The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-08
Joe Brown and Bob TOOmbs.

Chow is it, Judge, that Joe Brown
continues to be notoriety, and to some
extent a. political quantity in Georgia, il
he was notla public speaker nor a man
of much following"
"He has always had an influence with
poor people, of whom he claims to be
one. I think his start in life was about
$4,000 that he got with his wife. Brown
was more capable of doing very shrewd
thing than any man in Georgia. l give
you an instance. Before the war be was
considered poor. After the reconstruc.
ton he was regarded US a rich man, and
his neighbors demanded an investigation
into his conduct and property. He was
invited to name one of three persons to
60 on committee to examine him. To
my surprise, he telegraphed me to be his
member. He was cited before the COM
mittee and positively refused to take an
oath. Said he, 4 don't recognize the
right Of the Legislature to examine ME,
under oath, for acts which l performed
in the ordinary course of my Office and
not under OATH This led to the greatest
excitement all through Georgia, and was
regarded as a confession that he had been
dishonest. The matter was debated, and
his enemies greatly rejoiced at the lapse
of time, and it was finally settled that he
could make his statement without swear
ing. He then walked before the COM
mittee and said: "Now, gentlemen, as I
have established my rights, insist that
l be sworn and examined; not only as
to my official acts, but my private life
The revulsion was Immediate all over the
State. >, It. was Browns design to make
people think thevery worst, and then to
stagger the public judgment and produce
a revulsion. Brown, however, was a
seces.ionist among the earliest. He be-
longed to what was called the Southern
Rights party Some of his correspon-
dence with JEFF Dayis-was very shrewd,
particularly about the time when Sher-
man had begun his march through
Georgia, and Brownasked that the Geor-
gia troops be sent back from the army of
the Potomac, either to resist Sherman's
advance or To move in his rear."s G
At this point the Jndge smiled again
andsaid %"One of the very cases of Bob
Toombs' wit came at that time in pri-
vate conversation with me. Mr.. Davis
had started Hood off to the North to in
wade Tennessee and produce diversion.
One of the oratorical addresses that ac-
companied Hoods march North said that
his soldiery would soon be enjoying them
selves in the green fields about Nashville.
I asked Toombs what he thought of that
address of Davis, and he said it reminded
him of the death of Falstaf. His nose
was as sharp as pen, and he babbled Of
green fields"
Ttt.What kind of q man is Toombs?"
'fIoombs3 hasa reckless way oftalking,
by which many people judge him. In
reality he is most conservative man.
When they were deliberating at Mont
gomery, Alabama, about firing at Fort
Sumter, he was the onlyrman to. oppose
it, and said: The first gun fired on that
fort would make the greatest revolution
theiworld had ever seem. If he was in
the Senate to-day, he would be prudent.
In the management of his worldly affairs
and law business, his success demon
strates this quality of conservatism. He
inherited great deal of money, but he
is still rich and has splendid law prac-
tice. He is as kind-hearted as a child.
You observed that when he visited Grant,
and understood him in person, he became
his warm friend" ."-Gath's intcrvie,o auith
Judge Lochrdne. .,.,7g