The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-02-09
RRLpERr ANp ooRRUproN

Democrats replying to each other.
Mr.. Watson said he had not seen
the article which appeared in the
Courier.JomnaJ, but now had the
paper, and would consequently
change his vote. The article was
read by the clerk.
After this several members chang
ed their votes in favor of the reso-
| luton
The vote was put to the Senate
and the resolution was unanimously
adopted. +.
In the House, Mr.. Davis of Put
nam, who was charged by John L.
LittletOn, Jr, as having been bribed
to vote for Secretary of State, ad-
dressed the Speaker as follows:
Mr.. Speaker: l rise to ques-
ton of privilege. | see in the Ban
ner of yesterday, that when cast
my vote for d. A Num-, for Secre-
tary of State, that Mr.. Thompson
said "How much did you get p
did not hear what Mr.. Thompson
said on yesterday, or | should have
then replied to it. / do it now, and
say to Mr.. Thompson that [ got the
same that he offered me to vote for
him for Secretary of State, but |
prefer Num- to him.
He then had the card from Mr.
Littleton read by the Clerk:
NASHVILLE, Feb. 1st.-Mr Staff
Correspondent Courier-JournaL: The
election of State officers is over, and,
as Republicans are elected to sue
coed James l.. Gaines as Controller
and Charles n. Gibbs as Secretary
of State, [ wish to let the Imblic
know through your paper how the
result was reached. 1t is generally
believed that four Democrats were
bribed, and | am quite certain that
it is true of at least two of them,
viz, Henry P. Davis, Of Putnam,
and III. d. Plummer, of Hickman
and Perry. These two worthless
have gained no notoriety in this
Legislature, except as bribe-takers.
[ know of an arrangement having
been perfected by which their votes
were purchased for Republican can
didates in two different elections,
and if either of the shameless trait
ors desires to take issue with me on
this subject, | have the proof at
hand and will take pleasure in Civ
ing it to the public. In these acts
of treason they have covered them
selves with black infamy for which
honest people will accept nothing
as an atonement. The iron heel of
eternal Ostracism should at once be
placed upon the necks of these I'M
principled scamps who would sell
out to the enemy for the poor pit
lance of $3.50 each, so that their in
famous names may never more
disgrace the legislative rolls. | Oh
" write this to let the public know
who the traitors are, so that innO-
cent persons may not be censured.
If any one desires to consult me per
sonally in regard to the above, my
address is No. 43 High street, and [
will be in the city for a week yet.
Respectfully,
john J. LITTLETON, JR.'
Now, Mr.. Speaker, upon this l
have to say that Mr.. LittletOn was
here in the interest Of Mr. Shelley,
q Republican, and that he offered to
compensate me if [ would vote for
his Republican friend. He offered
to aid me in coming to the Senate
next time if [ would aid him in his
infamous schemes. He said if Mr..
Shelley was elected he was to be
virtually Secretary of State; that
he was to run the office. [ spurned
his infamy and insulted him to get
rid of him. In response toshis vile
attack on me, read by the Clerk, I
have to say, Mr.. Speaker, that it is
an infamous lie from beginning to
end, 80 far as [ am concerned, and
l stand responsible here or else
where for what | say. In vindica-
ton of myself | demand q commit
tee to investigate said base charges
made by Mr.. LittletOn, who is
liar, scoundrel, coward and poltroon.
This malicious attack upon me is
made because the author did not
succeed in HE vile schemes, and
made me a party to them. | hope
the House will do me the justice to
award the investigation ! ask, in
order that /, the party to which |
belong, the people whom l repre-
sent, and the purity Of this House,
may be indicated.
Mr. Thompson said that he would
feel very bad if what he had said
about traitors on the day previous
was without influence. He had
lived for 58 years; had descended
from the oldest families in Tennes-
see. His ancestors were the first
white people in this State, and they
had occupied every Office within the |
gift of the State, from Governor
down to magistrate, and had won
proud distinction on the battle field.
He had never done anything that
went back on his or their reputa-
ion, and no gentleman should place
him in any such attitude, and if the
gentleman from Putnam and White
Mr.. Davis) meant to reflect upon
lim, or to insinuate that he done
not becoming gentle
nan, he would apply to him the
anne epithet that the gentleman
rom Putnam and White had APP
died to that other man, and say he
vas a liar, a sceundrel and a cow
nd
Mr.. PIummsr said that he would
se the same epithets towards Mr.
ittleton that Mr. Davis had He
lso acknowledged that he had been
fered $3.50 to vote for a candidate
Or Secretary Of State, which offer
le Indignantly declined.
Subsequently, Messrs. Tillman,