Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-24

''AfIer i learned tDaJ MI hOrDy bou az
knowledged that be had taken bonds belong
ing to the free banks, received a note from
HIM saving he wished me TO call at his once
| did So and when called at his room he re-
marked TO me that he wished me 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-part from the Bank of Trenton the
others / think from the Bank of Claiborne. Il
asked him how much he could pay-he re-
piled that he could settle for four-bonds.@ L
then advised him to hand to the Committee
the bonds, and before he went before the
Committee to write a full statement OF every
thing he had done wrong, or knew OF other
wrongs since he had been connected with the
office-to have that statement read before the
Committee, and then say to them that be was
ready to answer any questions they might see
proper to ask-told him that if he would do
this he could go to some country and REIN
state himself il he honestly applied what he
could make TO the payments of the balance
that thought all this matter would come to
light. and if h. stated the whole truth and
the community were satisfied he had done so,
he would find on his return to this place. that
the citizens would be glad to see him. i
have no recollection of telling him positively
that he ought to leave, but from the tenor OF
nv remarks to him. the inference was very
clear that in my opinion he had no chance to
regain bis character ft.re. and it would be
best Tor him to leave, when be could have an
opportunity of making the money to pay the
balance"
If the Committee had in their card publish
ed the foregoing affidavit, / could not have
objected TO any argument they might make
to show that my advice was improper. But
| submit to the public if they were justifable
in making the statement as itappears in their
late card. Before | gave Mr. Mosby my opin-
ion, l had consulted with his uncle, Mr.. Gaines,
teller in the Bank of Tennessee, and others.
l would have given the same advice to any
person similarly situated and if he had fol-
lowed it, | have no idea that the Committee,
much as they are disposed to censure me,
would have named this as Objectionable.
The Committee censure me for being inter
ested in free banking while was Comptroller.
After Col. Luttreil was elected Comptroller,
Mr.. Dorich and / agreed to enter into part
nership in the business of banking if satisfac
tory arrangements could be made. The
negotiations were left with him.. and ,YbRaD hd
adyISf:d InttrcIl that | wished to resign the
Office. He wrote his friends here to say to me
that he could not then take charge Of it. Mr..
Dortch left for the South soon afterwards, and
our banking operations commenced. as well
as | recoIlect the day resigned. Previous
to this l never had any interest in free
bank. A few weeks after Mr.. DOrtch and
become interested in banking, l vacated the
office.
The Committee say it was difficult to tell
whether warrants which had been issued
were paid or not" During the time was
in office, Clerks and Sheriffs frequently sought
information as to the payments of warrants,
and | think | may safely appeal to all who
had business in the Office to say whether or
not there was difficulty in getting information
Of al ,,h. r,.laliufr 70
tons during my term, or that of my prede-
cessOrs.
The committee say that exchanged bond
belonging to the Bank of Middle Tennessee
against he wishes of the bank, as testified by
Mr. jackson, Cashier. | have never heard Mr..
Jackson say it was against his wish. The fact
is he knew nothing about it until after it was
done. Mr.. Jackson had requested me to let
him know where he could purchase bonds.
Col. f. :. Cheatham had asked me to assist
him in selling three bonds. | brought the par
ties together in my Office. Jackson was pay
ing per cent premium for bonds. but would
only pay for Col. Cheatham's 3 per cent The
parties traded in my presence. aud not long
afterwards Col Clcatham informed me that
he had one of the kind of bonds Mr.. Jackson
wanted and he would exchange for one of
them he had sold him. | made the exchange
and Informed Mr.. Jackson OF it, The bond
got for him was worth the most at the time,
and would sell at better price to-day.
would not have taken the liberty of making
the exchange but for the friendship between
us. and his request to Inc to aid him i'll the
purchase of bonds
In relation to the payment of interest in
1855, the Committee say that there was paid
out at the Comptroller's office S27l, no. when
the amount due was S2l9. $685.,
The Bank of Tennessee is agent for paying
the interest due in the eastern cities, and as
Comptroller, | had to refund the amount that
it had paid out. The Bank presented me ac-
counts for paying interest in that year,
amounting to 220.l52,34, so that the bank
paid, on account of interest due in the east
tern cities, more money than was due as the
Committee in New York. Philadelphia. and at
the State Treasury. The Union Bank paid
Sl2.500 the same year, which was the inter-
est it was bound to pay. 1 paid less than
$4,000. The name of every person to whom
paid interest for that year is in the books of
the ComptrnIlor's office, and L know every
payment was proper. | shall not pretend to
say that there was anything wrong in the ac-
count of the Bank of Tennessee, but do say
there was no error in the payment made as
Comptroller. An investigation of the bank
account in 1854. resulted in its refunding to
the Treasury upwards of $4,000 on account
of interest The Committee are mistaken if
they think | wanted to throw blame on the
Bank of Tennessee. l do not pretend to any
ability in bookkeeping, but never thought
bank officers iniallble, and was willing to ex-
anime the account of the Bank of Tennessee
The duties of Comptroller were always ar
duous, and especially so the last four years
was in the Office The labors were constantly
increasing. aud left il satisfied that faith
fully discharged the duties of the Office to the
best of my ability, and am entirely willing to
leave an impartial people TO judge between
me and those who charge me with errors.
la conclusion, wish to say to the Com
mittee that in reporting the total liabilities
of the State there seems to be misfortune
attending that item. My predecessor left out
the Sll $50 of bonds. left it out. and have
assigned "A reason for doing so. When the
Committee came to report the total liabili-
ties" of the State they miss it more than
This | will show to any member of the COM
mittee or any other person who will ask for
the information.
ARTHUR r. CROzIER.
n. B.-Papers that published the late card
Of the Committee arc respectfully requested
to publish this my reply.
A. Il. C..
Mr. Crozier has shown me So much Of his Card
rs relates To the exchange OF a bono of the Rank uf
Middle Tennessee, and IL is substantially correct.