Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-01
STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTED
WEDNESDAY. JUNE l, 1859.
Banks or No Bnnks-The True Issu'

The popular mind cannot be too fully i'm
pressed with the question at issue in regard
to banks and the currency, in the present
canvass. The hard-money party are striving
to divert public attention from the para
mount question of banks-from the question
of banks or no banks-from the question be
tween a sound, well-regulated, well-guarded
and convertible paper currency with gold
and silver basis, and an exclusively metallic
currency. They prefer rather to press their
opposition to the system, on the details of a
bank charter, and to prop the rickety, ab-
surd and ridiculous currency plank in their
platform by appeals to The Harrowest preju-
dices of the human mind. They denounce
the Opposition the champions Of monopo-
lies, and praise themselves as being the
champions of the rights and interests of the
people. But they shall not escape the true
and living and paramount issue. We have
charged the design to be TO wage war of
determination against the banks of the State.
We presented yesterday, from the files OF the
Union and american, the evidence OF the hos
tility of that paper to the banking system.
AS still further evidence of the character OF
that papers opposition to banks, and what
its ultimate design is, and the aim of the par
ty which it represents and for which it speaks,
we continue our extracts from its files. We
have taken them in the regular order in
which they appeared in its columns, and it
will be observed that its luminosity grew more
and more fierce, as it, from day to day,
warmed with its theme:
The Union and american has said:
"The peope-the real people-those who
constitute the labor and substantial wealth
of tn, county, were never in u more healthy
condition. They do not desire to be saved
by the banks, but TO be protected from the
bank Keep do10n these gambling corporations
these licensed usurer-and let the people
alone, and they will take care Of them
selves"
Again:
''WLatever we may say, the question Of Cur
rencg piU lie THE QUESTION OF THE NEXT CAN
yAss. No h0LfIcag ground uiH satiyfy public
opinion. The Bank party will not seek to
shelter themselves under the broad wings of
Stale Bank, nor uciH tie 'AdqmlaHtineS' ACCEPT
ANY HALF WAY MEASURES.-Ihey will not be
content 10 know that time, which sooner or
later brings all things human to an end, will
soon carry 10 their last resting place te,o Of the
lesser monsters. while the greatest of them all.
1.-THE State Bank for evil or for good still
survives, 10 tqua ,cah It's pestiIentidL breath, the
pure atmosphere Of an Ohert0,Se UNCoNTAMINATED
HARD MONEY CURRENCY. There was
time when banks were regarded, If not in
dispenSabie, at least as necessary to the ad-
vancement of our great industrial and com
mercial interest. That day. THANK HEAVEN,
has pass d. ALreadg IRE ttHteT. our
seues ace begin 10 Sc. the ddacnlg of that MILLEN-
hal m
OF hope and of promise, based not on the
broken faith and violated pledge of stock or
State Institutions, but upon the energies of
our people. untrammelled by legislative re-
strctI0ns upon the natural laws of trade. or
of special privileges upon the drones OF So
ciety. 1T WILL COME. IL IS only question Of
t,ne. W. may stand yet while longer an
Of The pOrdciOus cornIOrdRtS that have 50 long
fed and fattcned upon the liie-blOOd of labor
and OF industry, but some young Hercules
will yet come to the help of an abused people,
and THROTTLE THE GREAT NECRONANCER, who,
by the simple touch of his magic wand con-
verts our solid gold into ethereal paper
promises 10 pay, deluding the public and de-
trauding labor of its reward"
On another occasion:
"The duly of the Democracy is obvious
and imperative. They must adhere 10 Truth aud
Prncpie They must stand by the honest
creed of the Patriarchs of their party, and
seer the direct on Of free trade and ConSti-
haIondi currency. With Jackson, Polk. Buch-
anan and every other eminent authority
among the Democracy, are Deruatain that gold
and siiUer is me only Constitutional currency; that
Il is the only currency compatible ruth popular IN
teTests and republican UTtae; that ii is the only
currency which save the country from
the revulsions that periodically desolate 1t
under the present system. With them zee de
evils that gt1ict he nation; ,rith than urge
abatement Of The NUISANCE and DEMAND an honest
administration Of The Democratic principles Of equal
privileges and Specie PGyne'iS.
Again:
What need we but confidence, a firm re-
lance in our own strength, and jast tune enough
TO change our baggage 10 pat uS upon the firm and
enduring high,ody Of a HARD-AoNEY CURRENCY!
How long shall we stand at the foot Of the
hill and call upon Hercules for helpG"
Again:
ave do not, shall not undertake to speak
as 'Sr Oracle but we shall speak as becomes
the editor OF free press. Ct one which, hoc-
eper may be Tepudioted By some as an organ Of
that portion Of ue Den,ocSate party 20 ichich they
beioHg Ol CONTINUE 10 echo ne pace Of WhIeh DE-
MANDs THAT AN END SHALL Re MADE OF that de-
iusire system Of banking by which the few are
made rich al The expense OF many"
Again, referring to the withdrawal of small
notes from circulation:
1T is an important step; but We shall
greatly deceive ourselves il We suppose that
all the evils OF the system are 10 be cured by
this simple rrmedy, or any other, however
necessary, Dhich does nat aim ultimately al the
ExTIRPATioS oP OUR WHOLE SYSTEM on BANK
ING. No Aab-soay measures UsA succeed
Again:
ave say NOW Is THE TINE TO DECLARE OUR
IDEPENDENcE or ALL BANKs--this day begin
the great work"
Again:
"Our 6rrt objection. then. TO the banking
system, as at present conducted, is that IL is q
gross frand upon Che public. aud being. 20, is
equally oppoeed TO te principles OF n Repub-
Hcan Government aud to the spirit OF the age
in which We live"
Again:
"There are but lew of the uninitiated who
understand the art and mystery OF Faro
Bank, or Lottery. Tipre are very few. how
ever, but what can understand that they are
Instruments Of fraud and sleiadting upon cont
suuuay 80 WITH ouR PhkskSf LEoALizED
RANKS they ARE EATING cANckRs