Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-01-24


their domestic finances, and thereby demon
,trated their fitness for public trust, re-
curing financial skill and experience. We
say this was expected of You, but in COM
mon with the masses of both parties, we
have been disappointed. You have failed
to diyest yourselves of that kind of feeling
so becoming in a crossroads politician,
whose modcum of brains is insufficient to
prevent him from playing the role of the
clustering bravado in order to attest his
party loyalty and please the scrubs and
gronndings, and so entirely unbecoming
among intelligent gentlemen under oath as
agents of the people, irrespective OF party
in managing a great banking institution.
You may have thought, and doubtless did,
that your conduct would meet the approval
of the leaders and managers about this
city, but you may rest assured that it can
not but meet with condemnation when sub
mitted to the people.
Your own party cannot and will not en-
dorse your action. 1t was so uncalled for
and unprovoked, so completely at variance
with universal custom. Why there have
been angry political contests before that of
1856, and the triumphant party have used
their power to eject their opponents from
Office but never before has the axe of pro-
scrption been introduced into the walls of
the Bank of Tennessee. 1t was left for
you to purchase cheap niche in the Tenn
pie Of Fame by inaugurating the idea that
the management of the peoples money as
well as their offices was legitimate spOils
to the victors in a party contest. You
have carried prescription to an extremity
that none but the bitterest partisans and
veriest party hacks can sanction. They
will clap their hands, and bruit loud and
long the story which shall transmit to after
times your noble deed But from the
depths of the great popular heart there
will come sigh for the honor of the State
furnished and despoiled, and a sentiment of
inexpressible loathing for the pitiful spirit
which did it. BY a successful performance
of your legitimate duties you may do much
to repair the mischief you have wrought,
but it will be long ere AndreV J0hRson's
second board CT Bank Directors will be
forgotten
In reviewing this act it becomes peril
nent inquiry just here as to what prompted
you to it. Why so Unexpectedly has this
spirit seized upon the Directory? Why
have they seen fit to violate a custom sane
toned by both parties for nearly twenty
years Most of you were members Of the
last board, and we believe there was no
entire exclusion of wings from positions as
Bank Directors then. What has wrought
this change? What has infused into the
sweet honey of your dispositions this worse
than Sardonian bitter From the plaza
lie, tolerant, gentle gentlemen that you
were two years ago what has effected so
radical change in your natures? Do you
really and honestly think there is any thing
in the principles of Americanism which rem
ders man unfit or unsafe as guardian Of
the interests of the Bank You were po-
litically opposed to achigs, and yet you saw
fit to trust them as Directors, but you have
solemnly recorded your opinion that 30
Ameyican shall be a Bank DirectOr-thus,
in the language of the Union and american
placing your views of them beyond all dis
pute." 1t would seem, therefore, that it
was not from political reasons that you
prescribe Americans, and we must look
elsewhere. And where shall it be? We
cannot think that you are willing to be
understood 10y your action as saying that
Amercanism infects a mans moral nature,
rendering him corrupt and dishonest. That
were to call you board of fools. We can
come to no other conclusion than that you
have acted al the instigation of party lead
ers, that you have consented to make use
of your position TO promote party purposes,
that in obedience to the behests of mana
gers and place seekers you have impaired
the credit and restricted the sphere of use
funess of the institution whose interests
have been committed to your charge. For
we hold that placing the Bank in the exclu-
sive control of political party is an act
that Of itself viii prejudice it in the eyes of
the opposite party and of the public 1t is
calculated and win inevitably damage the
institution. 1t is an unwarranted and high
/ ly injudicious step you have taken, one that
win throw suspicion on the integrity Of its
management, and rebound in injury to the
Bank and its business. In the height Of
your zeal you have assumed fearful re-
sponsibilty in thus Introducing partyism
within walls which should have been sacred
from its intrusion. You were appointed to
take care Of the interests of the Bank, and
70 condnct its operations 10 successful
contamination Of the objects for which il
was created eau you review your late
+ act. and conscientiousy say that it viii not