The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-04-12

Coz. John NJ. Fleming.
A call appears in the Knoxville Press
and Wc,ud Of Sunday morning, numcr-
ouSly signed, soliciting the abovc-nam-
cd gentleman 10 announce himself for
Congress in The Second District. COL
Fleming replies to tbi, mark Of esteem
and confidence from hi fcllow.citi2cus
who have known him long and well, in
an adjrc,, happily conceived and cloth
ed in elegant and appropriate language,
Gisavowing an inclination to seek polit-
ical prcicrmcut ~ Til, time. We mean
no mere Journalistic courtesy when we
say that Col. Fleming pO,sc,>c, ahili-
ties and qualities which would enable
him to I'll, with credit 10 himself and to
the advantage OF the public, any station
within the range Of an ordinary ambi-
ton. and there is no one whom we
would more gladly see successfully
climbing the ascent Of political promo
ton. But in the LIGHT OF sincere friend
ship we think he chooses the wiser and
the better course. and we congratulate
him upon the possession OF moral en-
crev aud force enough to decline M in
yitatiou 50 earnest and heartfelt that
only the tcwc-t number could resist it,
lie j. the right man in the right place
now. and can more efficiently serve the
public interest as the able and accom-
pIi,hcd editor OF the central Democratic
paper Of East Tennessee than he could
anywhere else.
The GrecncIille sentinel.
There is not the least necessity accord
ing TO our view for our friend of the
abovc-namcd Journal to work himself
into tcvcrish condition over the cleo
lion for supreme Judge. So far rs we
havc noticed the friends, OF Coz. Cooke
have not made any di,paragiug remarks
IN reference to JUDGE Mcfarland. They
will make none. We think they have
Il highcr respect for the Office sought,
and ifthcir man cannot lc elected with
ont doprcciatin@ and ra4tiug aspcr,iOnN
upon his connection. or by rc.ortiug to
any but strictly open and honorable
means. they will be content to see him
defeated. Nor i there any occasion to
make tho contest pariakc Of Il bitter or
acrimonious character, aud 1T the wishes
Of the candidates themselves are con-
suited we are very sure nothing unplca-
'ant will he permitted to occur. But
it is sometimes the misfortune of men
seeking public position 10 have friends
whose zeal oUtstripS their judgment,
aud It may Ice that both JUd-c NrFar-
land and Col. Cookc are not entirely eX-
c,npt from such aflirt.ous. 50 far rs
we are concerned we have not beard the
first breath OF di-praisc against Major
Mcfarland, and we would be us prompt
~ any one 70 dcprccqtc assault, upon
either his public or private character.
40 nattcrwhat quarter they might come
from. For reasons that We deem just
and sufficient aud believing him 10 he
amply qualified. we desire to see Col.
Cooke elected, but rs an earnest friend
and supporter we take the liberty of as
suring rGrecncviIlcc contemporary. and
Others who may feel an interest in the
subject that he does not desire the seat
on the Supreme Bench except rs the re-
sidi of full, free, fair, candid, honest
and unbiased expression of the people
through the balot-box.
Il. T. STEWART. the merchant prince of
New York. aud formerly one Of Grants
most earnest supporters. will appear
among the prominent Republicans at