The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-26

or when water NQWs Ap StfeaN.
some one said. laughingly: why, the sun
i shining at midnight at this moment in the
other part Of the world And his own daugh-
ter chimed in. :. Yes, and our teacher tells me
that The Mississippi does run up North
This created a little laugh at his expense;
but without noticing it or smiling himself-by
the way. lie was dreadlully solemn locking
DOUBT If HE EVER SMILED
he GOT back on them by saying:
We'll il viii happen only when rebels lose
their inclination to steal"
After the hearty laugh over this had sub
sided, be became eloquent rs well as emphatic.
"And that VIII be when the damned spirits in
he'll swap for heaven with the angels, and play
cards for mean whisky"
That's exactly the sort Of q man Parson
BrOwnl0w was to talk and we all know now
he bore his part to the bitter end. Then. by
way Of personal application, the Parson said:
~ am not only q Tennessee Union man Of
the Jackson and Andy Johnson stripe, but
am native Of Virginia; my ancestors fought
for the Union in the Revolutionary war, and
their descendants have fought to preserve il in
every war since. This country is rs loyal as
any State in The North"
Mr. BroWnIoR's s astonishing way Of putting
tbfnus imnressed itself In my mind by his
manner OF illustrating the dependence Of the
South upon the North, in his argument to show
that Disunion was not practicable.
z MhvH he said. Z" we are indebted to the
North everything While he was speaking
he bad p0cketknife in his hand; holding it
ND tie said:
This knife comes from the North: the hats
and clothes we wear, the shoes on our feet,
every piece Of furniture in this room" and,
pointing to the dining-Toom adjacent, - even
the ware on that table out there. Our farmers
get ali their tools North to work the farms that
supply the food we cat" Then, with an ex-
precision Of disgust,
"EVEN zHE SPADES THAT DIG OUR GRAVES
ana the co1ias we are buried in come from the
Northr
Here Miss Maggie felt impelled to speak
word in defense OF her native South, observing,
Bnt, Mr.. BroWnl0w. they haven't any better
minds or people In the North; its only their
educational facilities that give them this ad-
vantage
This gave me an opportunity to say that
The North didn't have any clearer heads than
Mr. Brownlow's, nor any such handsome ladies
a. had seen in Tennessee"
The Parson didn't even smile at the dattery,
but kept on in the same strain, reciting some
Of his experience while in the prison at Knox
vile
That which made the greatest impression on
my mind Was the interview Of young girl
with her aged father the morning Of the day
set for his execution as one Of the bridge burn
ing c0nspirat0rss The Parsons manner was at
al times serious, but his story Of the heart
breaking farewell Of the daughter with an aged
father, and its effect upon the hundred other
imprisoned suspects who We're obliged to wit
ness the scene, is beyond the power Of my pen
to describe.
8Ir. BrownloT, as a minister, soothed the
heart-broken daughter as best he could, alter
nately praying and talking amidst
THE s0Bs OF THE HARDY 3IoUSTAISEERs
who were witnesses to it ali. The Parson said
it occurred to him, in order 10 separate them,
but without any hope OF success, to suggest
sending message to JEFF Davis in the name
Of the daughter, begging 2 pardon for her aged
father. The execution was TO occur at 4 p. m,
and he purp0selT delayed mentioning this last
hope. that she might have all the time possible
OF the last hours with her father. Ii was 2 p. 10.
when lie wrote with a pencil on a leaf torn
from his notebook brief dispatch addressed
TO JET Davis, craving his mercy and a pardon.
TIE girl took il to the telegraph Office, which
was in the same square with the jail. The
kInd-hCaTted telegraphers interested them
selves ID her behalf and rushed her message
through t0 Richmond, not expecting a reply, as
there WIS but an bour or SO left; when TO the
surprise and delight Of every person, message
was promptly returned l5v Mr. Davis
c0snIUTTHe THE SENTENCE
10 Imprisonment at Tuscaloosa during the war
The Pzrson said that while he was among
the Dnion prisoners in the jail. no one ever
knew who would be the neXt 10 be hung for
usually the Grst notice they had Of an exeeu-
ton would be when the cart with the pine
coffin in ID drove mp to the Jail for a victim
lie knew Of one man being taken out and hung
within two hours. who before leaving the iail
begged % he allowed q Methodist preacher to
pray with him On the scaAold, but was brutally
refuae5 even that boom
] saw aud heard enough Of well-authenti-
cated cases Of hardships Of Unionists suiFi-
cientto supply whole Sunday-scho0l library
One irssaEce sill sutloe. Mr Brownlow saw
q Methodist preacher in jail, who had been
arrested at q quarterly meatlng about 10 miles
distant bT a cavalry squad because he had
prayed for the Government and the President
Of tue United States some months before This
preacher was a large, porlv man. Of nearly
800 pounds Weight aud his c0WardiV capt0rs
actually compelled the poor old man to walk
this le miles That il WAS a punishment for
such heavy man, unaecUstomed to walk
Ing, tbeE aA kacWi and thoRgh be actu-
silly begged on lis knees 10 be allowed 10 ride
be was not allowed 70 do So Auother case was
that of 2 farmer Who was lashed % q tre9and
FHIPPED LTKE a RUNWAY SLAVE.
in the presence Of his little children, until com
PEELED ted sclose the hiding place in the inouut-
aims of sofHe Union refugees
We sat down 10 the tea-tahle without the
Fanor's company, he being obliged to remain
70 his room. partly on account Of his parole,
but prime pally because he was Just recovering
frem q serious illness, it being necessary to
guard against a relapse, which would come
fr0m taking cold.
He bad GOne pretty much all the talking
while be was witA uE, but ar the tea-table the
ladies 81 The family did most Of the talking.
while kept my mouth occupied devouring
hot blsra and honey and drinking coffee
Aiser this visit 10 the BroWnlo@s, where
had beer permitted 10 witness in that one case
the effects Of the dastardiy treatment bv a
Government of rebels, who we're advertising 10
the world lIat they were c0nfcnding ONLY for
their EiEAts against the tyranny u the Lincoln
Government" and had heard the beartrendine
story from tae lips 0f one who seemed 10 be q
dying LnlOnist martyr il may be imagined
that 4 was in no frame Of mind 10 daily any
longer In tie rebel camps.
After tiiis ! wanted 10 90 home: and I deter.
mined before ] ieit the Parsons house that
evening THAI \ would advise the authorities al
Washington and give ta the Northern press !
careful account Of my interview with him.
did iL too, through the Cincinnati y5aBers !
few days subsequently,.
4 had gathered 50 much information sine,
leaving Richmond about the Union hopes anC
prayers that ] fclt great sympathy for them
There WAS HOw
no CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE WITH TIL