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


j. w. MAoGAvocK, j. w. CHILDREss,
THos. G. WoOD, JNo. K. Howard, S. H.
CALDWELL, J. r. A. ToMPKIys, d. D..
CLAIBORNE, j. S. HUTCHINSON, Directors !:
GENTLEMEN
We learn from the Union and american
of Saturday, that, at late session, you
determined in your selection of Boards for
the Branches of the Bank of Tennessee,
that you would appoint no man to the po-
sition Of Director, who was an American
and held that the principles of that party
were the wiSest and safest on which this
government can be administered. We pre-
sumo the statement is correct, though we
are not informed of the precise manner in
which the deed was done, whether by pri-
vate understanding among the majority, or
by formal resolution, entered on the
minutes of the Boards proceedings We
also presume that this action was not unan-
imous; that, some Of you, more just than
Others, objected to it; yet, being without
positive knowledge of the fact, we are fore
ed to address you as body We are con-
ident, however, that our presumption is
correct, for among you there are those who
hold the very opinions for which you have
seen fit to ostracise portion of your fell
low-citizens, and we are consequently con-
strained to believe that this is the action Of
the Democratic majority, probably not of
all of the Democrats, even.
We took occasion on Monday to de-
nounce this as an act unparalleled in the
history of the Bank, and utterly unpardon-
able, and now reiterate that opinion. 1t
has no precedent, and can find no justifca-
ton. 1t breathes a spirit which should be
condemned and rebuked as utterly unwor-
thy to exert an influence among body of
grave gentlemen selected to perform the
duties of a Bank Directory. 1t has arous-
ed a mingled feeling of astonishment and
Observation-Disclosures, that you have seen
fit to travel beyond the sphere of your du-
ties to manifest your spleen at political OPP
ponents; and regret, deep and poignant, to
be forced to know that party spirit is so
violent as to obtrude itself on the councils
of board Of inanciers, most, if not all, of
whom are men Of age and experience, who
ought to know how to soften and subdue
the asperities of temper, and place them
selves, when invested with the robes Of Of
fee, far above the practices of small beer
politicians. You have done an act which
the public in this State, Of all parties, were
not expecting to see, and which we firmly
believe, they are not prepared to endorse.
In your Incorporate zeal to exhibit your
disapproval Of certain set of principles
which vast numbers of your fellow-citizens,
as upright and patriotic as yourselves, en-
terrain, you have perpetrated and put on
record an act, which, while it will be of no
service in promoting The advancement of
your party, will serve to connect your names
with an unenviable notoriety for long years
to come.
The great body of the citizens of this
State who live and move beyond the circuit
of political jugglery, will be surprised to
learn that fifteen gentlemen enjoying emf
nent positions in society, and invested with
the highly responsible and delicate duty of
controlling the affairs Of great moneyed
institution, whose capitaris contributed by
the proceeds Of the labor Of all classes of
citizens, Of Ill parties alike, have converted
their counting-room into a political caucus
chamber They will be mortified to learn
that, in a place where more than every
other politics should be discarded and men
should strive to forget or to control the
passions which have been aroused else
where, there has been manifested a spirit
of prescription more Liberal and intolerant
than has ever before been recorded in the
history of parties in this State. It's coun-
terpart is to be found only in the act of the
Democratic majority in the Virginia Legis.
lature who refused to confirm the appoint
ment of the city authorities of Norfolk as
Trustees for charitable fund for the or
plans Of that city, because the Mayor and
majority of the Aldermen were Ameri-
cans. The historian of the times, if he do
justice to these two acts, will be compelled
to use stronger language in regard to them
than we think proper to use towards you.
In periods Of political excitement, men
frequently make rash aud thoughtleSs asser-
tons and yehemenily swear that if they
possessed the power, they would do things,
which upon after reflection. seem even to
themselves as silly and senseless as the va
carries of lunatic Cool, clear-headed,
thoughtful people, are apt to regard much
that is written aud spoken IN the ardor Of a
political canvass in the same light Gen
orally after an election this extreme state
Of tension in public feeling is relaxed, the
storm Of passion subsidies, and this yeno-
mons aud vindietiye spirit is expected to
die. sensible reasoning man vvhnm the ora Ia