Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-06
From the Bristol (Tenn.) News.
Excitement I'm Bristol---An Anti-sIa-
very Man I'm the Hands OF a ssCom-


Excitement I'm Kristol---An Anti-sIa-
very Man I'm the Hands OF a 'sCom-
mittee.o
During the present week we have had a
demonstration in Bristol of that character
which naturally grows out Of the excited
state Of public feeling in regard to the Harpers
Ferry treason. The circumstances, as near
as we can understand them were AS follows
Virginian, an elderly gentleman, named
James Johnson, has been boarding at the Ex-
change Hotel for a year past, and durins that
time has been rather unreservrd in The ex-
preston Of anti-siavery sentiments. Some
recent remarks made by him on this subject
having come to the ears Of certain of our
citizens, probably exaggerated, they conclu-
ded that a stop should be put In the further
dissemination of such heretical doctrine and
a note was addressed by Committee y In
Mr.. j.. requesting him forthwith to leave
town or take the consequences" The gen
lleman declined the invitation to leave. de-
MED the correctness OF the charges contain
cd in the note, and expressed II willingness
publicly to define his position on the slave
ry question, and 'abde the conauenccs. To
this proposal the Committee assented. and
Wednesday morning was fixed for the shear-
ing" Accordingly, on Wednesday morning
about 10 O'Clock, the Committee and many
other citizens OF Bristol and Goodson. as
sembled at the Exchange, and organized
themselves into public meeting hy calling
10 the chair the worthy Mayor of Bristol. L,
F. Johnson. Esq. The. Mayor, on taking the
chair stated what he inferred TO be the OBJ
Jet of the meeting (he having had no mart
IN getting up the movement y counseled
those present against summary action under
the influence of undue excitement and while
he expressed his deteststion of the Harper's
Ferry treason, its abetiors and sympathlzers.
avowed his determination To uphold law and
order in the town OF Bristol His remarks
were temperate and concilatorv but firm for
the supremacy of the law. He then gave
way for the explanation of Mr.. james John
son. who said, in substance:
"Gentlemen, have beef located amongst
you for more than year, pursuing my bust
ness as a peaceable man, and abundanly
prepared TO deiray my own expenses. / have
never made any coneealment of my senti-
ments upon the subject of slavery. am
opposed 10 il. | consider il wrong in the
abstract, and think the Snuth would be better
without Il. These sentiments | believe |
have right a. free citizen To entertain,
aud. on proper occasions, to express. Con-
scentioGsly believing them 10 be right, aud
their dissemination calculated to benefit my
country, / further believe il TO be my duty,
as good citizen, to express them on all
PROF er occasions. / have never uttered them
to, or in the presence of. slaves. | have
nevrr tempered with slaves, nor held any
communication with them, excerpt in iheir
legitimate character as servants, when | re-
quired their services. deny the allegations
contained in this paper (the Committees
note) do not favor Rboiilionism; do not
uphald the ianatical practices of northern
abolilionists: have n, Yer sympathiz d with
the treason of ihc Harper's Ferry insurgents;
| have repeatedly said that, rs yiolalors Of
the law, aud invaders Of Southern rights and
territory, they ought 10 be hang. ! entir,ly
approve of the course of Gov. " Use in-regard
ia thsm; aud II a sectional war should result
from bis sustaining the decision Of the Court
in their caser, soald shoulder my musket
in defcnee Of the South, aud ia resistance
10 the nnwarranIable Interference Of north
rrn people with cur constitutional rights
While slavery exists by the law If the land,
however much | may deprecate IL, will de-
fend it rs . law-abidlng citizen. would
shoulder my maske4 a. soon as any Of yon
to put duwn serviie instruction. ! ehal-
.enge the proof OF the charges in this paper,
that favor abolitioaism or sympathize With
The Harner's Ferry freason.o
Mr.. johnson spoke much more 70 the same
purpose, aud proved By the testimony and
of some of our refpeetable ciii-
e~ns, who have daily associated with him,
that bis conversations had been rnissppFr- /
hendcd OF exaggerated. The proceedings