Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-06
STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WEDNESDAY. JULY 6, 1859.
Democracy and the. Banks.--Hold
them TO their Greed.

them TO their Greed.
We have heretofore presented extracts
from the files of the Nashville Union and Amer
s icon, showing the position of that organ to
have been in favor of "a pure and unadulter-
ated bard-meney currency" We have also
republished the proceedings of the meeting
of distinguished and influential leaders, held
= in this city in September of last year, taking
decided ground in favor of an exclusive me
tallic curr ncy, by refusing to re-charter any
of the existing banks, and to wind up the
State Bank at the expiration Of its charter
This meeting was participated in by Gov.
JOHNSON, who was twice elected Governor of
the State, and was then sent, by aunanimous
vote of his party, to the Senate of the United
States; and who, in his last message to the
Legislature, few days before bis term of Of
fee expired, said:
"In T, recommending to your consideration
the propriey of winding up the Bank OF Ten
nessee. II ,CiH not be inferred understood By any,
tta, am IN fdD0r of The creation or continuance
of Stock Free Banks. L WOULD BE IN FAVOR
OF WINDING THEM ALL UP, so soon as it is prac-
ticabe or consistent with the commercial ag-
ricultural and mechanical wants of the coun-
try to do so; believing AS do. that the whole
banking system in the United States is FOUND
; 81 ED IN ERROR, and that all Banks having their
origin in such a system must necessarily CON
tain the elements of their own destruction
and as general rule will, sooner or later, re-
sult in ruin and fraud, producing great inju-
ry in all the business transactions and morals
- OF the community wherever they may be To-
Gated"
These sentiments he has reiterated during
the present canvass, saying, in speech al
Greenville, in the broadest and most emphat-
ic terms, that there was no such distinction
among Democrats as "hards" and "softs"
that if there was any difference, it was "hord
HARDER, HARDEST"
Whilst the Union and american WAS de-
b nouncing banks and banking in the bitter
terms, We have heretofore quoted, that paper
o said:
I'VE have never known healthier tone to
pervade the Democratic press upon the sub
Ject of hanks than at the present time. From
epery portion Of the country they are enlineruly
orthodox, and in substance, speak The same Ian
stage Never. before in the history of the
country have the practical advantages and
the soundness of the denlocrdtsc theory in IA
vor of a uniform constitutional currency
been 80 fOrcibiy illustrated as at the present
time
In the selfsame article in which this
healthy and orthodox tone was joyously her
aided as pervading the democratic press, the
following anathema occurs, pointing the or
thodox to the true democratic faith:
''There are but few of the uninitated who
understand the art and mystery of Faro
Bank, or Lottery. There very few, how
ever but what can understand that they are
instruments Of fraud and sVindiing upon a com
ppul,fy So WITH OUR PRESENT LOCALIZED
D BANKS They ARE EATING CANCERS
UPON THE BODY PoLITIC. and Tie sooner TenOUed
the better"
This was at time when there was no can
vass pending and when no motive of tempo
rary policy, could have operated, and we're
the voluntary avcwals of leading men and
organs in exposition of their own feelings and
of the democratic theory OF currency. But
if any other evidence were wanting as to the
true creed Ut the democratic party, as par
ty, on the subject of the currency, we have
at hand a witness in the Gallatin Examiner,
paper which occupies independent po-
sition, whose editor formerly conducted a
leading democratic organ in this city, whose
knowledge of the democratic confession OF
faith is probably full and accurate as that
of any other Democrat in the State, and who
has never wavered or wearied in fighting the
battles of the party, thus defines the party
creed of Democracy on the subject of cur
rency:
"And now a word to those democrats who
have given away to the seduction OF Bank
Parlors. Aud we desire to say it with every
feeling of respect and kindness. They haze
gone ortside Of The pale Of The party. and unless
they return, and that very speedily, they will
have buill wall which will have shut them
out completely. We kao,o that il is urged tint
opposition 10 all Banks IS not plank IN lhe demo
cratic platform. THEY ARE MISTAKEN. 1t may
not have been formally Incorporated, but
nine-tenths of the party in Tennessee are as
hard as adamsnt the Bank question, and
but for the detection OF just such men-at the
right misunderstanding with the paper
party, aiding and abetting them in their
scheme--the democratic party would. years
ago. have been a unit in liz sentiments. We
might call them 'fishy' democrats-if we
were 50 incliued-we would be justified by
their course, but we will endeavor 10 refrain
from epithrts which might be taken offensive
ly. That they going counter 10 The almost urs-
cersaI sentiment 9f The parry, Is cert0tn- That
5 they are playing into the hands Of the Oppo- |
sition, is equally clear"
Let those who Aatter themselves that the
present leaders of the democratic party mean
not to destroy the banks in this State, weigh |
well the above declarations Of their policy |
aud creed. II is a subject of vital concern !
to every citizen, and will not admit Of being |
treated in equivocal expressions and nnmean-
ing phrases, as Gov. HARRIS is doing. Let
there be an explicit understanding on all
hands, and let the true issue OF an exclusive
metallic currency, or mixed one ofgold aud
silver and convertible paper, go "before the
grand inquest Of the people"
G8- Hon. A. II. SrErnESs. Of Georgia. par. |