National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-16
MIR. RICHARDSON CORRECTED.
True Statement OF How Tennessee's
Funds Were suuaudered,

TACK on cX.tOY, Harris ana his administra-
tion Of the state government OF Tennessee
during the war, and in his reply thereto
Mr.. Richardson, Of the same state, attacked
the Republican administration Of Tennes-
see after the war while my father was gov
ernor. do not suppose that Mr.. Richard
son Intended any personal reflection on my
father, but In an extract from newspaper,
euloglstic Of Gov. Harris, incorporated In
his remarks, are two sentences susceptible
OF such construction, alike unjust to him
and to the Republican state government
This cannot permit TO 90 Unanswered.
The subject Of this congressional wrangle
was as TO how much OF the school fund and
assets OF the Tennessee State Bank were
equandered during and since the war, and
the party or parties responsible therefor,
There were statements made by both
these representatives which were true, but
there were others made by both which are
not sustained by the facts, am familiar
with them, and more competent TO state
them fairly than either Of these men be-
cause am not a candidate for election to
Congress, as they both are. In Houk's dis
trict, with its 1000 Republican majority,
1t is popular TO abuse ex-Gov, Harris, and
in Richardson's, with It's large Democratic
majority, 1t is popular to abuse the "Brown-
low state government which dlsfrau-
chised said majority Immediately after the
war for participation in rebellion.
Trusting that you will regard au Impair
tial statement Of the facts as a matter OF
general interest, ask space in your col
umns for it
When Tennessee plunged into the rebel
lion under the leadership, and chiefly
through the influence Of its governor,
Isham 6. Harris, the assets Of Interstate
bank were $10,000,000. The school fund
proper was $2,6T9, 01S.33 All Of this sum,
except $780, 200, was prosttuted TO the pur-
poses Of rebellion, Just as the financial
resources OF the other ten states In rebellion
were. 1t was expended in orming and
equipping soldiers for the rebel army. IL
was done under the administration Of Gov.
Harris and In accordance with the resolu-
tions and acts OF the legislature. Mr..
Richardson said that when the war closed
Gov. Harris sent back to Nashville $500, 900
In specie. Mr.. Houk said the amount was
$i2O,OO0. Neither was right. Four hundred
thousand dollars is the amount sent back to
the state by Gov. Harris. The erroneous
statements as to the amount have probably
grown out OF the fact that by an act Of the
legislature the 100000 in specie was con-
yerted into something over 5000 600 in
United States bonds.
This brings me TO the newspaper EXCERPT
incorporated into Mr.. Richardson's remarks,
to which wish to make answer:
1.-THE school fund, or rather the bank assets
out of which the school fund was expected to
be paid, was not lost during the war II was
brought back and turned over to Republican
governor and a Republican legislature and
when the Democrats came into power n few
years alterward the school fund had all dlsap.
peared.".
have already shown that the first state
meDt IN the above is not true. "The school
fund, or the bank assets Tor both) out Of
which the school fund was expected to be
paid" was lost during the war, with the
exception Of 100000. AS already stated,
ping troops for the rebellion. II is legacy
bequeathed to Tennessee by ex-Gov. Harris
and his partisans in his and their efforts to
stake their niggers into the territories"
AT the close Of the war the $400, 900 rem
nant Of this fund was sent back to Nash
vile by Gov. Harris. 1t was turned over to
the treasurer Of the state, who, by law,
was its custodian, and who was required by
law TO keep IL at Nashville. In disregard
of his obligations he sent II to Memphis for
speculative purposes. As soon as Gov.
Brownlow heard Of this he sent commit
tee OF the legislature (then in SESSION. to
Memphis to make efforts to recover IL, and
about one half Of It was recovered to the
state through the prompt action taken.
Mr.. Houk truly said that the defaulting
p treasurer was Democrat, Just as Mr.. Gros-
defaulting Tennessee treasurer, since the
war, was a Democrat. refer to Polk,
elected In 1879, who stole about 100000.
As to the treasurer who defaulted In 1865
i will add that he was neither Harris
Democrat nor a Brownlow Republican, but
was an old-fashioned dyed-in-the-wool three
ply Andy johnson Democrat, and, while
his defalcations were taking place he was
president Of Democratic club. He was
elected through the influence OF Andrew
johnson, his lifelong friend, at about the
same time that President Johnson's inilu-
ence with the legislature secured the cleo
tioD Of his own son-in-law to the United
States Senate. Gov. Brownlow earnestly
opposed the election Of Johnson's candi-
dates for treasurer and senator.
And yet, Notwithstanding these indis-
putable facts, sometimes II is published
that this defaulting treasurer was Repub-
lican. Having said thus much In vindica-
tion Of my father and the Republican ad-
ministration OF Tennessee, will pass over
that portion Of Mr.. Richardson's remarks
rejecting on the Republican policy In dis
franchising rebels when the war closed.
My father believed that all rebels should be
DISTINGUISHED and required 10 take back
seat until the amendments 10 the constltu-
ton Of the United States, deemed necessary
by the loyal people OF the nation, should DO
ratified. II he were living he would see the
Democratic party in sheol before he would
apologize for 1t, and, as his son, have no
disposition to apologize for his action.
Having said this much In vlndlcation Of
the dead, / conclude With q statement In
vindication Of the living:
When Gov. Harris sent back to Tennessee
the 100000 referred TO he was on the eve
of exiting himself In foreign country,
which he Immediately proceeded to do. He
was poor and probably had not more than
enough money to take him abroad. II he
had chosen to do SO he might have taken
this $400, 600 with him, and that he did not
do so but voluntarily returned 1t to the
state, is the most conclusive evidence that
any insinuations rejecting upon his person.
al integrity are unjust and unfounded. No
man living is more thoroughly hated by the
Republicans Of Tennessee than the "head
and front" OF secession In that state, ex-
Gov. Harris. They hate him because
Of his participation In the rebellion, and
\ because they believe that, chiefly through
Ss2ing ReppbllQs1Sat the last presidential
gG .lan,s But no fair-minded opponent
WHO Knew his charae ter ever doubted his
personal honesty. There, In the midst OF
bitter political contes., Wnen ahareW
johnson was canvassihS l1r seao III tle
United States Senate, anS when u0v, har-
Is was earnestly & Sn6 IF III friends S mSde ps
neetfons on the integrity OF Gov. Harris,
wholly unwarranted by the facts, but In
the same canvass johnson made equally
as severe reflections on the integrity OF
Gen. Grant. But In Tennessee, where the
animus and motives of Mr.. johnson were
understood and appreciated HIS charges,
like the insect which dies when II has left
its sting, persisted with the occasion that
gave them birth.
Numerous and conflicting accounts hay
ing been published as to the circumstances
under which Gov. Harris returned to
Tennessee from his European exile, will
conclude by reciting them.
After President johnson had released
from arrest the members of Davs's cabinet
and such ex-senators who had left their
places In the Senate to go into the rebellion
lin q word, all who would ask his pardon