Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-07
ATLY s. TRT.NgEKLY $; wEEKLY e
-. narrla ma the ola soIaIer.


The Opposition candidate for Governor and his
organs have been driven to desperation by the
crashing weight Of the facts arrsyed against them
in this canvass. They have consequently abandon
cd the field Of fair argument and betaken them
selves to subterfuge, evasion and misrepresenta-
ton. Finding nothing in Gov. HARRIS record 10
eensure either during his fern Of service as Cover
nor Of the State, in the General Assembly, or in
Congress, they have determined to supply from the
fertile resources Of invention, such materials for
condemnation and calumny against Gov. HARRIS,
as the exigsncies of their sinking fortunes seem
demand
OF this character is the charge that Gov. HARRIS
voted against proposition to increase the pay Of
the old soldier. The Memphis Enquirer quotes from
Col NErRzRLAHD's spseeh ct that place, an aliega-
tion that Gov. HARRIS voted against . proposition
70 give additional pay 10 the rank and le Of the ar
my that had served in the Mexican War. The ale
CATION has no foundation Whatever, as will be seen
by reference to the law published in another col
u1n The bill against which Gov HARRIS voted
did not propose to allow one dollar Of additional
pay to the old soldier. II contemplated increase
Of the regular army and proposed an increase Of
compensation to new recruits. 1t ignored the
service Of their country and borne her victorious
banners on hundred battle fields, and extended the
nations bounty to the raw recruit who had never
seen the smoke Of battle. It made an unjust and
niberal discrimination against the gallant men
who had fought in Mexico in favor Of the holiday
soldier snlisting in time of profound peace
Under the provisions Of this bill, against which
Gov. Harris voted, the standing army was largely
increased; the pay Of the new recruits increas
cd, while the compensation Of the old soldiers al
ready enlisted in the service remained she same.
Gov. Harris was opposed to the increase Of the
army, . cost Of several hundred thousand dollars,
when there was no demand or necessity for such
increase he was opposed TO giving q larger
amount Of compensation to the soldier Just ensting
In the service than the veterans of the army were
receiving. BE voted against the bill, and the cOun-
try viii applaud him for it.
That Col. Netherland should condemn this vote is
not inconsistent with his political record He has
always been in favor of partial legislation He has
slWsys been in favor Of extending to one class of
citizens benefits and bounties which we're denied
to others squslly meritOriOus. He voted to ex-
snpt the osPitGl Of the money shaver, and the
pleasure carriages Of the rich from the burdens Of
taxation, which, according to the genius Of our
Republican institutions, should be borne by all
alike. He voted to squander the treasure Of the
State for local improvements, and desired to tax
the people to endOE colleges for the education Of
doctors and lawyers. He voted to build up banking
monopOlies in the State with extraordinary privi-
eyes, not enjoyed by the masses of the people
While men engaged in other departments of bust
ness are liable for the debts contracted therein,
Col Eetherland voted to exempt the individual
property Of stockholders in a bank from liability
for the debts Of the concern.
At another time he voted TO render the individual
property of Bankers responsible to their depositors
who voluntarily place their money in their keeping
for their own convenience, while he voted against
afording any such protection to the innocent note
holders, who almost always bear the entire loss Of
bank failures. While willing to protect the prop
srty Of wealthy bankers from execution or sale for
the payment of their honest debts, contracted in
the course Of business, Col. NETHERLAND voted to
strip from the pocr 5=vmer and mechanic the means
Of subsistence fer their families He comes be-
fore the people to-day the champion of privileged
corporations, and while defending his vote against
exeupting the farmers pillow and the mechanics |
tools from execution he has the hardhOod to insist
that wealthy corporations should be invested with
privileges and rights, which the representatives
Of the people should have no power to modify or
Sbolish, even when it is necessary to protect the
people from injury and oppression.
We are not astonished that Col NKrHERLAND,
with such loose notions Of the duties Of legislator,
should stand forth the champion of propesi-
hundreds Thousands Of dollarsto main
tain an immense standing army in time of peace,
end should condemn his competitor for voting
against bill which bestowed the bounties of gov
sEAment upon those who had borne least Of its bur
dens
We appeal to the provisions Of the bill against
which Gov. Harris voted, as the best proof of his
determination Co resist any injustice to the old SOL
Hers, and to Col. NETHERLANDS condemnation Of {
hat vote as the best proof of his continued adVo-
'acy Of that unjust, partial and illiberal policy
which has characterized the last twenty years of
liz political life. e