The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-01
RANK oF TENNESSEE.

We cheerfully (says the Nashville PATRIOT
give place 10 the following communication
received late last evening from the distin-
gushed President of the Bank of Tennessee:
BANK OF TENNESSEE, Jan. "a, 1856.
To the Editors of ihe PatriOl:-ln your pa
per of this morning, notice some severe and
unjust animadversions upon the conduct OF
the Board of Directors of the Bank of Ten
nessee, prcdicated upon statement in the
Nashville Union of Saturday last. The state
ment in the Union is wholly untrue. This
Bank did not on Thursday last or at any
other time "determine or agree, directly or
indirectly, to appoint no Know Nothing to
dictatorship Of the Branches OF the Bank or
any of them, nor was such proposition at
any time submitted to it. So far from it be-
ing true, the Board proceeded, in the ordinary
way, to appoint Directors, giving majority
of each Branch to members of the Democratic
party, which was responsible for its proper
management and, in every instance, giving to
each branch two or three Directors of the
opposition party, in compliance with what we
understood to have been practlceG by the
Wing party whilst the Bank was under their
control; and we believed it also just as both
parties were alike interested in its proper
management | shall be at all times ready to
show the list of Directors to any gentleman
feeling an interest in the subject, rs ! would
| have done to the editor OF the Union, had he
called Mt the Bank for information as he
| promised one of the Directors to do, before
| the publication of his unjust and unfOunded
attack upon them. The present Board Of
| Directors was selected TWO years ago for the
purpose of superseding one, that had been
charged with interfering in the elections and
using the patronage and influence of the
Bank to promote the cause of the Wing
party; and, determined that no such charge
should be, with truth, made against them;
from that day to this, no discount or pur-
chase of bills, no act connected with the ope-
rations of the Bank has been influenced by
party considerations of any kind. We thought
that the best mode of serving the Democratic
party was to promote the interests of the
Bank irrespective of parties. We have in all
| instances done business with or for the cti-
zens without the slightest regard to the party
distinctions among them; and am glad to be
able to say with truth, that many of the best
customers of the Bank belong to our political
opponents. The best evidence of the gener-
al satisfaction given by our course may be
found in the fact, that, during the excited
contest of the last summer, am not aware
even of any charge having been made of an
improper interference in the elections by any
of the Bank officers. This is confirmed, too,
by the fact YOU mention that the renomina-
ton of the present Board was confirmed
without opposition, by each branch of the
Legislature. 1t NAV rot be amiss to add 3
word in relation to the Columbia branch
One year ago, the Board appointed eleven
Democrats and three Wings, for the manage.
ment of that Branch, placing Granville Pillow
at its head Mr.. Pillow declined serving, and
Mr. Eakin, one of the Wings was elected
President by the Board; during the year the
Branch was managed with energy, activity
and good judgment, making more money
than at any other period-its deposits more
than trebled, and without having made bad
debt. Under these circumstances, when the
new Board was to DO made, applications were
sent for an entire change of the Board except
two, in Manry, others earnestly urged the
omission of Mr. Eakn from the Board alto.
gether; and several persons were named for
his place. During the time no one objected
to the qualifications, the integrity or honesty
of Mr.. Eakin or any member of the old Board
The Board of Directors here concluded to re-
appoint the old Board, which had noted so
well during the past year, leaving them to Sc
ect a President and Cashier for themselves.
will make one other remark, if the Board of
berate, hehted partizans of either party, the
sooner the Bank is wound up the better for
the Slate. am, respectfully,
G. JOHNSON.