The daily union., 1852-05-12

aace-more dangerous 10 himself, and requiring the
else OF exeTtons OF his physical and mental pow
ers From 1888 to 1912 he in the field against the
banks OF the Stae-slxteen IN number. They Who'll
y irresponsible, and many o them insosent while they
ete encouraging among the people the spirit of ndisd
ua business speculation and reck lessDess 1.-The existence
OF which alone enabled them to conceal their bank
so ia fact control the fortunes oil The people and
the politics OF the Slae) Cen Downs, in performing
his task. became mark for the shafts OF almost all The
bank officers, orators, stockholders. Debtors attorney,
and writers IN the State. The agents and supporters OF
these institutions in the legislauremen OF eminent ab
lies and great weight OF chaTacterought hun al every
step Protesting Their solvency and denying hs allega,
ton that they maintained fictitious vitality only by fraud
and conupton they yei refused him the demanded ex-
position OF their affairs. l4taa nsff44ls
In January s42 he delivered his great speech lin the
senate OF Lonisiana) against The banks which is repeie
with powerful exposition OF the thieying niqupy
oil Mr. Bddes bank schemes and principles, and OF the
dangers coruPons. and hagran wrong involved IN the
existence OF banking privileges usurped by the mo-
neyed corporations OF Louslana than Is embraced In any
other State paper to which the great Jackson contest
against the power and corruption oil the Bank OF the Un-
ted States gave rse-or this bank in Louisiana was
but branch OF the old jackson antiBank CONTROVERSY
The banks of that State had suspended 1887 and re-
snmng with Mr.. Bdde, had again promptly followed
his example in suspending 10 1889 The bank bill OF
this session. which indeed the old project OF 1888,
was designed first to force these Institutions 70 come
under the control of the State, and TO make such
exposons o their affairs as would enable the Legislature
| TO Judge whether they had forfeited their charters.
and the community 10 distinguish The solvent som the
insolvent. t1 N
| AT this session the labors of General Downs
crowned with such strong demonstrations OF public opin
ion, that Governor Roman "a whig) and handful
OF whg members TO his assistance and thus car
ried through this important democratic project Under
the operations of this law the truth was soon told for
the consequent examination OF the banks resulted IN
proving the hopeless and fraudulent Insolvency OF eleven
of the sxteenall Of which soon exploded leaving out
five in existence To this day the tive have continued
sound This rreagable proof OF the justice OF the posi-
ton so early taken and sustained with so much cour-
age and perseverance by General d. IN overwhelming
the State bank party under load OF public odium, ope
tlv IN ia
thus eventually TO place him in his present envabie Po
stion-
Throughout the bank contest, that for the exen
sion of The right OF suffrage and constitutional reform,
General Downs the main mark for the shafts OF the
opposition, who leveled their missiles OF destruction At
his head as though impressed with the belief that In
slencing him they would achieve the overthrow OF this
important purpose OF the democracy; The democratic
reader who has witnessed The struggle which como'nea
corrupt local banks made for the OF their
privilege punder when the rod of reform ~ upliited
against them, will understand that in this combat every
possible scheme defeat the final exposure was resort
| ed to- Though aided in his good work BY an almost
Unanimous democratic party the chief labor and the
weight of the federal odum fell upon General Downs
By way of illustrating bis position IN THIS contest mere
present the reader with two extracts from the federal
papers of that day. The first srom the New Orleans BeeA-
then the principal organ Of the banks Of the STATE STATE
edited by Mr. Bullet who, on the 23d ol June, lS49.
was to commence the publication al Washington of
the official organ OF the general administration The SEC
ond is an extract from letter IN me Goneorda inss1i
in the State From these papers will at once De per-
ceved that General Downs indeed the life and soul
of the laborous task OF reform the democrats OF tne
Legislature had in hand: Aet
"THE cRIsIs-THE STATE sENArE.--THE PEOPLE
The fiat has gone forth, and henceorward an abicct,
dumb and serve submission 10 the imperial 6ehcsts of
1.-The senate alone protect the citizens from the denun-
cation reproach and slander OF its lnqulstOr general
The press be muzzed the presidents and directors
of banks must violate the charters under which they
act and compromise the interests OF their
in the indecent haste TO PROSTATE themselves before the
Iuggernaut that is crush them The citizen who re-
fuses 10 abase himself before the standard Of perfecta
biy up by the senate is no longer entitled 10 the
mmunites consideration OF freemen We venture to
assert that the history of free government from the dawn
of tyranny usurpaton and scaHdaous disregard Of ihe
rights OF the people has been exhibited by the upper
branch Of the Legislature within The past MONTH uness
during the rebellion OF 1892, when jurors, judges con.
stables, and mitiaofcers were sworn on the Bible OF
notification instead of the Holy Evangelist, before they
could enter upon the discharge Of their duties 81 =
'sThe moving spirits in that body have assumed the
powers OF the executive Legislature, and Judiciary The
executive nominated according TO law, certain directors
for those banks in which the State had interest The
senate held up the nominations until lis bill had become
law and forthwith passed resolution nqarng OF the
nominees If they opposed to the bank bill, and di
recing them TO hand in their answers at given hour.
We would like to know when before. IN the history OF
free government was step like this taken! And who
can doubt, vacancy in the judiciary were 10 take
place that any nominated by the governor for the
office would be in like manner inteuogaed. and his
opinion favorable TO the consiitailonay Of the bank
law made the SINE qua OF his confirmation. The
nominations OF those persons sent 10 the senate as State
directors who refused 10 answer the resolution above
noticed were rejected This is novel tenure OF of6cc
They have already passed law against the constitution
vacang the office of attorney general in he does
not within ten days after prescribed period, move
against the banks; thus assuming TO themselves the
power OF impeachment vested in the house OF repre-
senatves and condcmning. before accusation trial.
high functonary under the constitution There is but
one step more to be taken and that is to pass resolu-
ton requiring Judges OF the supreme TO hand in
their opinions upon the consiiuiionay OF the law and
the Impeachment of those who refuse 10 respond
| or question It's conformity with the constitution. l81i1n
| aThe senate's finance committee have taken upon
themselves the functions OF nqusitors They not
satisfied with encroaching the executive, bat they
must invade the judiciary Their chairman, Mr. Downs,
pronounces upon violations OF law and denounces the
penalties against offenders, with much nonodLanes
as IL he Judge, jury and sherIh he seems amb-
ous OF prying into every mans business and enKht-
enng the public upon everybody's indebtedness TO the
bank He thinks the other departments OF the govern.
ment utterly useless And indeed the senate itself comes
in for no better share OF his esteem, the committee
finance being alone capable of executing all the func-
lions Of government and, TO simplify the system yet
further, the chairman oi the committee 10 fully compe.
tent TO dispense with the assistance Of his cosdjutos
The whole theory practice and power OF the govern.
ment is reduced TO a song'AU IN the Dopns's sli
In the senate, those members who were obviously
The prominent men Downs, Hoa, Sparrow, and
Walker flT 81 lIHHsl r#
"Msior Downs is native OF Tennessee, now about
forty years Of age, and the prime vgor OF his phyeica
and intellectual powers He has been six years member
OF the senate and in that tme has gained the reputation
and character ef leader of his party In the State
His politics democratic, and those principles blend