Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-23
a Pleasinr Remlnisence.


that few years have produced.
In no respect have greater changes taken place
than in the relative positions Of public men Some
who. for years have been leading Federalists, we
6nd At one time to have protested the most ultra
Democracy. Some in Tennessee, who now claim to
Be- advocates, par excellence, Of Southern Rights, we
find were at one time strongly tinclured with
AbOlitiOnism. Some who. in these latter days,
would not soruple for party ends, to tear down the
tomb and dessorate the gravs Of jackson, we find
were 1t one time his most obsequious tOadies Some
who, years ago, shouted themselves hoarse in his
praise as the great enemy to high tariffs and bank
monopeliss, equally as subservient in their
devotion to the monied power
In making review of this sort, our attention has
been arrested by the proceedings on the reception
Of Gen. Jackson on his visit home while President
In 1884, BY the members Of the State Convention,
which was then in session, and by his old neghbors
andfriends Of this immediate vicinity. Gen. JACK
sos Wss then in the midst Of his memorable war
With the monied power and the friends Of Bank mo-
uopoly. The struggle had been bitter and severe
without precedent in the history Of the govern
ment The advocates Of banks we're then, as new,
anti-Rspubliean in their sentiments and did not
scruple to use any means that would facilitate their
plans. FalsehOOd corruption, prescription and in>
timidstion we're the ordinary weapons with which
the Democratio party Of that day were assaied with
the old hero at its head. And it was under such
circumstances that the President Rasreoei7ed. The
members Of the Constitutional Convention, in their
preliminary proceedings, therefore, declared that
''Whereas, The organized and systematic attempts
which have been lately made TO degrade his (tbe
Presidsnts) character aud destroy the usefulness
Of his administration, have been well calculated to
render the high station to which he has been twice
called by the American people, one of peculiar and
painful anxiety his friends and one of no ordinary
responsibility to himself" therefore, ''the members
of this Convention desirOus SO far as they can
do SO by expression of opinion, to encourage him
N the policy Of his administration"
By order Of the Convention, an address was
framed, in which the President was invited to meet
the Convention, in which it is said
ga knowledge Of public opinion enables them to
declare that the people Of the State of Tennessee
approve Of your course in opposing powerful mon
led institution, whose existence is not recognised
in the Constitution; that they approve the veto upon
the bill reohartering the Bank Of the United States
and that they also approve of the removal of the
public deposits from that institution. They are
warranted in believing that said bank hath inter
4erTeQ IN the elecon Dy the people OF their public
servants; that Il hath expended its means in
trolling the press that it hath aimed at the exercise
Of political power the government and people
Of these United States and that it hath refused to
disclose its transactions to the representatives. Of
the nation, when legally required SO 10 do accord.
ing to the provisions Of the charter"
To which Gen. Jackson, in his reply, says:
'It is against the great truth that the people are
the governing power in free republic, that much
Of the violence and asperity which have character
Used the conduct Of those advocating the Bank mo-
nopoly has been direeted-not against me- mere
instrument Of the laws, whose place is but tempo
rsry and viii soon be supplied by more
able to ensure to them just and wholesome admin
istratiOn. Whatever of detraction therefore may
have been for the moment aimed at me by this mon
led power, can have no other effect than to satisfy
me that my exertions against the cOrrupting and
bsneful influence have been benefcially felt the
side Of the great body Of my fellow citizens, in
whose hands shall ever feel safe"
The experiences Of that day are in many respects
the experiences Of this day; and Gen. JACKSON with
that sagacity and foresight with which he was so
wonderfully endowed foresaW the dangers that
were ahead and prepared his farewell address to
his oOuntrymen in view of them, and warned the
people as follows:
1.-THE severe lessons Of experience WILL doubt not
be sufficient to prevent Congress from again char
terinF such q monopoly, even if the constitution did
3
must remember my fsIOW citizens, that seT77a vigilance
By the people is the price Of liberty, and that you must
pay The price goa l1ish TO the blessing II BE-
AOoVss yoH therefore, to be Oatell your States as
DsH as the Federal Government Defeated in the
general government the same character of intrguers
and politicians will now resort TO the States and
sndeavor to obtain there the organization which
they failed 10 perpetrate in the Union and with
5peoiOus and deceitful plans Of public advantages
and State interests and State pride, they will
1esVor to establish in the different States one monied
institution with OvergrOWn capital and exclusive
privileges sufficient to enable it to cOnroe the ope>
tstions Of the banks. Such institution will be |
pregnant with the same evils produced by the Bank
II the United States although its sphere of action is
more confined, and in the State in which il is char
cred the moneyed power will be able to embody its
IhOe strength, and to move together with undivided
Orces to accomplish any object it may wish to at
ain. You have already had abundant evidence Of l
Is power to infict injury upon the agricultural '
and labOrng classes of society and
hose whose engagements in trade or speculation I
ender them dependent bank facilities, the do q
1iniOn Of the State monopoly will be absolute and
heir obedience unlimited. With such a bank, and Q
paper currency, the money power would in few &
ears govern the State and cOntrole its measures"
Foreseeing these interminable evils of banks, and
heir power in the State as well as in the Federal :
government, Gen. JACKSON on the occasion referred
at the commencement of this article having been
invited to psrtske of public dinner given by the
lembers Of the convention and other friends, in 4
epy to toast proposing the hesth OF the President,
yaye the following: 81
" The true Constitutional currency, gold and siUeT =
,ia-It can cover and protect the labor Of our u
1untry without the aid Of National Bank an in. u
itution which never be otherwise than hostile ID
the liberties Of the people, because its tendency m
10 associate wealth with an undue power over the NJ
lblic interests "
The sentiment thus expressed by Gen. JACKSON on p
lSt occasion was the general sentiment of the State
he people felt that the true constitutional currency
old and silver coin, amply sufficient to protect d
labor Of the country without the aid of banks; and
ct how contrary to this policy has been the course
our legislatures since Bank after bank has been ID
thousands upon thousands of dollars U
ave been lost to the labOring classes of society; '
vi sitter evil has followed in their train, until by '"
at subtle means, which Gen jackson foresaw and sl
ysinst which he forcibly warned his counrymen 10
the consequences have been realized which he Pc
umerated sthensturalr results Of bank monopoly Je
ID paper money policy. Let us remember the
ct, that in future we may avoid its fOlIies and ire
oft by its experience. Nu
ag
See First and FOurth Pages. ba
Tb
Col. CrOzier's Card. al,
We invite attention to the card of Col CROzIER Col
onofber oouun in replv TO q recent mobilization wv