Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-24
m Patriot end the Hanks.


it has been grat6sd; and feeling the full force Of
the compliment paid US, We have become equally So
Hcitous to know the precise policy which the press
Of the opposition, especially The Patri0l would sug
eest. We. therefore, propOundedto the Fatrl0t ana
Banner the following interrogatoTies;
ssIst. Are yon in favor Of reehartering the Union
and Planters Banksi
ID. Are you in favor Of winding up the Bank OF
Tennessee; and if So 81 what time andby what pre-
al Are Won in favor of continuing all the stock
and free banks now in exiseaee and are you IN iVor
Of charteTing any more bsnksi 60,
an Are you satisfied with our present leslsESi
sub treasury system; or do you agree with Mr. Dell
theAi a has 1roTen failure and that United States
RAM should be chartered in its steady''sd 1' 1
The Banner has made no reply, and VIC presume
win not in the absence Of which we think it safe
rule to assign that paper the position Of Mr. BELL
as dsaned in his last Senatorial Speech in which ne
cicises the opinions Of the present democratic Pres
idsnt that our recent suspensions and monetary
troubles we're caused by the banks and defends those
institutions charging that the evil is not with the
banks but has resulted from the present low tariff
Doicv Of the Democratic party; and that all that is
necessary to correct the currency is to abolish
prssent sub-Treasury, and establish United States
Senator BELL, and in the absence of any farther in
formation on the subject, shall assume it to be
the position of his organ, the BanHsr.
The Patriot after full weeks labor, commences
q reply to our interOgatOries with the following
equivOeatiOns, reservations and qualifications
-ssIn answering we cannot say that we know what
nay be the opinions Of the American party Of Ten
nessee and therefore cannot assume TO speak for IT,
Wesimplv give expression individual opinions,
which may be modified on further consideration and
reelection. We do not profess to have considered
the subject in al its aspects, and might well decline
categorical answer"
The Patriot has been the leading organ of its party
from the time Of its inception, and yet is unable
to say" what may be its opinions question that
is nearly as old as the Government itself 1t can
give no definite expression of its own opinions, ex
cspt such as s'may be modified further cOnsideras
ton and reflection not protesting to have eonsi1-
ed the subject in all of its aspects. Now, the senior
editor of the Patriot has been editor in Tennessee
for nearly twenty years, during which time the
currency question has been discussed in every con-
eevsble shape and yet such is the extreme mOdesty
Of our almost venerable friend that he "does not
urofess to have considered the subject il all its
peots" We regret very much that he has not had
time to mature his views, for opinions so well con-
sidered would be curious, if not convincing.
s.But," says the Patriot, sour neighbOrs seem
anxious to hear from the subject and for their
especial accommodation frankly reply to the first
question afHrmatively." That is that they are in
favor Of re-chartering the Union and Planters
banks. The Patriot continues:
To second we say that are fopiniOn that the
State should not gage IN banking for the reason
l4f-,l and a nj ,OIic
But since the State has engaged in 1t, she should not
90 suddenly discontinue 1t as to subject herself to
loss or Ter citizens to Inconvenience 1.-THE UniOnand
Planters Banks should be re chartered 1t IS proba
bic that the State Bank could be put in condition
of gradual liquidation, to avoid loss to herself
orinconvenience to her citizens, in which event We
should be in favor Of that STEP"
The inference from the foregoing is that If the Pa
rot can secure its cherished WISH the re-charter Of
the Union and Planters Banks, the State Bank be-
ing of doubtful legality and doubtful policy it is
willing to give up that institution, but upon no other
terms The Patriot continues:
ssTo the third question, we have to say that We
are opposed TO the violent interference with the
vested rights and to the chartering Of any more
banks unless it should appear for the best interests
of the people, and not for the mere accommodation
Of reckless money sdventureTs
ssUnless it should appear for the best interests Of
DeODle." q
Was there ever a bank chartered under any other
pretencei OF the thousands of bank advocates,
where is one in the history Of the government who,
to adopt the language of Gen Jackson did notcloak
his policy under ''speciOus and deoeitful plans of
public advantages and State interests, and State
pride ?" The party to which the Patriot belongs
has never seen the tine when it thought the oounr
try afflicted with banks. If there was ever legs-
lsture assembled in which majority Of the PatTI
OTIS party we're not in favor of more banks We would
like for that paper to instance it. There was never
time in the history of the country, when, las far
as we can judge from official records, IN the esti-
nation Of the Federal Wing or Know Nothing party,
there were banks enough to satisfy the "best inter
ests of the people, For 'the best interests Of the
people" in their estimation, means the interests Of
the privileged few, and not the many.
Our fourth interrogation was, "Are you satisfied
with our present sub-treasury do you agree with
Mr. BELL that it has proven failure, and that
United States Bank should be charterd in its stead!
To which the Patriot replies:
The fourth question, We at present decline to dis
ouss for il does not come within the scope Of State
policy and its present discussion could result IN no
practical benefit TO the people and would fal TO IN
terest our readers. IT, never heess, the question OF
National
that it shall become practical question before the
people, then we will not hesitate to take position
Why does not the question of United States
Bank, in connection With the subject Of currency,
come within the scope of State pOlioyi If United
States Bank is practicable cOntended for by Mr.
BELL, does it not materially effect tbs policy of the
States! There are many who maintain that We can
have no uniform currency except upon the principle oil
federal bank If this be it lessons the argument
for State Banks. The senior editor Of the PATROL
has advocated such policy years past, and We have
noevdence Of change of sentiment In view Of these
facts We can see no excuse for the Patriots refusal
20 answer our interrogstOry. Be this SIS it may,
We have claims upon the liberality of the Patriot
We have done much to crafty the curiosity Of that
paper; in view of which we again earnestly insist
upon an answer to our fourth interrogstory.
Our Montgomery correspondent has some capital
hits in his communication, which will be found in
another column. We should be pleased to hear
from him again
The Washington Union, of the 18th inst, says
that the President Of the United States is row at
Wheatland. On visit of few days on private