Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-08-12
BrOwnlOw ON HOuk.
WAsH1SeroN, August 1, 1882.
New York Herald.

WASHINGTON, August l, 1882.
To the Editor of the New York
Herald:-You published in the Her
aid of the 9th ult., letter from
Leonidas Caesar Houk, member of
Congress from the Second District
o. Tennessee. in which, under cover
of what purports to be reply to an
editorial of your paper, he evades
the issue and affects to dismiss me
| as more of fiction than fact, and
as one with whom he would not
descend to hold controversy. "Ye
gods and little fishes p What
&c elopment of grace and dignity
since he wrote me of the 18th of
July, threatening to have me re-
moved from Office because he had
heard l was using my influence TO
| prevent his denomination for Con
gress! How unfortunate that this
grave and reverend iegis-
la.or should have compromised
his precious self-respect In the first
instance, when he so far forgot him
self as to regard me as factor, at
least, if not fact, in the politics OF
Tennessee, and meanly threaten my
removal because L had the patriotism
and decency to prefer the nomina~
ton OF an able, consistent and gen
tlemanly Republican to faithless,
pa ny boiling politician whose name
| is associated with Ill that is dema~
gogical in public life If the Hon
Jay A. Huhbell had the slightest
idea of Houk's standing among the
people of Tennessee he would not
feel treasured or gratifed at his
presumptuous defence of himself or
his committee. | think, however,
mach more may be said or the
chairman of the Congressional com
Il, ttee whe l ass 9rt it was neither
charged nor supposed by me that he
or any member of his committee,
except Houk, was party
to the assessment lev
led upon Tennessee officials
and employees in Wasl;lgson for the
base purpose of securing the nomi-
nation of H0uk over another and
fer better Republican True, Houk
represented MIR Hubbell as such par
ty, but knowing Houk [ was not wills
ling to condemn Huobell ON testimo>
ny SO untrustworthy. I am pres
pared to Prove that every word of
the charge that HOuk had this as~
sessment levied and for the purpose
stated is absolc tely tire, and if as
sured by tho IN authority that the
witnesses would Tot be removed
from Office for testifying to this fact
I will furnish the affidavits of the
men who paid the asses 7ment, not>
withstanding Houk's audaciOus as
sert on that there is ''no semblance
of ruth in my statement" Now, l
challenge this little Caesar to
take up the gauntlet I have thrown
down TIE agent of HOuk who col
lec.ed .he money told the clerks and
employees that the Judge (meaning
| tais petty boss) wanted Two per
| cent. of their salaries that he had
/ ula'Iu s~e4-~--y-~---~--t nth thu Ce.4-
/ gressional Committee by which the
amounts given to him would be cred
tied Oh the general assessment OF
! the committee, and thai the Judge
had had hard time 10 get permis-
/ siol to have this done on account of
the big majority in MS district "a Re
publican majority of eight thousan0
buJ that he.had finally accomplished
it. It seems very clear to me that
| Mr. HubbeII and the other gentle
men of the committee would be much
/ better served and Y ldicated by
Houk's prompt retirement from that
body than the etfrOntefy of his inn
pertinent defense.
Houk is not siucere when he says
''tbere. is no serious division among
the Republicans of the Second Con
gressiolal District OF Tennessee,
nor when he asserts, with no less in
sincerity, that he will be renominated
and reelected. His letter threatens
ing my dismissal for preferrlng Mr..
William Rule, refutes the first
statement, and | will venture to say
to the public everywhere that he
will be bes zen for denomination, and,
although he viii boz TIE con vention,
as he bolted the CO, 5ent;on which
some years ago nominated the late
Hon. FORAGE Maynard, and a sub
sequent CONVEX ion which preferred
tae Hon. j. M. Thornburgh, he will
be defeated at the polls as he was
defeated then.
Indeed, he would have no hope of
a denomination but for the expendi~
tdre Of money I'D he conve IT; on
packing wo k OF the fede a. office
holding army which is SC airing the
district in his IN rest. If it were
noa for Houks official position and
for the fac5 that the people of the
North do not know his standing at
home. [ would not % descend to
reply to ms brazen ass nption of
superiority HIS history is unclean
Starting in life a minister Of the
Gospel he found 1t convenient to
quit the ministry. Asa soldier, after
an ingiorous service of a lew months
IN the fed, his resignation Was ae-
cepted ''for the good of the service
As member OF Congress he has
been neglectful of his duties and has
discredlted the Republicans of the
! South
Ii the Republican party OF Tens
nessee fails to elect United States
Senator next January IN place Of
Hon. Isham g. Harris it viii be beS
cause of the evil influence of this
Congressman IN disrupting the
party through prostitution Of the
Federal officers of the State to his
personal and selfish ends. Houk's
defamatory aspersions Of my stand
| ing and history make 1t proner that