Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-03-18
BRO WNLOW, THE SOLDIERS BEST
FRIEND.

ollu III every way unueSerVlng or cen
sure, but in the virtue of an absorbing
interest in the advancement and welfare
of Others he stands among our public
characters even without a peer. This is
a high eulogy, but we shall prove that
Brownlow deserves it.
For the last twenty years Brownlow
has beer the unfaltering, persistent and
unseltish champion of the rights and in
terests of the soldier. He did not wait
for the opportunities for this service to
fall into his way, but he sought them out
with the tireless assiduity of the regular
and average pension attorney bent on
making a fortune out of the Govern
ment allowances to the brave and unfor-
tunate defenders of our country.
Brownlow noted the great injustice,
wrongs, Inconvenience and hardships
to which the Federal soldiers were sub
jected, especially in the matter of medi-
cal examinations. For a good many
years this congressional distrlcthad only
n medical board, and it was located at
Jonesboro. Pensioners and claimants for
pensions from all over the district had to
make a pilgrimage to this place. In a
majority of cases they had no money to
pay their travelling expenses. They
walked, carried their "checks" in their
pockets, and slept where they could find
a friendly shelter. Brownlow noticed
these pitiable 'throngs of men, who had
borne and defended the flag of the Union,
on the streets of Jonesboro, penniless
and worn out by the fatigues of their
long and arduous tramp. He came to
them with his friendship, which meant
a glad hand, a sympathizing heart, the
cheer of a good meal and a restful shell
ter. He took them by the dozen to his
home and babe them welcome to its COM
forts, without money and without price.
When Cleveland came into power the
office of the medical board was removed
to johnson City, which was an addition
al hardship to the pensioners and claim
living in the lower end of the dis
trict.
They had poured into Brownlow's ear
the "o.er true tale" of their hardships,
losses and sufferings, which were so
great that those pensioners APPLYING for
increase were compelled, in many cases,
to forego their claims, as the cost of APP
pearing before the medical board exceed
ed the increase.
Brownlow was the first to realize that
this deserving class of men should have
relief, and as much of it as it was posi-
BILE to obtain. He studied the situation
thoroughly and devised the plan. De-
mocracy was in the saddle, and the Ad-
ministration was hostile to him. But it
happened that Tennessee had a pure,
just mar in the United States Senate in
tue person of Hon. Howell +. Jackson
whose heart could be touched by a plea
Of humanity, and to him Brownlow adj
dressed the following letter:
WASHINGTON, D.. c., Feb. IL, 1886.
'ph 4 IL IL sun, u. -. StnAIOf.
Sir: l have the honor to state that great
injustice N hardship is imposed upon pen
ions n applicants for pensions in East
tennessee by the present location of the
medical examining boards. The only two
boards in that section are located at John
City, Washington County, Tenn. and
Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn. The dis
lance between these two boards is l5 miles
Dy railroad. There is Only one railroad
through this section. The two boards mem
are SitnnInH In thn INi,,, ,..l 49,
congressional Districts. These two districts
more Union soldiers thar any two
congressional districts in the United States:
the First Congressional District en-
braces as much territory as the whole State
connecticut, and four times as much as
hhode Island. The pension claimants have
% ride many miles on horseback to reach
he railroad, then leave their horses and
long distances upon the railroad.
hosJ Oh tne pension claimants are poor and
'eery destitute, and numbers of them are
physically unable to travel such distances.
know of many instances where pension
have been compelled To- allow
.heir examination orders to lapse because of
.nelr poverty, being unable to bear the en-
OF a trip to the Headquarters of The
medical board. | know also of some in
where special examiners in the
curse OF Investigation of claims, have borne
ne travelling expenses of claimants To and
rom the medical board, in order to enable
hese claimants to be examined.
III you'd be greatly to the interest of the
and nothing more than simple
usllce TO the pensioners and applicants for
to establish a board of surgeons at
IorTlstoWn, rambler County, Tenn, near
y midway between Knoxville and Johnson
lily. This is the most central and most con-
'enient point for all the following named
quntles; Claiborne, Granger, Hawkins,
ahcock' Ham6len and Cooke, and parts of
he counties of Jefferson and Greene.
/ would suggest the ma mas nf mr. noyil A
>ellson, Dr. g.. X. Turner and DR.. ]. b. +.
ljlce, for this board. They are all citizens of
hlghest character, n stand very high
n the medical profession. The two former
re democrats, and the latter a Republican,
understand the policy of the Honorable
commissioner of Pensions is to appoint
Democrats and one Republican upon
ach board. The pOstoflice address of each
i these physicians Is Morrlstown, Hamblen
Tenn.
This is a matter of such great Importance
0 the applicants for pensions in East Ten
.eSsee INA trust immediate action will be
AIKEN.
Very respectfully, W. P. BRowNLow
Senator Jackson endorsed Brownlow's
etter, placed it without delay before the
roper authority at Washington, and a
new medical board was established at
for the convenience of sold
'rs living in the lower end of the dis
riot.
But Brownlow didn't propose to rest
n his oars at this point. 1t was only a
His Interior object was to es-
iblish a medical board in each county
I the district. So in $50 he approached
Commissioner of Pensions on the
lbject, and was rcpulsed. But he is not
kind of a man who takes No for an
nswer when he sets out to accomplish
is purpose, so he addressed the follow
lg letter to an official higher in author
y, who has exclusive control and iu-
sdiction of the pension office:
JoNKsBoRo, TENN, Sept. Is, 80.
CYRUS BUssEY, Assistant Secretary of
the Interior.
SIR: In the interest of the soldiers of
asst tennessee, | have the honor To reouest
lat a Board of Examining Surgeons be es.
iblished In each of the counties forming
lie First Congressional District of Tennes7
VIZ; Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Wash