Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-12
HOT-sHOT FOR HOUK.
John Ii. BrOwnlOw, In q Eccond
Letter, shows Up the Record
or LeOnidss Cesar HOuk.
Of Tennessee.
Special to the Courior-JOurpal.

~ Wi "OUuIUHl.
WASHINGTON, August l0.-Jobn r.
SroWnlow is out in a reply to Houk's
last letter, and it has made a sensation
here. 1t smacks Of the directness and
saltlness Of old parson Brownlow. and
informs Mr.. Leonidas Caesar Honk
aud the other people who are inter.
ested, that In threatening to turn the
writer out of Office because he was
against the Houk nomination. and in
assuming that a Brownlow was beneath
his notice, he stirred I'D the wrong
man and probably made sure his de-
feat: Brownlow accuses Houk Of
having taken the two per cent assess
ment matter into his W hands. 80
far as the Tennessee Federal officers
are concerned, and dares him to denv
It,. The letter closes as follows.
Indeed, he would have no hone off,
denomination but for the expenditure
OF money and the convention packing
work of the Federal office holding
army which is securing the district in
his interest. If it were not for Houk's
official position, and for the fact that
the people Of the North do not know
his standing at home, | would not
condescend to reply to his brsKep
assumption of superiOrity. His history
Is unclean. Starting life as a minister
OF the gospel, he found it convenient
to quit the ministry. AS a soldier.
after an inglorious service of a few
months in the field, his resignation
was accepted 'for the good of the SER
vice" As a member of Congress he
has been neglectful of his duties and
has discredited the Republicans oftbe
South. If the Republican party in
Tennessee fails to elect a United
States Senator next January in place
OF the Hon. lsbam G. Harris. il will
be because Of the evil influence of
this Congressman in disrupting the
party through a position of the Federal
othees of the State to his personal and
selfish ends. Houk's defamatory asper-
sions OF my standing and history make
1t proper that | should refer to the
people among whom | was born, and
who have known me all my life. For
my record as a Union soldier | refer
to the records Of the files Of the War
Department, where the commenda-
tons OF all nay superior officers are On
file, and also to the men of the reVi-
ment | commanded, who are scattered
ell over Houk's district. And | also
confidently refer to the staff and field
officers Of the late General John q.
Morgan, in the attack upon and killing
Of whom | was the only field officer IF
my regiment, commanding one-third
OF the HOO men, who surprised and
defeated the enemy. numbering 1000
| can also refer to a number of "rebel
~brigadieru' in Congress, whom I met
in the Geld. While | fought General
John Morgan, Houk fought General
John B~arleycOrn. l have nothing to
conceal and nothing to apologize for
in my official or private life. excent
that L once so far compromised NV
sense Of propriety to party tealty as to
vote for houk to represent me in n
body which he defles when present
and disgraces when absent. In yindi-
cation Of the people Of East Tennessee.
| will say that Honk is not a normal
product of that section.
JOHN b. RRowNIo,