Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-09
UNION AND AMERICAN.
CONGRESSIONAL.

Correspondence Between Citizens of
Knox County and Col. John N. FIem-
ing.
Immediately after the announcement on
the 9Th inst. of the dismissal by Chancellor
Temple on the charge of perjury, brought
against Col. John NJ. Fleming by John
Baxter, two hundred and sixteen citizens of
Knox county addressed the following note
to Col Fleming:
KNOXVILLE, April 6, 1S72.-CoI. John
NJ. Fleming. Dear Sir: Feeling the neces-
sity Of an able, upright and conscientious
Representative in Congress from the Second
District-one who, while he looks to the
interests of the whole country, will not
lose sight of his own immediate section,
and believing that H. you, we find the en-
6odiment of our wants in that respect, we
respectfully ask that you permit your name
to be announced for that position.
To this note Col. Fleming replied as fol-
lows:
KEoxvILLE, April 6, lS72.-Messrs. P.
Lea Rogers, j. a Rayl, James NJ. King,
Geo. W. Adney, JCha Cruze and others:
GENTLEMEN-Allow me 10 thank you for
the kindness that suggested your note Of
this evening 20 me. 1t is but another form,
take it, of the very general and generous
expression Of paTrOnal confidence and es-
teen which the recent malignant efforts to
blacken my character aud destroy my Tepu-
tation have called forth; and [ very
much fear that a present glowing sympa-
thy for me has caused you to regard with too
great Partially my supposed fitness for the
1.ffvT
myself candidate. 1t has been known to
many Of my f.iends-to some of you, be-
liave-that a seat in Congress is not the OBJ
ject of present aspiration with me. In the
language of the day, l am not among the
aspirants to that position now, and, hOwev-
er strongly solicited, 1 would be too dis
trustful of my own capacity to meet the
demands implied in your note, to announce
myself a candidate for the position.
But, gentlemen, were a seat in Congress
the goal of my present ambition, in the
midst of my present surroundings should
still feel constrained TO decline compliance
with your solicitation. The preservation of
my good name, for myself and my children,
from the attacks Of calumny, has been for
some time with me, and still is, thing Of
far higher importance than the achievement
of political honors; and feeling as do, at
this moment, how utterly lost has been poll
teal distinctions, in the Oyerw helming mani
fes.ations Of personal confidence and es-
TEEN, toward myself, during the season just
passed, could but regard it as unworthy
of me, to even seem to seek to turn the
sympathies Of the hour TO political account
or personal advantage of the kind indicated.
1t is a remarkable fact in the history Of the
ChaDcery proceeding against me which has
Just closed in the lower court at least, that
notwithstanding | am known as the con-
ductOr of the central Democratic paper of
East Tennessee, and, as such, have mingled
prominently in the many angry and polIti-
cal conflicts of recent years; nOtWithStand-
ing the last desperate movement against my
character was made in a court presided
over by a Republican Chancellor, and,
therefore naturally presumed TO be certainly
not praiudiced in my favor; n0twith stand
ing the opportunity atfOrded,b many favor
inc circumstances, to turn against me the
fun power of party influence-With the ex-
CeptiOn of but few individuals from whom
nothing else was eXpeCted-the Republicans
Of Knoxville and Knox county,in the main,
have displayed toward me a manliDess of
conduct, thas | would myself be something
less than a man did not publicly recognize
and respect. Among the many witnesses
who responded TO the call to tesd-
fy concerning my character, were
numerous prominent and inhu-
suatial Republicans, who depOsed as readily
as if l had been their political associate.
Of nv counsel-without fee or pecuniaTy
reward-stood one, who in times past,
when political strife ragged tiereest, often
passed under my editorial fire; yet wh0-it
can give 10 ofiense TO any to s4y-was as
earnest, as able, as eloquent in my vindica-
ton, as either Of his distinguished assO-
ciates. Aud in the hour Of my vindiCation,
the congratulations that overwhelmed me,
were contributed alike by political friend
and foe-for all sCoTncd the base attempt
made at my destruction.
You will understand me then, l trust,
when l say to you that under the CiIcum-
stances at this moment surrounding me-
sustained as l have been by political friend
and Zoe with like cOrdialty-ald enjoying
possik y a degree Of sympathy peculiar TO
The otep.on-I could not, were l otherwise
dispoS>d, think Of availi0y myself of such
an opportunity for attempting to realize any
cherished political dream, whatsoever.
With a heart full of gratitude to you, as
10 all others, for your kindness, your conf
dence and sympathy, l am, gentlemen, your
friend, truly, JOHN NJ. FLEMING