Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-21
a DEVOTED WIDOW
Defends the Character OF Her DEAD
Husband, One of the Purest and
BrAVest. Must Earnest and
Honest. OF the Public
Men Of Tennessee.

Knoxville letter in the Louisville Courier
Journal: Ny ,lject IN visiting Rockville was
a threefold one, not the least OF which was
to learn the facts concerning certain revela-
tons promulgated by the report of the lnves-
tigatlrg committee on the State debt ques-
ton, which were published some DAYS since
in several issues of the Courier journal.
Bearing in mind the serious charges affecting
the character of the late Governor BrownlOw,
l thought it not only appropriate. but emil
nently Just, that Mrs Brownlow and all the
others Of the late governors family should
have an opportunity OF giving the pubic,
through the columns of the Courier Journal,
which, be it remembered, has an immense
Tennessee circulation, their version OF the
charges referred to IN the committee report
based on testimony adduced before that COM
mittee. To Mrs. BrowDlow, therefore, my
presence was made known, and respectful
request for an interview submitted. The re-
quest was granted without delay, and an hour
named for the projected visit, at which time,
in company with distinguished gentleman
and friend OF the family, was promptly on
hand. We were pleasantly received by Mrs.
BrOwniOw, Miss Annie Brownlow, DIR. D.
L. BoyntoD, son-ln-law OF the late
governor, and a distinguished ply
stefan of Knoxville. Mrs. Brownlow Is
weli-preserved lady of fifty one or two, above
the average hight Of ladies, dlgnifed of mien
aud amiable and unaffected of manner. She
is evidently devoted to the memory of her
husband, and Is resolute IN the determination
to defend his GOOD name and character as
man and as officer. With indignant
amazement she speaks of the recent attempt
to blacken The name of her husband ny
charges of bribery. please read this note,
said she to me at the beginning of the inter
view. Scrutinizing the envelope, | observed
on the upper left-hand corner, "lf not deliv-
cred, ETC., etc, return to the Peoples bank of
Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee. Opening
the envelope we took theretrom business
tter-head, wherein was printed peoples
bank of Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee.
The envelope was directed to "Mrs. VIM. G.
Brownlow, present. The letter contained,
in addition to the printed words above re-
ferred to, the flowing written ones:
KNOXVILLE, TENN, September 26, 1858.
Mrs W. G. BrownlOw:
Please accept the compliments of Jos. A.
Mabry, John r. Branner, Thomas Galloway,
c. NJ. NJ 'Ghee. r. I. Wilson.
"Now," continued Mrs. Brownlow, after
your correspondent had taken copy of the
note, 81 can give you all the facts connected
with the FIVE thousand dollars alleged to have
been given to Governor Brownlow. On Sep
TENDER 18th, the date of the above note, l
was at home, here in this house, and was in
formed that several gentlemen wished to see
me in my husband room. Governor Brown
Repairing to his room, found there General
JOS. A. Mabry, Colonel c. NJ. M'Ghee, and
Messrs. John r. BrauDer and Thos. II. Cal
lOway, in fact, all of the gentlemen whose
names appear appended to the note, except
Major r. T. Wilson. After the customary
greeting, Colonel MGhee addressed me, and
said in substance that he and the other four
gentlemen named-all prominent railroad
men-were under great obligations to Cover
nor BroWnlOw for many acts of kindness to
them personally, and as railroad men; that
they were aware that his salary as governor
was insufficient to permit him to take his
family to Nashville, and they begged me, la
view Of all these things, to accept present
from them. At the conclusion OF a few, re-
marks, Colonel M'Ghee handed me
the no;e which l have shown
you and FIVE one thousand dollar bills.
Now, you will remember" continued Mrs.
BrowDlow, that General Mabry states in his
testimony that they first rendered the money
to Governor Brownlow. The note shows on
its face that the gentlemen meant it for me,
and not for Governor Brownlow-it must
have bLen written at the Peoples bank, and
brought from thence to the gentlemen men
toned. l saw no improperly In accepting
the money under the circumstances. The
gentlemen were all reputed wealthy at that
time. They were, believe, with one excep-
ton, all Democrats. They stood high as citi-
z9ns, and | knew that my husband had done
them fayOrs time and agaln-had rendered
them valuable services with the authorities
at Washington about the railroads."
These entlemen were under obligations,
| understand, to Governor Brownlow for per-
sona and not official services 2"
That was my understanding most certain
~. At the close of the war the railroads of
this State were all In the hands of the gen.
eral government, and my husband used his
influence, both before and after he became
governor, t. have the roads returned
to the original companies, but l will get
DR.. Boynton to explain that to you. The
gentlemen who made the present were al
ways coming to my husband for advice
about their roads. All FIVE named were, l
believe, either presidents or receivers of
Tennessee railroads. | am certain" con-
tinued Mrs. Brownlow, ''that Governor
Brownlow came out Of his second term as
governor poorer than when he was first
elected. He made something out Of his lee.
lures when he went north, and the proceeds
of the sale Of his book Melted him some
thing. He also saved something from his
salary when IN the United States senate. 1t
has been ascertalDed that not one bond was
issued in aid of railroads after the pre-
sentatjon of the money to me, during the re-
mainder OF his term of office" In conclu-
sion, Mrs. Brownlow regretted the commit
tees course, and was deeply panied at the
shape the matter had been made to assume
in the dispatches published by certain news
papers. No one can listen to the statement
made by this noble woman, whose loyalty to
the memory of the dead Is so lasting and sim
cere, without accepting implicitly the truth
OF her statements.
DIR. D. T. BOYNToN's STATEMENT.
do not propose to give the exact words of
nh