Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-07-23

ton, too lafe to be met and contradieted Let the
honest masses be on their guard against all such
tricks.
There is something wrong in a system, which, in
country that boasts of equal laws and equal rights,
enables one man to own a hundred houses without
ever having earned dollar in bis lie; snd nine
ty-nine men owning no houses at ALL although la
boring day after day with unremitling industry.
The tendency of this frghtful inequality is contin-
ually 10 increase; and just in the proportion that
it increases rspublicanism declines and system
of aristOcraey OF something worse rises up.
The true theory of republican government is to
keep down this ineq ialty, and to preserve near
as possible the natural aud just relations bstween
its citizens. This can only be done By guarding
with uuceasing vigilance against the enactment of
unequal laws and The granting Of exclusive privi-
leges 1t can only be done by constantly guarding
against the entertainments Of capital upon the
rights of labor It can only be done by that system
of legislation which will best protect aud preserve
the political and social independence of The citizen.
By that system which will best secure the greatest
good to the greatest number.
How stand parties in relation to these great and
sef-evident truths? With the Opposition they
have never been Recognised in their legislative &C
ton. With them thelabOring and producing classes
the very last to be thought of cared for. They
enact a hundred statutes in relation 10 property,
where they adopt in relation to personal rights
snd individual protection. Their whole time is
consumed ia granting monopoles and exclusive priv
ileges for the public good of few favored individ
uals They devote themselves to the building up Of
privileged ORDERS creating artificial distinctions in
society, exalting the few and depressing the many;
making a small number exOrbtsntly rich, and re-
ducing the mass to penury and degradation.
Not so with the Democracy. They opposed by
corporations and capitalists because they look to
the elevation of the masses. Because they are
stantly seeking to strengthen the independence of
the citizen. Because they legislste to make fewer
beggars one hand, and fewer nabObs on the
other. Because they look to the absolute rights and
absolute OaRts of the many, rather than the artificial
wants and incidental interests of society.
We have this illustrated in the present attitude Of
| parties upon the subject Of the Banks. The De-
mOeracy lsborng to protect the people from the
control of the banks. The Opposition are laboring
to protect the banks from the control of the PEG
pie. The banks have from time to time abused
their privileges and defrsuded the people, When
sought to be put down, in particular instances they
have been upheld under the antirepublican plea Of
"Vested rights" And when it is sought by the
Democracy, in behalf Of the people, to avoid
such plea, by retaining in all future enact
ments of this character, the power to amend or re-
peal them whenever they fail to the "public
good we are met with the cry that it would be q
great wrong upon those who engage in this charsc
Ter Of business, and that no intelligent capitalist
would accept such conditions And yet the anuul-
ling the charter of bank would not deprive it of
single dollar of its actual property, divest the
members Of the corporation of a single privilege
joyed by others. The people hare the porsr to repeal
the Constitution itself Bat 10 could be dangerous for
Ksm to retain The Powsr to repeat the charter Of bank
For the reason that upon the Constitution depend
the rights and liberties of the many, whilst upon
the sacreduess Of bank charter depend the special
privileges CT few favored capitalists!
Far different is the Democratic doctrine. The
right of the people to protect the public welfare is
infinitely above all the chartered rights in The world
Tne goverDm srt itself may be dissolved whenever
it becomes destructive of the Is it was established
to promotes aad shall petty bank be invested with
sn uncomfortable independence of the power that
created it? Shall the special acts of single Leg
islature be more binding and sacred than the ex-
press provisions Of the Constitution
But it is said that persons have to invest money
in these corporations, and it may prove seriously
injurious to have them subject to the whims of
Legislature. So under a tariff, persons engage in
manufactures, invest huge amounts of capital in
the undertaking; and yet any succeeding Congress
may alter, modify or entirely repeal any such
law.
Let the people of Tennessee maturely consider
this subject. Let them determine whether they will
have responsible, or irresponsible banking system.
Let them decide whether is safest for them to rule
over the banks, or let the banks rule over them
And as they determine, so let them vote when the
day of election is at hand.