Year: 1866




REPRESENTATIVES HALL, April %, sc.
To the Editors Of the Nsshviis Union:


You will please give the following 9
place in your columns:


lind both my private and public
character violently assailed in the edi
torials, emanating, l suppose, from the
Junior editor of that filthy sheet. the
Knoxville Wing


should not have noticed the
slanderous articles alluded to, but for
one or two things in them. ! know
one thing that nothing the Brown
lows can say about me where we are
all known, can possibly slander me in
the least l therefore would as soon
they would say one thing about me as
another The editor of the Knoxville
Wing alludes to a difficulty that took
place between myself and Gen. James
Z. Brownlow on the 10th of this in
slant, in which he perverts the whole
thing. de says after had concluded
my TRADE of abuse on the Governor
and took my seat, that Gen. James P.
BroWnloW walked up to him, Will
IIams, thrust his hat into his face, and
pronounced him a damed liar and
coward, d,-cslling upon the members of
the House sitting near to witness his
shameful submission and disgrace.
NOW, propose to give correct state
ment OF the whole affair. After had
concluded my remarks and took my
seat, General James p Brownlow ap-
preached me in very abrupt and un.
gentlemanly manner, and said, sir, if
you say the Governor is a usurper, YOU
are damned liar. said to him, sir,
do not want difficulty with you
that L did not propose to settle my
matters that way. He then said that
l was a damned liar and coward, and
stepped off He then approached me
again, with his hand on his pistol all
the time. / then said to him that
was not armed, which was the fact.
He then said, will loan you a pistol,
which of course 1 did not accept
There the whole thing dropped, SO far
as myself and General BroWnloU was
concerned.


The editor of the Knoxville Whig,
after his TRADE of abuse upon me, con
cludes by saying: Business will call
me to Nashville before the Legislature
adjourns, and if Williams feels ag-
grieVed at what l have said, he can
have an opportunity to seek redress"
can assure the junior editor of the
Knoxville Wing that do not feel my
self aggrieved at single word or sem
tence that he has uttered against me;
for this reason, that nothing he has said
or may say can possibly slander me,
where we are both known. | can as
sure these fighting BrownloWs, that I
an no r16Eaya no bully, nor no duelSt. l
consider that | owe my time and tai
ents, if l have any, to my family first,
and second to my country. l have a
large and helpless family that is de-
pendent on my exertions for support
and do not think that it would be
brave or valiant in me to put myself
in the disgraceful ranks Of bullies, ruff
fans and duelists, and thus deprive my
helpless family Of my assistance.


l suppose these fighting gentlemen
can find plenty of men that is willing
to exchange cold lead with them, if
they desire it and will accept of it. |
can assure them that do not settle
my business in that way. now assure
the editors OF the Knoxville Wing that
! do not intend to trouble my mind
and waste my time in noticing any
thing that may appear in that filthy
sheet, the Knoxville Wing.


In conclusion, permit me to say,
that no threat or challenge that has
been or may hereafter be made, can
possibly intimidiate or cause me to
swerve from the performance of a
known duty that l owe to myself or to
my country.


P. WILLIAMS.