Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-02
The Gallatin Examiner and the Leg
IaIalure.

The Examiner, in its issue of last Saturday,
has an article on the subject of "Bdnk and
NastviAe Influence" in which we find informa-
tion relative to the Legislature and the seduc-
tions of our city, which is new to us, and will
be no doubt to our readers. The article sets
out with the statement that when the Legisla-
ture met, there was general expectation that
something would be done Immediately, in ref
erence to our banking system, to restore conf
dence and give relief. There was no question,
it alleges, as to the cause of the revulsion and
panic of the day. at was chargeable no
where else but to the banking houses of the
land" quoth our contemporary. 1t then goes
on to say
In this emergency-whie we did not expect
that our Legislators, men of various callIngs,
and political opinions, could readily agree
upon any one radical plan of relief, we did
hope that they, with the palpable wide spread
evidences of the disaster staring them i'll their
faces, would harmoniZe sufficiently to 20 to
work and extract the fangs of the monster
which had created the confusion, and then 20
ahead, after careful thought and provide for
the future in such manner as would protect
the country against them. But We are sorcly
seeing any promise of good results, we seri-
ously fear that it might have been the better
had no meeting of the Legislators occurred at
this time. We did entertain some hope, during
the past fall, that there were sufficient num-
Der of radical hard money men among the
members TO make a successful onslaught upon
the Banks, and, at least, give turn in legis-
lstion in the direction Of u specie currency.
While we advocated no rash or hurried change
in ha mas Va latg
ing towards such an end Such we believe To
have been the views, also, of three fourths of
the members-Uhen they JiTa ioeR 20 Ndsjtriie.
But they have changed like the fashions
Nashrille has got hold Of, aud corrupted them
Many of them came down from their country
homes, fresh and uncontaminnted, with an
honest hatred of Banks, and determination
to vote for laws in restraint of their present
powers for evil, and their eventual abolition.
What country6ed patriotism! They had never
COPIED with the polished habituvs of Bank
parlors. They had nerer kaocn the glorious s1ide
lions Of NdshvlAe Champagne and Oyster ss1rs.
Bacon and Cabbage-Cabbage and Bacon,
had been their past lot The glittering show
of elegant parties gotten up in their express
honor-the wiles of crinolIne especially ex-
erted to charm-all that takes captive the
hearts of country pumpkins and impresses
them with an idea Of city superiority in every
thing, and more particular, superior wisdom in
financial matters, was put forth TO allure
Representatives from their previous views of
duty. The merchants OF Nashville especially.
have rolled up their sleeves and gone To work
"lobbying." Always wrongheaded on the
bank question, deluded by the idea of ''bauk
facilities" forgetting that their interest go =
hand In hand with their country customers
prosperity more than in an imaginary tempo
rary accommodation which these banks fur
nish them thew have done all In their Dower
20 get the members on the wrong track And
they have succeeded In great measure.
They hare them By thar noses and are, toh he 9th
y ayfuenoes haze alluded TO- ieIdi1,g many Of
them jaa 70 their o,eA notioss Now all Of these
modes of operation may be legitimate, but
they are scarcely creditable either TO the hon
sty VI the wire-workers, or, the good sense