Brownlow was a delegate to the 1880 Republican National Convention , and was appointed postmaster at Jonesborough , Tennessee , in 1881 . In December 1881 , he was appointed Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives for the 47th Congress ( 1881 &ndash; 1883 ) , a position which controlled entry to the House floor . His Assistant Doorkeeper was Richard W. Austin , his future political ally . Brownlow worked as superintendent of the Senate 's folding room , where Senate documents were processed and distributed to the public , from 1885 to 1893 . After leaving this position , he briefly worked in the office of Congressman Alfred A. Taylor
1880 Republican National Convention
1880 Republican National Convention
Walter P. Brownlow