Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-23
To the Public.

thought an arrangement might be made which
would close airy further controversy. haveno de
sire to continue a controversy with the committee.
We differ and fer the present there is no tribunal
to which reference can be made to show which is in
the wrong. In their last card they specify what
they term errors or omissions First, that omitted
to report to the Legislature bonds heldby Mr. Linds
ley although paid the interest on them for years
When made out my report to the Legislature Of
1851, saw from the report Of my predecessor,
that in recapitulating the total liabilities of the
State, he put down the 81 percent bonds at S218 4l6
! g. reported thesame amount. But when I made
out my report to the Legislature in October, 1853
/ was led to make an examination of the books of
| the Comptroller to see if this description Of bonds
was correctly reported. The Lindsey bonds had
been renewed more than six months prior to this
] examination. When he collected the interest, he
did so by presenting coupon, and as there we're
other coupons precisely similar, bearing the same
rate of interest," falling due at the same time and
having the same number, there was nothing to
show to what company the bond belonged on which
| was paying interest From this examination, /
reported S14 600 more Of this description Of bonds
than was in the report Of my predecessor, in l849,
or in my report of 1851 when reeaPitulaiing "tOtal
liabilities of the State" In making out my report,
October, 1858, was governed entirely by the
book found in the Comptroller Office showing the
amount Of bonds issued and the amount which has
been cancelled or unsOld. These bonds 1 found in
that column headed " Bonds cancelled or unsOld"
None of this description of bonds had been issued
while I was in Office, nor Eereany ncelled-
hence none of the entries relating to them were
by me. I found them in the list of " bonds can
celled or unsOld," and SO regarded them.
The committee say 'they fad, as stated in the rer
port that there has been ne registration at all of
the notes of the River Bank the Bank of the Union,
or of Backs Bank and they find that the registra-
ton CT the notes of the Bank of Trenton has been
50 imperfect that nothing at all be told from the
books as to the amount registered as there is no
registration of the letters and the size Of the bills
And they find likewise that the notes of the Bank Of
Knoxville have not been registered in full Mr.. Gro
zier resigned his office to take effect January 24h,
1855, and the last entry of date in the circulation
book Of the Bank of Knoxville is January At 1854
"a ehasm of two years Are not these sufficient evil
that the books of the Comprollers Office have
not been properly kept"
Now the book of registration does not purport to
give the date when notes are handed out but gives
the date of the note the number and letter. Hence
January LIST, 1854, was the date of the note and
there is no " ohasm Of two years / never have
heard Of any bank keeping register of notes in
any other way than the one adopted. On appli
cation at the Planters Bank the other day, the
Cashier of the Bank showed me their book for reg
iserng notes and it shows date July LIST, 1866, of
notes which are yet in possession of the Bank, and
- bov ,sfI H. H. !
is intended only to show how many notes have been
issued OF date letter and number. The particular
other Of failure register named by the com
mittee in the above paragraph all belong to my
I signed of the notes of the
banks named and therefore had none to register ex-
sept those OfKnOxville, as explained above.
In reference to my interview with Mr. Mosby the
committee say, I advised him GIT WOULD BE BEST
FOR HIN TO LEAVE" was before the committee as
q witness and made the following affidavit.
CATER learned that Mr.. Mosby had acknowl-
,dged that he had taken bonds belonging to the
rec banks, received note from him, saying he
Wished me TO call at his Office. did So and when l
allied at his room he remarked to that he wished
ne to advise him what course he had better take |
asked him how many bonds he had taken, and from
What banks He replied that he had taken seven
,art from the Bank of Trenton the others think I
rom the Bank of Claiborne. 1 asked him how much
lie could Pay-he replied that he could settle for
our bonds. I then advised him to hand to the
Committee the bonds and before he went before
he committee to write full satament of everything
IL had done wrong, or knew of other wrongs since I
e had been connected with the ofice-to have that a
tatement read before the committee, and then say '
o them that he was ready to answer any questions \
hey might see proper to ask-told him that if he 7
7ould do this he could 60 to country and re-
lstate himself if he honestly applied what he could
lake a of ba1euaa-fhof I L
bought all this matter would como 10 light and if Of
e stated the whole truth and the community we're
ats6ed he had done so, he would find on his return
this place, that the citizens would be glad to see
i'm lhsve no recollection of telling him positively in
nat be ought leave but from the tenor of my re- N
aks to him, the inference very clear that in &
opinion he had chance to regain his character h
ere and it would be best for him to leave, when he
'uld have an opportunity of making the money to
sy the balance !"
If the committee had in their card published the
regOing affidavit, could not have objected to any
'gument they might make to show that my advice nj
as improper. But | submit to the public if they r.
ere justifabe in making the statement it appears
their late card. Before I gave Mr.. Mosby my
Union, had consulted with his uncle, Mr.. Gaines
Her In the Bank of Tennessee, and others. /
ould have given the same advice to any person
nllarIy situated, and if he had followed it, have Y
idea that the committee much as they are dis drs
sed to censure me- would have named this as OBJ INC
,tionable. to
Inc committee censure for being interested in RAJ
e banking while l was Comptroller. After Col
ttrel was elected Comptroller Mr.. Dortch and [
reed to enter into partnership in the business of
hiking If satisfactory arrangements could be made.
e negotiations were left with him, and when he n
7ised me that he had succeeded, l sent werd to -
. Luttrell that wished to resign the Office He .
ote his friends here to say to me that he could v
then take charge Of it. Mr. Dorlch left for the o'a
lth soon afterwards, and our banking operations
nmenced, well IrscOect, the day Iresigued She
'viOus to this never had any interest in free trac
*. few weeks after Mr.. Dortch and become exam
crested in banking l vacated the Office. of R
he committee say it was difficult to tell ''Whether ADM
rants which had been issued we're paid or not r,
ing the time was in Office Clerks and Sherifs wi
usntly sought information as to the payments 5s2