Year: 1859

,aton of the Florida treaty In January ls45 he replied
TO Mr. Adams the Oregon bi and in February of the
same year again All hese important speeches have been
published in pamphlet FORM and valuable digest OF
the various questions discussed.


As chairman Of the Committee on Territories in l84l
Mr. Brown reported bill to extend the civil and criminal
jurisdiction Of Iowa Oregon and at the
bill authorizing Territorial government for Oregon.


II was TO Governor Brown that General Jackson ad.
dressed his celebrated letter in favor OF the annexation Of
Texashe letter that called upon the country seizs the
then 'present golden moment" for securing valuable
acquisition to It's territory and which had controlling
influence upon that great The policy of an
nexation at that period opposed by Mr. Adams with
great eloquence and power and in his reply to the speech
Of Governor Brown into which General Jlcksons letter
had been Incorporated he alluded frequently TO the Hon.
Vail Brown as the instrument of the General in
forcing before the country As the Governor in his
jonder did not think it worth while to impor
tant issues for the purpose correcting this nconsdca
BILE error his name it has been frequently repeated
SINCE Every one remembers the famous joke founded
by Senator Benton on this mistake by paraphrasing the
Governors name into "Aaron Vclrious Brown"


Mr. Browns term OF service in Congress Terminated at
the commencement of Mr.. Pok's administration He
pToiered various Offices, but preferred 10 decline and
devote his attention TO the management OF his private
affairs In his absence however he had been nina ed
for Governor Of Tennessee the candidate Of the demo
cratic party. The met him at Pttsburg on his way
home, and there numerous considerations which
prompted him 10 decline. His determination 20 decline
Office the pressure his private business the fac. that Mr.
Polk had failed twice for the position The withdrawal
from the State Of some of the powerful of the
party, whose weight is valuable in State elections, all
induced him not to venture. But his friends persuaded
he 10 can sOpnog hu
the strongest candidate Of the whig party, Col f. s.
Foster, late Senator, and very popular man. The
canvass discussions tlrped on the tariff, Texas and
Oregon questions and Mr.. Brown was elected by ma
orty Of 600 His defeat in 1S47 for the same Office was
by majority Of but half that number.


In 1848 he chosen eecor ut large, and canvassed
the State with vgor adding TO his reputation for energy
and ability. In 1850 he member Of the Southern
Convention at Nashville and concurred fully the reeo
luons Of that body though srongly dissenting the
address Al the second session of the Convention which
followed, he set forth his views what called the
Tennessee platform, which approved by the State de
legation and presented through Gen. Pillow. His
was always conservative and he never would listen tc
the idea Of dssovng the Union. His fvorte remedy
retaliation, believing that the South had power nurt
the North most and that upon the principle of self
both sections of The Union would have agree This idea





gate to the Baltimore Convention which nominated Gen
Pierce and the author Of very important resolution
adopted by that body, referring to committee without
debate all resolutions with reference TO the plat
form OF the party. He unanimously ap-
pointed chairman Of that committee, and had the
honor TO report the platform which adopted by the
convention and gave universal satisfaction to the party
Thus has be been the author of three platforms which
have been adopted by conventions Of which be was a
member, viz-The Tennessee Southern platform, the
Nashville Gubernatoria platform, and the Baltimore ma.
toDal democratic platform.


In 1855 he spoke with great energy against the doctrines
of the Know Nothing parity indicating his position as
the able and faithful champion Of democratic principles.


Mr.. Buchanan, in casting about for members of mis-
binet, could not have overlooked important AZ
set him down for the Navy Department He was however
called to the Post Office Department and has conducted hi
official duties with fidelity and zeal which no one cal
fail to commend, however much few may condemn
of his postal views He has contributed much Il
the Of great overland mails, and in the
given the longest and quickest mail stage in h
world extending through nearly three thousand miles
the widest country.


In his private life Gov. Brown the less estima
ble He remarkable for his social amenities, hi
open frank generous heart, his amiabily and the
deriu happiness Of bis domestic ife HIS home was
paradise of domestic felicity.