewhat ex-
cited with indignation at this young
mans remarks, Major Pettibone re-
quested them to be quiet for a
moment until he would reply. All
being quiet, he stated he would treat
this young man as Toby treated the
fly, when he took him to the window
and threw him out and said: "Go,
poor devil; there is room enough in
this wide world for me and for
thee y The Indignation of the
crowd could be restrained no longer,
and they gave loud exclamations
expressive of their contempt for the
young man who had spoken
solcunwisely. After the Icheer-,
ing had ceased, Mr.. Inger-
soll requested Maj. Pettibone' to
allow him to make a few
remark by way Of quietiDg the ex-
element, which was granted. Mr..
Ingersoll got upon the ia
BILE and stated that he was
Democrat, that he had fought the
rebellion four years, but it was his
desire to day to have peace, and he
hoped the people would keep quiet
and let the speakers have the stand.
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