Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-20
GENERAL WILLIAM MOORE.
"Reminiscences of a Distinguished
Tennessee Pioneer.
Origin of The Phrase "FOr or
Against the MilIdam" and
CrOekefI's Motto, BE
sure YOu Are
Right"
Nashville Amarican

| day American has LED many person
hereabouts to inquire, and one CORES
pendent, by mail, to ask what it meant
where the expression originated, etc
The history Of it is an entertaining
one, and while sll. or nearly all Of thu
older men of the State doubtless re.
member the circumstances, the indui
ries made have led US to believe thai
he facts are unfamiliar to the bulk Of
he present generation, and will hC
entertaining, though they have been
published before. They call to mind
20. prominent persOn-one who did
good service for his State and country
n his day, IN the field and in legisla
i've halls, aud whose memory should
'e cherished by all Tennesseeans-
General William Moore.
General Moore was one of General
Iackson's most faithful and trusted
Ulcers, with him in all his campaigns
md possessed the entire confidence Of
The old hero. He lived to be a very
I'D man, and died at Tullahoma, in
chs State, since the war. After Cen
lral Moore ceased to be a soldier he
represented Lincoln county for a long
term OF years in the Legislature. He
was exceedingly popular in his county,
md was always elected. although his
opponents selected, time after time,
the strongest men Of the county to run
,gainst him.
After the General had served a
number OF years in the Legislature,
the people became very much excited
over a milldam that was located very
near the center of the county. All
those who lived above the dam wanted
it removed, because they had been
in the habit of bringing
their produce down the river in fat
boats, and the dam interiered with
their transportation; while all below
the dam wanted it to remain, as this
was the only mill convenient to them,
and there they all came to get their
grinding done; and SO the people OF
the county were very nearly equally
divided upon the issue, which pro
luced the greatest feeling and interest
among the people.
Several candidates-perhaps half a
dozen-were in the field, besides Gen.
Moore, and as he was regarded as the
strongest man, the man they had to
peat, they all turned their batteries
against him. Every day during the
exciting canvass all these candidates
discussed nothing but The milldam.
some for and some against it; but
the General was as dumb as an oys
ter on this question, and in every
speech he discussed other matters.
giving his opponents a monopoly OF
the milldam issue. Each Of hi
opponents insisted in every speech
that General Moore define his posi-
ton on the question, and called upon
the people to make him do So. which
they endeavOred to do. but the Gen
eral kept on in the even tenor OF BIZ:
way, and paid no heed to his oppo
nents or the peoples call for his
views on the milldam matter.
A few days before the canvass was
to end, while speaking in the upper
end Of the county, General Moore tolC
the people that he had been frequent
ly urged to express his views in re-
gard to the milldam, but had always
refused to do 50, because the proper
time had not come for such an expires
sion, That in few days there wa,
TO be a meeting at the milldam, and
that this would be the proper tim,
and place for him to express himself
aud that he should do so on that oc
casiOn, hoping they would all be there
to hear him.
This was made known throughout
the county, and on the day fixed
nearly the entire voting population
from all parts of the county assembled
TO hear how General Moore stood on
the milldam question. After devot
ing nearly the whole of the time al
lowed him in the discussion Of the
same questions he had talked about
in his former speeches, he finally said
to them: you have heard no doubt,
that upon this occasion | pro
posed to define my position upon
the milldam question which seems to
be dividing and distracting our people
| have been frequently urged to do so,
but for reasons satisfactory TO myself,
have delayed the matter. For this |
have been charged with political cow
ardice, lack Of moral courage.
"You all know me, and know that |
am not in the habit of ooncealiug my
opinions aud convictions. | have
never done so in the past and will not
begin it now. | have promised you,
that on this day | would tell you how
[ stood on the milldam question, and
! am here now to do so. 1t can be
stated in very few words. am neither
for nor against the milldam.
And the General was again elected
to the Legislature. This was not
demagogy on the part of Gen. Moore,
nor did he intend by it to get around
taking a stand upon political issues, as
bis language has been generally con-
strued. What he meant-aud he
pursued this course with the purpose
Of impressing it upon the people-was
that he thought the milldam entirely
too insignificant to be made an issue
in the convass, did not propose to
take any part in such contest and
his action and words be intended
should show his contempt for the
question then dividing the people of
bis county,
When Gen, Moore first went into
service under Gen. j Jackson, or shortly
after doing so, he had some trouble
with his men. He was Captain oil a
company, aud being quite young, the
men we're not disposed to obey his
orders as they should have done.
The young Captain finally deter
mined TO lay the whole matter
before General Jack son and obtain his
advice. DAvy Crockett was at
that time private in Captain Moore's
company, young, awkward, gawky aud