Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-04-10
MEMPHIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 10.
COLONEL JOHN M. FLEmINe.

COLONEL JOHN M. FLEMING.
The reputation Of a public man is the
property Of the public, and as such
should be cherished and guarded when
unjustly assailed. There is q strong
sense of justice, fairness and humanity
in the breast Of every man which Is cut
ragged by the persecution of an honest,
able and faithful public citizen. Deeply
partaking Of that sympathy which is al
WAYS inspired for an honest man ira
duced BY the slsnderer, we cannot re-
frain from cOngratulating Colonel John
NJ Fleming, Of the Knoxville Press
and Herald, on his triumphant acquittal
Of the foul charges made against his
character. Two years ago Colonel John
NJ. Fleming was accused Of per
jury, and it was moved to have
his name stricken from the roll
Of attorneys. No human mind can
comprehend the agony Colonel Fleming
suffered while this heavy nightmare
was pressing upon his soul. But
be had an abiding faith in the omnipo-
tence of truth and the certainty of pub
lie justice, and the philosophy to.
bide his time-to wait for the revelations
of time. the t~Omb-builder. The result
has shown that this confidence was not
misplaced, for after a long and patient
investigation Of a charge so atrocious
and so damning, Colonel Fleming on
Saturday morning last was most
triumphantly acquitted. He has
emerged from the dark clouds in
which the slandeDer had so long
shrOUded him, bright as the
evening sun, bursting out from under
the storm-cloud after a long, dark,
gloomy day. Since his acquittal Colo
mel Fleming has been overwhelmed by
the congratulations Of the citizens of
Knoxville, irrespective Of party.
A letter was addressed to him inn
mediately after his acquittal, signed
bv many Of the most prominent citizens,
soliciting him TO announce his name as a
candidate for Congress. His reply Is
able and manly. He shows the lofty
nobility of his character in the follow
ing extract, which closes his letter de-
Ginning to become a candidate:
You win understand me then, 7 trust, when
Isay 20 you that under the circumstances at
this moment surrounding me-ustained as
have have been by political friend or foe with
like cordiality-and enjoying possibly q de-
gree Of sympathy peculiar 70 the OCCASION
could not, were I otherwise disposed, think OF
avalling myself q sueh an opportunity IOr al
tempting 10 realize any cherished political
dream whatsoever.
x On Saturday night last, Colonel Flem-
ing was serenaded by the citizens of
Knoxville, and his response to the com
pliment was as beautiful and a%ppropri-
ate as it was touching and eloquent.
After abiding to the torrent of calumny
that had been turned loose upon him,
and his triumph, he said:
Seventeen years ago, after Just attaining my
majority, 4 came 20 th1s city 1 was not alto-
geuher a stranger 70 II, Tor am native OF
This section. For seventeen years I have lived
among this people. 1 may not boast of any
personal exceleucies- I have e~ndeavored 70
follow the trstinct Of honesty implanted in
nv nature. That i encountered the trials and l
femptatious that Turk beside the pathway of
life all OF YOU have known but too well. That
disaster and misfortune overlook me you also /
know. You know that physical strength well
uL-l ME@ELDE4 AE-aA HdNE A4E44er hAAEH ElAA ]
dren and honor. Thank God, the purpose 70 1
be a man N The despair that seizes 4
upon too many better than myself, gave way
10 the Light OF hope; and, by the encourage
ment Of q good purpose and the aid and in
ducements OF friends, / was enabled TO regain
my manhood, and stand once more, among
men. feeling myself q man. ] returned, bur i
nine short months ago, TO your midst from q
trip, Of my own accord, which / made 10 an
Eastern state, with a view Of recovering and
restoring myself.
returned and the manifestations Of regard
that / received on ali hands in this city ! can
never forget began life anew. began IL
with fresh hopes and aspirations. 1 devoted 1
myself 10 my business. 1 endeavOred 10 de-
mean myself properly towards my ~nelghoors, II
my friends, and manfuly towards my foes
Ny life is q political one. Ny business draws
me in mental conflict with my political ad-
versaries. Collision begets passion, some
times. passion begetS enemies. But IL has
NOT been political Toes 7 have always had 10
archers that / have had 20 shield myself
against. MOI And just here, let me remark,
that ] accept the demonstration as no comph-
ment Tor my political services. accept il as
no expression OF gladness az my escape from
the calumnles OF my Wou4o-oe oesfoyeIes De
cause by cnance I am the cOnlrouer OF a po-
uucal journal. Mo- The trial through which
] have just passed was without political dis
t~inctlOn, and ! can say IN justice 10 the Re
Dublicans OF this town and county, that, with
rev eNcepuOns-oI whom, under the circum-
stances, nothing different could be expected
from the ranks and from the places Of promi-
nence in the party, Ike men OF honor, they
came without reluctance and testified side by
N4ue Win NY POLITICAL AiANluH- 4ntg knew !
was pursued by an able and RELENTLESS fOe-a
man whose malice never tires and never
sleeps. Many circumstances favored, had they
been disposed the use OF political IN
duence against me. In justice TO them,
let me say, they have scOrned 10
make such use OF their influence. And when, |.
In me hOur Or frfaI. n became necessary FOR
me 10 show 10 the world what Character {
have sustained since 4 have 5ecu among this
people, there came forth, as l said before,
many from all ranks Of the people, without
distinction. Of party who stood side by side,
political friends and foes, and testified IN any
behalf They came forward 10 Nllndicaie my ,
character, a. an act OF usiice, and among the
counsel Who defOnded me- Was one who, as I {
politicaLsfrif yvaged hsrcest and hottest en-
,uuutered any edito1al IRE. YET who, without
distinguished associates, in Ytndication Of
truth ana my reputation.
Therefore Il is more gratifying to me that
can meet YOU with the consciousness that Al
have been vind5eated and my reputation has
been projected from the vile calumnies that
have been pursuing me LOT Two anu a hali
years. And IL IS with something Of pride that y
! can refer % the fact that this vfndication
has come Ina a community in which my pur- !
-uer has been at work Gor these long Two and
"a lalf years, endeavonBg to taTuish my repu- F,
Jatiou and rob me OiIny good name ana who
iu "a Court OF Justice could not md "a sOitaryl ]
b. no hour for me 10 poison the feelings Of the
occasion by elimination OF recrlminatiOn IN \
there be- punishment for him-if lac has feel 4
ing in him, he must now feel a greater degree q
ET he'll In the EHnGruAIaLtQ htDEh Oh an nNne-L j
people, than any d~enunciations OF mine could
leave him alone IN The agony Of his y
own reaeenons this plight In Tie reports Of f
the Jrid agsuusf me ne Profession for genera /
lions 10 come VIII read with scOrn the base at 4
tempt Of my Vie accuser 20 strike down "a [
brother fawver al fhe bar. TApplausel
II revenge were the ruling passion Of
hfe-if the ProstratiOn OF an adversary +
was all / desired, surely his prgstration ia the a
sameet To- grsfif3 fhatrevenee. I can saythsL {
having once tasted Of the bitter waters, and h
once passed well nigh into the valley
lf the shadow Of death and again emerged in
10 the light Of day, i can say, not again viii 1 2
pass into that low ground by the same door. n
IL a. be hoped by enemy or feared by i
that the aggravations Of this malicious y
ma ferociOus precautionary provoke me u
% my downfall, let me say, that after bitter
rails have learned 70 draw strength from -
uch prOyocatlOns, and seeing now the +
trength and weakness OF my life, / can ind III
ven . A!ssslng q ny PaTPoses in the Well q
IestrOy tne lei malice then unbotue It's pl
lsnders Fains 4 Il VII Twin meet them as Il
have mA then before. and in the assured
.onddence Of my fellOw-citizens defy the
inset. IL,
The popularity of Colonel Fleming, h,
riginally great has been greatly in b
reased by the Infamous calumny piled y
pom his name; and now that he has
fled himself above the passions and n
plies which have so often blasted the ii
rightest i~nteIlects Of all ages, he can OF
ipidly climbth ladder to fame. While -
a the triumphant acquittal Of In
.olOnel Fleming, we envy not the feel7o or
lgs Of those upon whose dis ar
onored heads the d pitiless storm Of in vi
and scorn" now beats. The n,
sneak-thief who picks your -
oeket or steals your jewels, is a model de
-