Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-29
Democratic Gratitude.

Yesterday, the question OF the confirmation
OF the new Directory for the Bank of Tennes-
nee, came up as the special order of the day
in the House of Representatives. From some
motive best known to Governor HARRIs, he
had seen fit not to re-nominate any of the
old Directory; aud now, with the venerable
president at its head, the old Directory have
been repudated by the party that two years
ago Installed them into office. 1t has for some
time been a mooted question with the
citizens of the State, whether the Legis-
lsture. being Democratic, would follow
the mandates of the Governor, If, from rea-
sons personal, or any other, he should desire
the removal of Col. Johnson, or any of the
Directors. We had thought that Col. JoHN-
Son was personally and politically popular
with his party, if not with certain leaders; we
had thought that his past services for his
party in the days Of his youth and early man
hood, in the various conflicts through which
il has passed, his faithful adherence, would
at least have shielded him in age from such
an open Repatriation, coming from a man who
was in his political swaddling clothes, when
CAVE JOHNSON was fighting the battles of his
party. Ii the country labored under the
same smpres sions az ourselves upon this sub
ject it has been deluded. Almost TO u man the
democracy of the House followed the dicta-
tion of the Governor, and although an oppor-
tunity was given them by call for divi-
sion upon the names nominated, yet true to
hair In, a
old board have been unceremoniously thrust
out, and their places supplied, with one ex-
ception, We believe, from the ranks Of the
Democratic party.
Although we differ from Col Johnson, and
a majority OF the old Board, in politics, we
have thought ct, to remind our democratic
friends, OF the gratitude tina. party feels. and
is actusted by towards those who had stood
by them undaunted. in the storms of politi-
cal warfare, through which they have strug-
gled. to attain triumph and success. Like
the man of old, having climbed the ladder
step by step, aud round by round, and hav-
ing attained its last and iopmost step, they
have kicked down the means by which they
were elevated, and CAVE JOHNSON, like the
ladder, falls To the ground. A party can
we'll stand TO fight open handed agains, !ts
avowed enemies, and may achieve success,
but the party that serpent-like, stings the
bosom of the men who have taken IL up. cold
frozen and almost dead and warmed il into
life. is guilty of an ''ingratitnde more strong
than traitors are" and may yet. in the
hour Of its troubles and throes. need the
parental care of one who has tenderiy nursed
IL in its infancy, watched its boyhood with
anxiety, aud now sees il in its full manhood
and strength, unfilaly turn upoa him aud
leave him weary and old with service" TO
tbe mercy of rude stream that must forever
hide bIm.
Let the young take warning from this
lesson Of democratic ingratitade for what ss-
suranee have they that the same scenes may
not be re-enacted towards them In age. that
yesterday witnessed the fall OF The Hon. CAVE
Johnson. in democratic Legislature.