Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-03-16
WASHINGTON COUNTY
In the State Legislature From 1S47 to
1899.



in Tennessee politics in many ways
Jas. X. Polk, of Tennessee, was ther
President of the United States, and his
administration, with the Mexican wal
he had brought on, was on trial, as il
were, more especially in this State ant
was being most fieroely criticised by
the Wing party. Aaron V. Brown wal
then Governor of this State and was 9
candidate for reelection, and our State
was attracting more than ordinary in
terest that year because Tennessee was
Polk's State. So If Aaron V. was re-
elected it would be taken as an en-
dorsement of the Polk policy, and if he
was defeated it would be considered at
q condemnation of Folks administra-
ton by his own State.
Nell ]. Brown was the Wing candi.
date for Governor, and he soon stole
Aaron VS. thunder by boldly proclaim
ing that General TAYLOR, the victorious
hero of the Mexican war, was a Whig,
and then and there put Taylor in nom
ination for President in 1S4S. The willy
Aaron V. was stumped for once; he
couldn't say anything against Taylor,
and the result was the triumphant
election of Nell s. Brown.
Andy johnson was running his third
race Tor Congress, and 0. P. Temple,
then young lawyer of Greeneville,
and a recent graduate of Washington
College, was his competitor, and al.
though only twenty seven years old,
he made things so hot for Andy that
he came within little over 150 votes
of defeating him.
The candidates for the Legislature
that year were Jas. w. Duncan, Demo-
crat, and James Cowan, young law
yer, Wing. They made quite an able
and gentlemanly canvass and Mr..
Duncan was elected. He afterwards
went to Greene County, and was there
a candidate for the Legislature but was
defeated by Floyd Bullen. Mr.. Cowan
went with two brothers to California
in 1S49, started home on q vessel and
was never heard of again-was either
lost or murdered by pirates.
In 1849 the candidates for the Legis-
lature were John Blair, an ex-member
of Congress, Capt. John O'Brien, fresh
from the Mexican war, and D. B. Bark
ley, fresh from college. Mr.. Blair had
become candidate at the earnest So
licitation of his friends who wanted his
influence in the Legislature to get the
charter for our railroad and he was
easily elected on that account.
In 1851 the candidates were Brookins
Campbell and Ed. Harris. Mr.. Camp
bell was very popular in that day and
was the only man that ever defeated
Andy johnson for Office prior to the
war. Harris was then young man,
very popular, good mixer and good
stumper, so that Campbell was only
elected by some sixty votes.
In 1858 the candidates were Ed. Har-
ris again and Col. John B. McLin, of
this place. They were both Democrats
and ran on the temperance question
Col. McLin favored Prohibition and
Harris opposed it. The canvass was
quite exciting, and judging from sur
face indications, Col. McLin would be
elected, but Harris got some 800 ma
jority.
In 1856 Mr.. Harris was again a can
didate; as he had served one term in
the Legislature and had made some
thing of record. He had also been a
member of the Know Nothing party
for a short time, but had withdrawn.
So that his competitor, DR.. R. L. Stan
ford, himself an able stumper, poured
it into Ed. hot and heavy, and their
canvass was both bitter and exciting,
but Harris pulled through o. X. and
DR.. Stanford was buried amid the shat
tered ruins of the American Party. "
In 1857 Mr.. Harris ran for State SEN
ator, leaving the county race for 9TH
ers. Three candidates for the Demo
cratic nomination Immediately showed
up-Ellison Russell, of Leesburgh, Mr..
Edwards and Col. VIM. NJ. Bayless.
A primary election was called to settle
their claims. Col. Bayless had been q
candidate before, but had always given
way 'for the good of the party" This
time however he claimed his reward
and got 1t. The American party felt
that it would be useless to put out a
candidate in this then strong Demo.
cratic county, so for time Col. Bay
less had the race all to himself. But
along in July, just before the August
election, Thos. L. Williams, a worthy
gentleman living near Limestone De-
pot announced himself as an indepen-
dent Democratic candidate in fam
ing circular. The Wings, or Americans
as they were then called, rallied to Mr..
Williams support with alacrity, and
as he was quite popular in the lower
end of the county, he polled a good
Democratic vote also, and gave old
Col. Bill quite lively tussle, but not
enough to defeat him. Col. Bayless
took his seat in October, 1857, and
voted for Andy johnson and A. o. P.
Nicholson for U. s. Senators.
In 1859 the Democratic nomination
was we believe, conceded to Col
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