Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-03-13
Report Made by an Inves-
tigating Committee.

Wholesale Corruption Charged
A Witness who Testified that
Mrs. BrownIow, with the Gov
ernor's knowledge, A epted
So, GOO as a Bribe-An Explana-
ton of the Debt.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
NASHVILLE, March 1.-The
Joint Special Committee appoin-
ted by the Legislature to inves-
tigate and report in regard to
the validity of the State debt
concluded its report this morn
ing. 1t says:
In 1856, when a majority Of
the people were allowed no voice
in the State, an act OF that year
passed by which $4,941, 600 was
unjustly and illegally added to
the debt.
Eighteen hundred and sixty
seven came, and a large portion
of the people were still debarred
from the exercise of political
rights. Many corporate Presi-
dents, agents, and representatives
came to Nashville to attend the
session of the Legislature. All
known influences were used up
ION the supposed representatives
of the people. From pulpit to
bagnio recruits were gathered
for the assault upon the Treasu-
ry of the State. Fine brandy
by the barrel was en- hand to fire
the thirst and muddle the brain.
First-class suits of clothing were
given to capture the vanity CT
'avarice of the gay or needy.
Money, the proceeds of bonds is
sued by the State for specific
purposes, was paid to these men
in abundance, and was used.
The Omnibus Railroad bill Of
that year passed, and nearly five
millions more was corIuptly and
wickedly added to the burdens
of the people. A certain man
(E. Davenport came to Tennes-
see, was appointed receiver Of
the Winchester & Alabama, aid
Manchester & McMinnville Rail
roads, at a salary Of $4,000. lie
was also appointed Commission
er of Registration for Franklin
county. He sent his superinten-
dent { Brown to the Legislature
in 1867, as a member. That
member, in conjunction with a
certain Senator Parker), was ac-
tive in procuring State aid. The
Commissioner and Receiver let
out contracts on the road, and
was silent partner in them:
This receiver, member, and Sem
ator formed a conspiracy to de-
fraud the State. About a mill
ion dollars Of bonds, issued un-
der the act of 1867, went into
the hands Of the receiver. He
came to the State to plumber it
and enrich himself. He did SO
and left. The President Of the
railroad would sell bonds, and
apply the proceeds in corrupt
efforts to get mere bond S
They got bonds for railroads that
had never been surveyed and 10
Gated.
One railroad President, Jo-
seph A. Mabry, says he had
great influence with Governor
Brown!ow; that another railroad
President, Gen. George Nancy,
wanted bonds and desired his
services with the Governor to
get them; that in addition to
paying directly for services and
influence with the Governor, he
was to have control Of a portion
of the bonds obtained to use fer
margins in stock speculation in
New York. They thus got 8S5
bonds without warrant OF sane
ticn Of law.
This influential man had and
used large amount of these
bonds in New York, and testi-
fed that be and the others, the
President together with Gen. r.
X. Wilson, Thomas Galloway,
and John Il. Brawner, were Part
ncrs in stock sreculaticns.
Having sold Tennessee bonds
short, and desiring to ~ ves
them, they corsulted a spiritual
istic medium to get information
not accessible through terrestrial
senses. They get the desired
information, followed it scrupu-
lousy, making the State poorer,
and enriching distinguished
high State official (Gov. Brown
low by several thousand dollars.
Mabry testified that he and
L. LII - L. Il