New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-05
AN ECCENTRIC GOVERNOR.
THE PECULIARITIES OF PETER 1CRNEl
OF TENNESSEE

OF TENNESSEE.
Nashville Tenn, March 3.-Thc recently instalicd
Governor Of Tennessee Peter Turney-known popularity
as "Old Petcn from the Tennessee mountains to the
Mississippi River-s und )ubtedly. at present. the
most picturesque If not the most remarkable charac-
Ter figuring in public life south Of the ONO River lie
is essentially Southern product and h. j. moreover
so far as general characteristics are concerned
typical Tcnnessccan. In appearance he Is a tall.
wellbuli man. well up in years, with grizzled gray
hair on the back Of his head. bushy eyebrows. and
a struggling gray beard His features are heavy ana
string and he has a chin and Jaw indicative OF a
rigid iron will. lie bears his upper lip scar
left by bullet wound received In one OF the nerces'
engagements OF the Civil War. lie wears usually
loose frock coat and wuc brim. soft hat. As
racCntcur he Is considered as one OF the best In the
STATE, and his stock Of anecdotes never seems TO run
low. During his long service on the bench when
the occupants Of the wool-sack and the members OF
the Bar met t)gether in ante Rooms and lobbies the
crizzled and joval Chief Justice always central
and attractive figure. There Is material enough lof
small sized library Of stories about the old man
himself. his wit. courage and sagacty.
lie was all ardent ecc,ssionst. and when the war
he did not hesitate TO enlist and fight bravey
in support OF his convictions. Ills record Is a
gallant one and no man ever fought more earnestly
for what he conceived to be- right. He at least keeps
the memory OF the Lost Cause green. In a recent
speech at KnoNvi,c before bivouac Of Confederate
veterans. he made the following remarks: In 1851
thought right. and in 1892 still think was
right. :. When am dead and in my coffin there Is
but one word wish placed upon lt-that word Is
Secession" These remarks were used ms campaign
material by the opposition. who claimed that the
candidate unreconsrac,ed" and aI bored traitor
Gus sentiments. They Lad little effect. however. ur
less 1t to populaIizc him with the old ex-Con-
federatcs. The explanation was offered that The
utteranccs made merely before private blvouac
which had assembled to do honor to the memory OF
those who had lost their lives in conflict. and that
Judge Turneys long and conscientious labors as
Supreme Justice dem )nstracd his loyalty TO the re-
constructed Government and his Hdelity TO the Con
suon.
In this latter capacity. however he was not noted
as thoroughly technical lawyer. In fact he had
little patience with the involved and cumbrous techni
calities of the common law and chanccry practice.
lie often upset long accepted precedent by Insisting
upon a decision in accordance with the exact justice
of the case even when the law settled decrecd the
other on OF these occasions an associate
Justice objected that tie ruling was not good law.
this Old Pete" replied :" Well. if ii isn't. 1t ought
10 be- On another occasion OF the associate,
asked, Upon what authority do You lasc this de
cision!7 The Chief Justice answered with emphasis
ION the authority OF Peter Turncy." TIL" reply
characteristic and illustrates the mans decision Of
character.
Judge Turney'S nomination due TO q ccmblna-
ton o. circumstances Nearly two years ago when
the weak and vaclating policy OF Governor buchanan
with respect 10 the miners instruction Coal Creek
Oliver springs, and other points in tho coal region Of
East Tennessee. had brought him into the hcarties,
contempt OF the people, the conservative element OF
the Democratic party determined TO take measures TO
secure control OF the state Government. Buchanan
was nominated at regular convention OF the Demo
Gratis In 1890 He was the candidate however. Of
the Farmers Alliance element OF the party which Sc
cured his nomination BY logged persistence. Having
received the parys nomination. he course received
its support and was elected by large majority. As
Governor his administration was generally unsafis
factory. lie was merely i1irc-hcad. a cat's-paw
OF that evil genius OF his administration. John n.
Mcdowell, whose political grave had aready been dug
Mcdowell played a game most brilliant In its daring
speculation and chicancry which in the end resulted
III his utter defeat
When the time came for NOMINATING Ducho,op.
successor, the people locked onnd for leader that
would b. strong, courageous. popular and above
all, Bourbon. AT this unctusc a Nashville Journal
look IL upon Itself to declare edtorally that there
was but one in the State upon whom the
mantle Of party leadership should be permitted to
fall. That man was big Drained. oak-hcartcd old
Peto'-thc honest aud brave soldier. the wise aud
Just, II not profoundly learned. Judge. The sug
Sesu0n met the approval OF both the party leaders
and ne people. and Judge Turney al that time
preme Court, was forced Ia WELD 10 tho requests Of
mis- fiends and make canvas, for the noniina ZION.
His only opposition WAS John l.. Buchanan, who,
relying upon his strength Tie candidate Of organ
lied labor. at first appeared rs candidate for re
nomination. Discovering the futiliiy Of such n
course he Withdrew and appeared . an independent
candidate. Judge 1urncy the only candidate
left In the field and he accordingly received The
democratic nomination at the greatest convention
that has marked the history OF that party In the STATE.
In the election that followed he received hand
plurality. Having been elected Governor. he
confronted by peculiar contingency. While
occupying an Office under the state Government he
had been elected TO another. II he resigned Ills
place a. Chief Justice Immediately. Governor
buchanan would appoint one Of his own followers
To the vacancy the bench. "Old Pete however.
was not TO be ouidOnc He did not resign until he
took the oath OF Office Governor by implication,
in taking that oath, he simultaneously resigned from
the supreme Bench thus entitled TO appoint
his successor.
Judge Turncy-he will hardly be known bv any
d, Ycrcn tltle-nOw resides at VOLTS Crag his country
scat near Winchester lie Is suffering from severe
maladv and II is feared that he may succumb Ia
Inc attacks OF the disease before his term Governor
expires should this apprehension prove gronndlcs'.
and old Pete" recover his strength and health he
viii uudoubtcdly be sent TO the United States Senate
fo succeed senator Harris, whose term expires two