Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-23
THE TRIUMPH OF JOHN c. BURCH

From the Memphis Appeal, Aug. q.
II seems repeated exposures and igno-
minous defeats ought to induce some dis
erection on the part of the blackguards who
have undertaken to SANDER down some of
the purest and best men in Tennessee.
When John G. Burch was appointed comp
troller by Governor Brown, to fill the va
cancy occasioned by the resignation Of W.
w. Hobbs, it was instinuated that Colonel
Burch had secured the Office by bargain and
purchsse. When it was thought the air was
sufficiently impregnated, the charge of cor
ruu.ion was openly and directly made, and
in a short time little rill was started, which
grew and sEelled and swelled, until it
swallowed up all other waters. A rod was
thrown down, which, coming instantly
quick with life, turned into serpent and
swallowed all other sRrpents. Almoss every
day the cIlumny was nsively repeated or
cowardly insinuated. Colonel Eurch at
first treated it with the silent contempt l.
deserved, believing that the characters of
himself, Governor Brown, and Mr.. Hobbs
would shield his name from the SANDER.
But unwise counsels prevailed, Snd be has
been induced TO expose what nobody be-
lieved. His yindication, which we pub
lished yesterday, was most triumphant. His
traducers, driven as they are from their
positions, with their ramparts of falsehood
b,ttered down by the cannohades of truth,
will lot even b ave the magnanimity and
the Justice to repair the injury they have
sought to do their neighbor and fellow citi-
zen. 1t is difficdlt job to eXtort justice
from 8 malignant and INSCRIPTIONS assiil-
ant; the task can be achieved, however, but
1t seems Colonel Burch has not yet discov-
cred the sure and never-failing mode by
which to solve this mystery. The publi-
cations which John G. Burch has made
were not necessary 10 his defense. DE
stands no higher now than he did'before he
turped upon bis assailants, who, insensible
to shame, care nothing for an exposure OF
thei- fslsehoods. Colonel Burch is making
an able and efficient officer. BE has brought
to the Office of comptroller genius, ability
and enthusiasm, and he is working faith
fully, industriously and energetically for
the interest of the State end the public.
The tongue Of cslumny and detraction,
which has been splitting It's venom against
him for four months, has not for moment
caused q diminution OF the confdeI &c
which bis friends aud the people at Tennes
see repose in bis Integrity. The triumph
ant vindication of Colonel Burch ought to
he a lesson to those who live by raking the
the sewers of filth for scandal to hurl at
their neighoors. The reputation Of pub.
lie man, whether the president of an incor-
uorated institution or an off ,isl ofthe State
government, Is as sensitive as mirror to
the human breath; word may cloud 1t,
and hardly more than breath is necessary.
Nothing is uttered with more ease than cal
umny, and nothing will spread faster;
while refutation involves sacrifice OF self
respect, and is humiliati N 80 obnoxious
upon its face that few like TO stoop to it.
Thus, uncontradicted, the Islander is repeat
ed from tongue 70 tongue, rolling on like
huge snow ball, gaining at every revolution,
until It's very size proves its own destruc-
tor. While he people the present pro-
eTessiVe age are correcting many of the fol-
lies and abuses of the old times, We hope
thew will hiss into shame and silence the
orieinators- and retailers of just such false
hoods as were concocted by malignant
knaves for the purpose of blasting the repu-
tations of Governor Brown, John g. Burch
and W. W. Hobbs.