Two East Tennessee legislators are attempting to place a long-awaited statue of David Crockett outside the state Capitol in place of a controversial former lawmaker and newspaper publisher who was a prohibitionist leader and espoused racist views.

Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, and Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, are introducing a bill to move the statue of Edward Carmack, currently on display along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard above the Motlow Tunnel entrance to the Capitol, and replace it with one of Crockett.

The Carmack statue would be "relocated to an appropriate location on capitol grounds," as determined by the Capitol Commission, SB 1945 states.

UPDATE:Edward Carmack statue torn down during Nashville protest against police violence

Hawk, who will file House legislation to accompany Southerland's, said the state's Davy Crockett Statue Commission asked for a bill to solidify a location for the statue in order for the commission to begin raising money to develop the statue. The commission was created in 2012, and Hawk said no state funds will be used to create the statue.

"There are several members on the commission who think that is a good location to present one of Tennessee's favorite sons to the rest of the world at that location," Hawk said of the current site of the Carmack statue, but added that the commission is open to the legislature suggesting an alternative location at the Capitol.

Crockett and Carmack

Crockett, a pioneer and Tennessee politician who became a folk legend, has had a bust on display since 2016 on the second floor of the Capitol, outside the House of Representatives' chamber.

Placement of the Crockett bust was as a result of a 2014 resolution passing, sponsored by then-Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, and then-House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, which authorized the Tennessee Arts Commission to hire a sculptor to create one for the Capitol.

Crockett served in both the Tennessee General Assembly and in U.S. Congress before dying in the Alamo Mission in 1836 while fighting with Texans for their independence from Mexico.

Carmack, who was also a politician and newspaper editor, was known for authoring editorials attacking fellow Tennessee journalist Ida B. Wells' writings in support of the civil rights movement, including encouraging retaliation against her, resulting in the burning of her Memphis newspaper office.

Carmack was fatally shot near the Capitol in 1908 as part of an ongoing dispute over favorable prohibitionist coverage in the Tennessean.

The statue of Carmack was authorized after his death by the state legislature, which also then moved to pass legislation outlawing alcohol in the state.

Hawk said while not all of the statue commission members feel the same way, some have concerns about Carmack's legacy.

Hawk said there is no set timeline for when the statue will be finished and erected.

Southerland's legislation refers to the MLK Boulevard street name by its former name of "Charlotte Avenue," which was changed on the downtown portion of the street in spring 2018.

The state created the David Crockett Birthplace State Park in 1973.

A statue of Crockett was erected in the public square in Lawrenceburg in 1922.

Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.

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