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The Congressional Canvass

 Collection
Identifier: MS-3465

  • Staff Only

Benjamin F. Lillard published this broadside, entitled The Congressional Canvass. To the People of the Fifth Congressional District, composed of the Counties of Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Bedford, Coffee, and Rutherford, during his unsuccessful bid for John Bright Morgan's Congressional seat. In it, he introduces himself as a Democratic candidate and outlines his campaign platform, which includes repealing the National Banking Act, repealing tax laws affecting medicine, whiskey, and tobacco, repaying the national debt using Greenback money, repealing the Protective Tariff, building a Southern Pacific Railroad route to the West Coast, and supporting judicial power over the Electoral Vote. Lillard closes the document by describing his career as a well-respected farmer and mentioning his military service with the 45th Tennessee Infantry (CSA) during the Civil War.

Dates

  • 1878

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Abstract

Benjamin F. Lillard published this broadside, entitled The Congressional Canvass. To the People of the Fifth Congressional District, composed of the Counties of Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Bedford, Coffee, and Rutherford, during his unsuccessful bid for John Bright Morgan's Congressional seat. In it, he introduces himself as a Democratic candidate and outlines his campaign platform, which includes repealing the National Banking Act, repealing tax laws affecting medicine, whiskey, and tobacco, repaying the national debt using Greenback money, repealing the Protective Tariff, building a Southern Pacific Railroad route to the West Coast, and supporting judicial power over the Electoral Vote. Lillard closes the document by describing his career as a well-respected farmer and mentioning his military service with the 45th Tennessee Infantry (CSA) during the Civil War.

Biographical/Historical Note

Benjamin F. Lillard was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee in 1834. Born and raised a farmer, Lillard enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private and served in Company I of the 45th Tennessee Infantry, which was known as the Rutherford Rifles. He sustained a severe leg wound at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19, 1863 and was sent to Madison House Hospital in Montgomery, Alabama. He was declared unfit for field service in April of 1864, after which he attempted to secure a position with the military courts. After the war ended, Lillard returned to Rutherford County and resumed farming. He also became a lawyer and dabbled in politics, unsuccessfully challenging John Morgan Bright for Tennessee's Fifth Congressional seat in 1878. Lillard died in Murfreesboro on April 7, 1909.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single folder.

Acquisition Note

Special Collections purchased this broadside in 2011.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480