The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-01-02
A REPRESENTATIVE OF TENNESSEE.

HOW HE HAS FIDDLED HIS WAY INTO CON-
GREsl AND WON THE BRIDE OF his
cHoIcE-A SHORT ROMANCE OF A NOUN
TAIN DISTRICT.
Correspondence OF the Gin cInnati Enquirer.l
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 81, 1878.
Last Wednesday, at Asheville, n. C., Con-
gresham .elect Robert Taylor was united in
matrimony with Miss. sallie Baird, niece Of
Governor Vance, OF North Carolina. The
marriage Is the conclusion OF somewhat
romantic story. When Taylor was nominated
BY the Democrats as their candidate for Con-
'gress, Miss Baird promised him that II elect.
ed, she would marry him; II defeated, 1t
would be an indefinite time before their
union. The district contains some OF the
strongest Republican counties in the State,
and has always given Republican majority
Of 200 or $500. The prospect for Taylor
attaining his desires were, therefore, not at
all promising. Besides, he had as an oppc-
nent Pettibone, one Of the Republican chief
tains Of the State, an emigrant from Michi-
gan, possessed OF unusual shrewdness. In
the Presidential contest, as one Of the Re-,
publican Electors, he bore the banner OF his
party as calamity as was possible, worrying
the Democrats considerably. For Taylor he
entertained seemingly nothing but contempt.
Taylor's nomination was simply lucky
stroke Of fortune. In the Republican Cor
vent;on Taylor's brother, very pronounced
Republican, was the principal candidate for
the nomination against Pettibone; but the
latter, after a bitter fight, secured the honor.
Republican Taylor's friends we're all angry, |
and the Democrats conceived that it would |
be q good thing to nominate his Democratic
brother, who would probably draw votes
from the Republican ranks. The plan was
carried out. Taylor was only % years old,
and in that region had made considerable
reputation and popularity as fiddler. At
the frequent gatherings for dancing he was
q most welcome guest. His nomination
seemed to fire the young men with ,entlusi.
asm. Numbers Of Republicans and two or
three Republican journals left the party
ranks and went over to Taylor's side. Pet
tibone was accused Of being in with the rev. /
enue and Custom-house rings, which had
controlled politics in that section. It was an
understood fact that Federal money was to
be showered on the district. Taylor, as he
afterwards told friends, had only $5 to com.
mence the canvass with, but once out, mon
ey and assistance Of every kind poured in on
him, so that, after the campaign was over,
very little Of the So was spent. Pettibone
looked down on him with contempt. and in
The opening speech merely alluded to him as
The s'beardless boy who flddles.'' When 1t
came to Taylrr's reioinder. hea approached the
table with a fiddle in one hand and q carpet
bag In the other. He commenced with the
that the serious charge had been
made against him that he was fiddler
Then, laying the fiddle and carpet-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
10 the other, producing any amount Of mer
riment at Petitioners expense. Pettlbone,
never alluded to Taylor's fiddle
more than once or twice. Taylor also taunt--
ed Pettibone With the fact that hIs regiment,
1t the close Of the war, disbanded with more
men than 1t had started with. The young
Democrat was ready, eloquent speaker,
ind never failed to awaken enthusiasm. FIRE.
lently when the speaking was over, he would
entertain the crowd with music from his
1iolin. The district has its share of moon
sinners, and they, with their friends, were
or Taylor, as Pettibone was in with and
by the revenue men, the enemies
II the moonshiners. Taylor's majority was
nearly 1900, making a Democratic gain Of
me Congressman from Tennessee. His ia
her represented the State in Congress just
.fter the war. When nominated, Taylor
vas advised to take very conservative
course, but answered firmly that lie proposed
% make the fight on straight -out Democrat
C principles. He did so, and won.