Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-01-28
The Bank Of .rennes.ee

WIN IA viz - fteoft Ofe0 <lHeCs COtAH VI bilC
18th, were doubtless as highly gratifed as
ourself to read the prompt and manly dis
claimer of the Hon. CAVE JOHNSON, which
we published on the following day. 1t was
with unfeigned delight that we saw his de-
NAL and deuunciation as wholly untrue"
of the state of facts which we deemed it
our duty to animadvert upon, and take
great pleasure in publicly regretting the
error into which we were misled, and the
injustice which we unwittingly did him and
his corps of directors. 1t is always pain
full to us to be compelled to use harsh and
ungentle terms, especially in relation to cit
liens of unblemished repute The disa-
greeableness of this duty is enhanced if the
charge seems so shocking to probability,
and so utterly irreconcilable with a pure
and honest purpose, as the accusation
which We felt forced to make against the
Directory of the partizan prostitution of
high trust, which it was their sacred duty
to keep independent and aloof from the
Earrings and jostlings of the political arena
We appreciated the gravity of the charge,
and painfully felt the responsibility Of our
duty, but never for a moment distruSted
its propriety or desired to shun the course
which it directed If guilty silence had
locked their lips it was our intention to
have pursued the matter to the bitter end.
We felt able to strip it of every shadow of
excuse which could be urged in its behalf,
and array it before the people Of this State
in all its revolving colors, and in our humble
way we would have done so We now,
however, direct public attention to Col.
Johnson's letter, as a correct and satisfac-
tory explanation of the conduct Of the d.
rectory, and cordially commend its tone,
burning as it does, with Indignation at the
proper author of the unjust and unfounded
attack" and breathing the spirit of man
conscious of the purity of his motives, and
challenging investigation of his conduct.
With these remarks which we have deemed
due to those we have Internationally. in
jured, we have done with the question so
far as the Directory are concerned, and
will address ourself to the Union and A mer
lean, and the peculiarly perplexing predica-
ment into which partizan recklessness has
driven it. And the first object of our at
tention will be, what every reader cannot
have failed to observe, the painful uneasi-
ness, the almost uncomfortable agony of
mind, as in dread of some impending ca
lamity, under which it labors throughout
its whole article of Friday morning. The
twisting and squirting of worm on fish
hook, is the most forcible simile which sug-
gests itself.
The analysis of that piece of composition,
is terrible inhiction on charitable natures.
It's excruciating torture is enough to mel.
heart of stone, and "e'en draw tears
down Pluto's iron cheek" From the
depths of heart brimming with pity, do
we commserate it, and commend the edi-
tor to Col. Johnson'S tender mercies.
From beginning to end it is tissue
of contradictions, selfstultiiications, and
humiliating admissions. 1t ingeniously
"wires in" and then finds it necessary to
most bunglingly "wire out" 1t is in pur
suit Of comfortable place under most dis
couraging difficulties, and having run the
guantet through half a column, abruptly
drops out infinitely worse off than when il
started. It's information" which it was
50 "happy" to proclaim, is Whitfield down
to a street rumor of the truth Of which il
was in doubt, and which was, moreover,
surrounded by circumstances, which rem
dered it improbable. Right here we would
inquire when it was that you began to
doubt its correctness Was it on Satur.
day, or Sunday or Monday, when in an
editorial we attacked both you and the
Directory or Tuesday or Wednesday, or
Thursday morning, after reading our epistle
to the Director, which you knew would
evolve most distressing exposition? And
when it did begin TO doubt the reliability
of the rumor, why did it not, in sheer jus
tce to the Bank, retract the statement or
at least inquire into its truth 2 We must
either suspect it had some Interior purpose
in wishing it to so uncOntradicted to its
country readers, in order to furnish them
example and encouragement for bitter
and prcscriptive spirit or else the editor
who has great credit with his party for
shrewdness and sagacity, preferred TO beaI
about in bis bosom the consciousness o.
having done gross and unjusti6ablC
wrong, TO that sacrifice of pride which
would compel him to admit that he had
Outstripped the hounds.
1t proceeds TO say that it thinks our
criticisms should have been directed against
his statement, not the Directory. Doubt
less il did. 1t would have saved il from q
most shameful dilemma II was with feal