Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 120

Author: Speer, William S
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Tennessee > Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee > Part 120

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1 :

542

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

whohning majorities. The district was Democratic at all times by two thousand majority. The announce- ment that young Temple was a candidate was therefore received, not only by the Democrats, but also by the Whigs, with amazement. In fact, it was the policy of a large number of the Whigs to make no opposition to Johnson in that election, in order to foment the quarrel then brewing between him and the brilliant Landon C. Haynes, and which afterward broke forth with such fury, and lasted during their joint lives, It was this feeling among certain Whig leaders, with perhaps a little jealousy that so young a man as Mr. Temple should suddenly become so conspicuous, that finally defeated him. Mr. Brownlow, who published the only Whig paper in the district, and Dr. Alexander Wil- liams, and a very few others, were the only prominent leaders who really worked earnestly for his election. Mr. Brownlow was enthusiastic, and did splendid work in his paper. The other prominent mmen were indiffer- ent to the result, or had no confidence in the success of Mr. Temple. Besides this, it was reported at the time that an arrangement had been made, in one or more counties, between certain Whigs, who had purposes to accomplish before the next Legislature, and Johnson or his friends, by which Johnson was to be supported for congress, and Whig candidates for the Legislature elected. The result of the election seemed to give some plausibility to this belief. The result was, Mr. Temple had, within less than four weeks to work, nearly everything to do for himself, with certain undercurrents operating against him. But he entered into the canvas> with an energy, and perhaps audacity that, as he looks back at it to-day, astonishes him. He issued a bitter circular, and then went to Johnson's appointments to face him on the stump. While not the equal of his wary antagonist on the stump, he yet possessed a boldness and popular address that were quite taking. Johnson's record was vulnerable, while Mr. Temple had none. Mr. Temple's personal reputation was good, and could not be assailed. All that Mr. Jolinson could do was to sneer at him as his " boy competitor," and make disro- spectfal allusions to his college style of speaking. Mr. Temple on the other hand made a bold, aggressive as- sault, not always in a very meck spirit, on Mr. Johnson's record. From the start he put him on the defensive, and kept him so until the close of the canvass. Often the debates were bitter and acrimonious, and always spirited. Mr. Johnson was very cunning in conducting his canvass. For example, in Carter county, where the people were nearly all Whigs, his speech was mild and kind in tone, intending to keep down party feeling. The next day, in Jonesborough, in a Democratic county, he was fierce and bitter, in order to arouse the party. Mr. Temple was equally bold and defiant at this point, but for a different reason. This was the home of Landon (. Haynes, and he sought to arouse --- and to a certain extent succeeded-the friends of the latter against Mr. Johnson,

The winter before this, Mr. Johnson, anticipating that Mr. Haynes would be his opponent, and not a Whig, had made a bitter speech against Polk's admin- istration, in which he said, among other things, that " it was corrupt from the highest to the lowest." Mr. Temple daily read this speech in a taunting manner, making comments thereon with terrible effect, and ap- pealing to the friends of President Polk to know if they were going to sanction this assault on their president and favorite by voting for Johnson. Johnson's only de- fense and explanation of this charge were that he was " no grannarian," and that when be used that language he intended to excludethe highest and the lowest ; that is, as Mr. Temple retorted, all were corrupt except the president and the servants in his kitchen! Johnson's explanation was always a source of laughter to those who heard it. With this and other charges against him, hurled at him day after day with almost vindictive assurance, Johnson came out of these fierce contests, not with his usual air of a conquerer, but dejected and crest fallen. There was but one way to meet him on the stump, and that wasto return boldness for boldness, aggressiveness for aggressiveness. This was the way Landon C. Haynes afterward met him so successfully, in their most memorable contest. It has always been believed by his friends that Meredith P. Gentry would have been successful and more than the equal of John- son, in their contest for governor, if he had been a little less of the grand and noble gentleman he was, in his treatment of Johnson, and had turned on the latter his own weapons of warfare. But when appealed to by a committee of' friends at Clinton to stoop from his lofty position, and meet Johnson on his own ground, Gentry, proudly and nobly, said, he " would see the committee in h-I before he would sacrifice his own self-respect as a gentleman of honor."

The result of the election between Johnson and Temple was a surprise to nearly every man in the dis- trict, except the latter. Johnson's majority was three hundred and thirteen ! He was amazed and confounded. Temple was not at all surprised. He knew the secret influences which he had put in operation, and confi- dently expected an election, provided there was a full Whig vote. . But in two counties there was not. A full vote in Cocke and Hawkins, would have secured his election. The shortness of the canvass, the belief that Johnson could not be defeated, and the consequent in- difference to the result by a majority of the Whigs, pre- vented Temple from being elected by from five hundred to one thousand majority, or perhaps more. After it was too late, the Whigs all saw what a golden opportu- nity they had missed. Then, for the first time, when too late, their enthusiasm became aroused. Temple, defeated as he was, felt that he was half conqueror, and John- son, though elected, was deeply mortified and humiliated. He never quite forgave Temple as long as he lived. This was one of the notable political contests of that day.

543

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

It is useless to speculate on the effect the defeat of Johnson in that race might have had on his future po- litical fortunes. He was a man of such ambition. such strong and recuperative powers, and of such infinite resources, that ordinary rules of calculation would fail to give a satisfactory conclusion .. But it is almost cer tain that by a defeat he would have been thrown out of the line of success which he afterward followed up to the very highest positions of honor. It is almost certain that Landon C. Haynes would have been the regular Democratie candidate for congress at the next election, with Johnson probably as an independent cau- didate. Whether defeated or elected, he would have been somewhat out of line with his party, and the gov- ernorship and senatorship would have been postponed, or never attained. That he would have again appeared in politics, and with some success, none will doubt, who knew his great powers and intense ambition. But the probabilities are, that his success and subsequent career would have been greatly modified and changed by a de- feat.

This race for congress became the turning point in the life of Temple. A few months after this, receiving an invitation from William H. Sneed. the son-in-law of Dr. Alexander Williams, the large souled and noble friend of Temple from his boyhood, to go to Knoxville to join him and R. HI. Armstrong in the practice of law, he at once accepted the flattering offer. His main reason for making this change of residence, was to get out of the First district, and out of politics. He saw clearly, that if he remained in his old district he would be forced to make another race for congress. Young and ambitious as he was, he felt that he was too poor for a political life. And ever since, though active in nearly every political contest from that day to this, ex- cept while on the bench, he has constantly resisted the repeated efforts made to induce him to run for congress, several times with a nomination and an election within easy reach. He has always believed a political life most dangerous, and generally fatal to young men. In the month of April, 1848, Temple took up his residence in Knoxville, where he has since resided.

In 1550, at the instance of his friend, Hon. John Bell, then senator in congress, Temple was appointed by President Filhnore, a commissioner, jointly with Col. Charles S. Todd, of Kentucky, late minister to Russia, and Gen. Robert B. Campbell, for many years a distinguished member of congress from South Caro- lina, to visit the Indian tribes, and conciliate them by presents, in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. This was done under a special act of congress. The appoint- ment of Temple as the associate of two such aged and distinguished gentlemen as Todd and Campbell, and on so important a mission, was, at the time, justly regarded as a high compliment to him. He spent nearly twelve months on this mission in Texas and on the border of Mexico, at the end of which time it was found that the i

special appropriation would soon be exhausted, and thereupon the commission returned home.

In September, 1851, soon after his return home, Judge Temple was united in marriage to Miss Scotia C. Hume. Her father, David Hume, was a Scotchman, of the cel- «brated Seoth family of that name. He was a remark - able man, both physically and mentally. His wife was Eliza Saunderson, also of Scotch birth, related to many of the best Scotch families, and a woman of conspic- nons virtues, intelligence and force of character The wife of Judge Temple was the youngest of four sisters, all of greatly above average individuality and attrac tions. Mrs. Temple is a lady of rare graces and per- sonal charms, who, by her warm, genial manners, win- ning ways, and by the ever present sunshine of overflow- ing kindliness of spirit, and her striking presence, has always been a great favorite in a large circle of friends, and a leader in society. She has been distinguished for the elegance of her entertainments. She is also equally celebrated for the case, cordiality and dignity of her manners.

Judge and Mrs. Temple have but one child, Miss Mary B. Temple, who graduated at Vassar College, and whose letters from Europe in 1883. published in the Knoxville Chronicle, were received with great favor and admiration throughout this and adjoining States, and for the publication of which, in book form, there has been a general demand by those who read them, and especially by scholars.

Soon after the return of Judge Temple from the frontier, at the solicitation of his noble friend and the able lawyer, William H. Sneed, he again formed a part- nership with him for the practice of law, which con- tinued until the latter was elected a member of con- gress in August, 1855. Temple then formed a partner- ship for the same purpose with Hon. Conally F. Trigg, late United States district judge of Tennessee, at the instance of the latter and his friends, which partnership lasted until 1859.

In 1860, Judge Temple was a delegate to the Whig national convention at Baltimore, and aided in nomi- nating Bell and Everett for president and vice-presi- dent. On his return, against his remonstrance, he was selected as the Bell elector for the Second district. His practice was large and lucrative, and he naturally felt reluctant to abandon it for three months in making the canvass. But kind friends, especially his noble friend, Gen. W. Y. C. Humes, late of Memphis, came forward and agreed to represent him in all his cases. The Breckinridge elector for that district was James D. Thomas, an able lawyer, and a man of much greater ability on the stump than he ever had credit for. In- deed, Judge Temple has often said since, that he found Andrew Johnson nearly as easy to meet on the stump as Thomas. He was adroit, fluent, strong in logic, and powerful in manners. The joint canvass lasted thirty days. It was hot and spirited from the start. After

٠٫٠٠٠

٠٫٠

1 ٠١١٠

1 :

٠٫٠

511

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

the close of the joint canvass, Judge Temple canvassed several of the adjoining counties, speaking up to the day of the election. He, perhaps more distinctly than any public speaker in the State, in that canvass, pre- sented and pressed on the attention of the people the question of Union or disunion. He was thoroughly and sadly impressed with the danger of civil war. He foretold, almost with the spirit of prophecy, that dis- union or secession, and then a conflict of arms, would follow the election of Mr. Lincoln. He charged dis- tinetly, in every speech, that there was a deliberate purpose to break up the Union, in that event, on the part of the southern leaders. He denounced the con- templated purpose in the strongest language he could command, and appealed to the people to rebuke the scheme. He discussed this question, and this one only. Ile insisted that there was no earthly justification of such a mad act. These speeches, in part, no doubt, helped to fix in the minds of the people in the Second district that sentiment of steadfast loyalty to the Union which has never been shaken, and which has made them the most united and compact body of Unionists in all the land.

In December, following the election of Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Temple addressed a letter to certain gentlemen in Sevier county, which was published in Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, in which he reviewed the whole situa- tion, and in which he again denounced secession as a crime, and as a remedy for no existing evil. He in- sisted that the only safety for slavery was "in the Union, and under the constitution." He insisted that slavery would disappear, sooner or later, under a con- fliet of arms.

In February, 1861, he was unanimously nominated by the Union men to represent Knox and Sevier counties in the proposed State convention, while John Baxter was nominated as a candidate to represent Knox and Judge Conally F. Trigg to represent Knox and Roane counties. These gentlemen at once entered the can- vass, and made speeches all over these counties, call- ing on the people to vote down the proposed convention as a scheme devised to carry the State out of the Union, and denouncing secession as the worst of all evils. These candidates were all elected, though they had op position, by overwhelming majorities, while the conven- tion was voted down. Mr. Temple received, in Sevier county, thirteen hundred votes out of thirteen hundred and one.

Again, in May, when the question of secession was a second time presented for the consideration of the peu- ple, he took the stump in opposition to it, and made speeches up to the very day of the election. His last speech was at Concord, in a large slaveholding com- munity, where he told the slaveholders that, by his course, he was a better friend of slavery than they were ; that they were endangering, and probably destroying, this species of property ; that if they went out of the

Union they would be whipped back into it again, and that the government was strong enough to do so and would do so. He often declared during this canvass that if compelled to choose between slavery and the Union, he would say, "live the Union ; perish slavery."

In June, 1861, after the people of the State had voted in favor of secession, he attended the celebrated Greene- ville convention, which had adjourned over from Knox- ville to meet in that place. At least five hundred dele- gates were there from every county in East Tennessee, all excited and infuriated. Messrs. Nelson, Brownlow, Baxter, Maynard, Arnold, Trigg, Netherland, Flem- ing, Deaderick, Carter, William Heiskell, Senter, Hlouk, and all the Union leaders, were there. The committee on resolutions reported favorably certain extreme meas- ures, recommended by a distinguished gentleman, pro- viding for the organization and arming of the Union men for armed resistance, and for tearing up the rail- roads, in the event.the Union men were molested by the State or Confederate authorities. Mr. Temple, be- lieving that these measures, if adopted, would ouly lead to the slaughter of' U'nion men, offered a substi- tute, providing for the appointment of a committee to memorialize the Legislature for permission to form a separate State out of East Tennessee, with liberty to form their own governmental relations. After an ani- mated, and almost angry debate, lasting nearly a day, this substitute was adopted, thus saving East Tennessee from the most fearful consequences. This substitute was offered to defeat the rash measures proposed, and with little expectation that the Legislature would ac- cede to the prayer of the memorial. The committee to prepare the memorial consisted of Messrs. O. P. Tem- ple, John Netherland and James P. MeDowell. This committee soon after performed its duty, but, as was anticipated, the Legislature refused to grant the re- quest.

It has generally been supposed that it was the influ- ence of Andrew Johnson which hell the people of East Tennessee so steadfast to the Union in 1861. This is largely a mistake. He did, no doubt, influence many Democrats: but the great body of the Whigs, and many Democrats, had taken their position before his was certainly known by the people. As early as No- vember, 1860, a public meeting was held in Knoxville, during the session of the Federal court, which was got- ten up for the purpose of endorsing secession. It was held at night, and a majority of those present favored secession. Messrs. Fleming, J. J. Reese, Temple and others made speeches in opposition, but finding they would be beaten, they succeeded in adjourning the meeting over to the first Saturday in December. That was done to get the country people present. In the meantime, by every means in their power, the people were appealed to to come to the rescue of the Union, When the day came there was an immense crowd of people present, from Knox and adjoining counties Se-

515

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

cession resolutions were introduced, of rather, were pending. Speeches in their favor were made by W. IL. Sneed, Judge Bailey, Joseph B. Heiskell, W. W. Wal lace, and, perhaps, others, while John Baxter, Flem- ing, Temple, Reese, and S. K. Rodgers, afterward chan cellor, spoke in opposition. . The excitement ran high. Late in the afternoon these resolutions were voted down, and substitutes in favor of the Union, adopted overwhelmingly, amid the wildest excitement. The news of this meeting flew all over the country. Brown low thundered it forth in his paper in exulting tones Hitherto, since the election in November, everything in the South had seemed to run in favor of secession. Here was a stand made in favor of the Union. The patriotic instincts of the people of East Tennessee were all for the old goverment. They watched with intense anxiety to ascertain whether those they had trusted as leaders were going to desert them. They also looked with anxious solicitude to the action of the people of the central county of East Tennessee. When they saw that this large meeting of the people had declared for the Union, hope and courage revived, and after that there was never any doubt or faltering on their part. This was the real turning point in the crisis in East Tennessee. It served to give courage, and perhaps fix the position of more than one leader. The people had become their own leaders. This was fifteen days before Andrew Johnson defined his position in the United States senate.

In 1864, Judge Temple resumed the practice of his profession. In 1865, on the opening of the courts, his business was such that he associated with himself' Samuel A. Rodgers, then a comparatively young law- yer, but who has since made a fine reputation as cir- cuit judge. In January, 1866, the business of the firm assumed such large proportions that further help was needed, and therefore George Andrews was admitted as a member of the firm. Amid the flood of litigation which followed the close of the war, the business of this firm was immense. In the mouth of July, 1866, on his return from one of the out county courts, after an absence of nearly two weeks, Judge, Temple was sur- prised to find a commission from Goy. Brownlow ap pointing him chancellor, in the place of'S. K. Rodgers who had died during his absence. This appointment was not only unsolicited, but absolutely unknown to Judge Temple until receiving his commission, He was exceedingly reluctant to give up his large practice, with the sure prospect of a fortune before him in a few years. He held the question of the acceptance or declension of the office under anxious consideration for three weeks, and at the end of that time, through the per- suasion of lawyers and friends, rather than by the assent of his own judgment, he accepted, but not without many anxious, almost sorrowful doubts. He felt. then that he was perhaps committing a mistake, and now he looks back on it as the great mistake of his life Nearly

1 1

all the profits of his immense business then on hand were lost to him. He was then in the prime of life. Vier once getting on the beach, though he frequently thought of resigning, like nearly all judges, he could never quite make up his mind to do so. The result was he remained on the bench until September, 1878, a little over twelve years. By this time the harvest of business caused by the war had been gathered, and new lawyers had come to the front. He had passed out of the publie mind as a lawyer, and was known only as an es chancellor. Judge Tempde always thought it ex tremely unwise for a young lawyer, or one in the prime of life, to accept a judicial position, but that such a position should only be made the means of honorable retirement toward the close of professional life.

At the first judicial election after the war, he was re-elected chancellor without opposition. At the next election, after the amended constitution went into effect, he was a second time elected, over the opposition of a very able lawyer and an ex-judge, by upwards of three thousand six hundred majority. He served out his term, and, in 1878, retired from the bench voluntarily, having the strongest assurance at the time of a re- nomination and re-election, had he sought the position for another term. He then resumed the practice with all the energy of his younger days, and continued at the bar until November, 1881, when he was appointed postmaster at Knoxville by President Arthur, which position he still holds.

In 1867, on the resignation of Judge Milligan as one of the Supreme judges of the State, in order to accept a position on the court of claims at Washington, Gov. Brownlow immediately offered the vacant position to Chancellor Temple, which the latter at once declined, preferring the chancellorship. He recommended George Andrews, his former partner, for the position, who was thereupon appointed, and who discharged the duties of that high office with signal ability.

In 1874, Judge Temple was appointed, by President Grant, one of the board of visitors to the military academy at West Point, where he served with Senators Hoar and Howe, Francis B. Wayland, Don. Cameron and others. He was appointed chairman of one of' the important committees, but declined the position.

He has always taken a deep interest in agricultural development. Some years before the war he was ap- pointed a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and always attended its meetings in Nashville. In 1865, he purchased a small farm in the vicinity of Knoxville, where, while on the bench, he carried on farming until 1576, when he sold the larger part of the farm and re- turned to the city. His farm was a model of neatness and beauty. In 1872. he was elected president of the Eastern Division fair at Knoxville, and by the aid of his efficient secretary, Mr. C. W. Charlton, and his own efforts, the fair was made the greatest success in every respect of any one ever held there. In the same year,

٠٠

٠١

٠ ١١٠٫٠٠

5-4G

PROMINENT TENNESSEANS.

he and Mr. Charlton originated and organized the East Tennessee Farmers' Convention, which has become so celebrated, and which still continues to do so much good for the farming interests. In 1873, he was the president of that convention. He has for many years been a trustee in the University of Tennessee, and is now the chairman of the board of control, which has the oversight of the agricultural farm and the experi ment station.

Judge Temple has, at all times, taken a deep interest in all publie enterprises calculated to build up the State and his adopted city. He was one of the origin- ators of the Knoxville and Ohio railroad, in 1854, now a part of the Louisville and Knoxville railroad. He was one of the original stockholders of this road, one of the first directors, and the first secretary of the board. He was also a director, soon after the war, for two or three years, in the East Tennessee and Georgia railroad. He was also president of the first macadam turnpike road ever originated in East Tennessee, which position he still holds.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Sketches of prominent Tennesseans. Containing biographies and records of many of the families who have attained prominence in Tennessee, Part 120

Author: Speer, William S Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Speer, William S
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Nashville, A. B. Tavel
Number of Pages: 1278