Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-06-19

GOu forbid that J should ever rejoice
over the financial downfall of any
man. These are days of soreness and
sorrow The proudest houses of
Southern Culture are going down be
meath the flood. Hearts and minds
that have adorned this land in the
golden age of the republic are bowed
and crushed in the ashes of our finan.
cial ruin. Strangers and Mercenaries
are sitting in the finest houses Of the
land and owning our goodly heritage.
For twelvo-nay sixteen years, |
have reeled and stumbled beneath a
load of individual debt. l have press
ed forward and worn the smile of
hope, my head thrObbing with the
fever of disappointed aims and the end
is not yet. My creditors have not got
ten all they should have had. My
little castle Of cards may tumble at
their touch and falling about me,
leave me naked in the world. But If
| fall, I shall go down with sails set
and flag in the breeze unstained by
dishonor. No man then can point at
me the finger of scorn and say that
once l did so when others fell.
/ propose while can to publish the
Bristol News. 1t may be but short
time, but it shall be an independent
Newspaper, and neither Bullies nor
bludgeons shall change this determine
ton. To get rid of me, now l will
just have to be assasinated
The sudden raid into town and the
precilitate and successful flight is 70
new thing. 1t has been the exploit
of burglars, express robbers, Bank
thieves, and murderers, until it is
scarcely evidence of chivalry or bra
very. When the outraged gentleman
resorts to violence he remains to
face the consequences of his act
Champ Ferguson has his triumphal
return after he had raided on Emory
hospital and shot sick prisoners in
their beds. Booth had his horse
"held with the saddle onn when he
slipped into Ford's theatre and shot
Lincoln and he galloped out of the
city unarrested. These instances
happened to be of the federal side of
our late war, but l have never known
the high-blooded Southron that justi-
fed them.
Maj. Campbell owed me nothing
and expected nothing from him. l
never did him any personal harm and
really cared nothing for him any way.
l now dismiss him and hope I shall
have no occasion ever to allude 10 him
again in these columns.
And now / shall have a word more
to say Of DR.. Johnston. Such had
been my devotion to his family and
relations that it may almost be said
"For years never nursed thought
That was not theirs"
lie was young and his sun had arisen
over splendid seas. Upon its disc there
was neither spot nor Flemish. The
best blood of Virginia was in his veins.
| thought | saw within his eye the
torch Of genius handed down from sire
to son. had marked him with pride
Il often said "there comes a Young
man whose footsteps | shall watch
with curious interest and bright eX-
pectations. He seems destined to hew
his own way to fortune. But if ever
he should need n friend and can make
a feeble one Of service to him, he can
command me-" fin the discharge of
my duty as journalist had struck a
blow that touched some dear and ten
der fibre Of his nature it was unknown
10 me.
Under these circumstances, could !
have believed that, under any circuln-
stances, he could be my enemy or my
accuser? In 1858 | had, in behalf of
his uncle, the lamented Benz. Rush
Floyd, who was then a candidate for
Congress, fought a man, now nv
friend, and had in that contest en-
dangered my life. When Gov. John
b. Floyd stood at bay with his enc
mics, my voice and all my sympathies
had been his. There never were no.
bier people than the Floyd's. and no
man ever knew a Floyd to 60 back on
a friend. Their readicst accusers new
er said this thing of them. shall
not now lose my confidence in that
line Of noble and chivalrous men. l
shall hope and attempt to believe that
this act of DR.. Johnston Is an error,
into which he was inadvertently en-
trapped. l shall try to believe that
the boiling blood of early manhood OBJ
tanned some advantage of better ma
ture which will yet reassert itself. l
shall aid him, if can, in drawing the
veil Of charity and oblivion over this
matter so personal to myself, and that
veil shall be the last man to lift
Never more in these columns will l
revert to this matter, unless | am
compelled to do so. If 1 could would
let the tear of noble and blessed
friend of us both wash it out forever.
l wish ! could have been spared the
publication of this narrative of the oc-
currence. But could not. Justice to
myself and the public requires it.
The introduction of Senator John