Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-23
THURSDAY MORNING.. JUNE 90, 1853.
Col, NetherIand and his Real Positions
LeG the People understand il.

THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE %, 1853.
Col, NethcrIand and his Real Positions
Les the People understand it.
The Know Nothing press. in their esgerness to re
lieve Col NETHERkAED, far as possible, from the
odium which justly attaches TO his character as
public man. for his uniform hostility to the laboring
classes evidenced more particularly by his votes
against the exemption laws, have manufactured for
him every conceivable excuse, but none that is
tenable.
First, we we're told by Col. NETHERLAED, in the
opening Of the canvass, that his was ga very small
record and that be before the people not to de-
fend but to prosecute. His organs at the same time
professed-truthfully, no doubt-ignorance of what
his votes were upon this subject and endeavOred to
assume an air of indifference to the criticisms of
Gov HARRIS and his friends. A short time, howev-
err served to show that the caustic was not without
its effect Some defence of Col. NETHERLAND had
to be made and the question with them seemed to be
who shall speak FIRST The versatile genius of the
Athens Post took the lead, and said that Col. METH
KRLAND had voted, in 1888, against e1empng in the
hands Of every head Of family those Implements of
industry absolutely necessary to support, because
the bill contained absurd provision exempting
zone barrel Of whisky and half dozen lin cups"
The Nashville Banner readily foresaw that so IN
founded and ridiculous attempt at defence would
serve a contrary purpose. It, therefore, set about
to mend the matter, and took the position that the
exemption act Of 1888 was unfair and unequal in
its provisions protecting in the hands of the farmer
more than it secured to the mechanic. 1t turned
cut, however, that such an excuse, instead of re-
hsFing its candidate, only increased the difficulties
that enVironed him; from the fact, that, notwith-
standing his opposition to the bill of 1888, it be-
came the law Of the land, and Col. EETHERLAND, as
member Of the Legislature at subsequent session,
instead Of seeking 10 remedy the injustice complain
ed of to the mechanic absolutely VOted for propo-
sitiOn to INCREASE that injustice By repeating entirely
so mach Of the act exempted any thing in the hands Of
mechanics. This was as dead failure as the first
II fell still-born.
Their next discovery was that at q subsequeDt
session of the Legislature, 1851, Col N. had made
amends for his former hostility to the poor man, by
voting for the Homestead" law Of that SEES
sion Unfortunately for them, ethis fimsy plea
served but little better purpose since is fact of
which every one is oOgnizant, that the homestead
act alluded to was but little better than insult to
the IabOrBg classes containing it did provision
ure requiring all who desired to avail themselvesOf
its protection to declare and make formal regstra
ton of their intention in advance; the effect of
which was to destroy the general applicability of
the law, combining it to those who were willing to
have themselves singlel out in society by such act
Of rsgistration-alaw which conferred no addition
81 privilege since 1t already the right Of every
citizen to make settlement on his family by deed
and registration. The friends Of the exemption laws
aud Of the homestead policy have sought to protect
the necesstous and unfortunate of their felloW-men
by general law and not by such special legislation
as would wound their feelings and mortify their
pride, by holding them up as the special beneficial
ries of q public charity. This Law, Col. METH
RRLAED doubtless anticipated when he voted for it,
has remained dead letter upon our statute book,
but few, if any, having availed themselves of it's
provisions.
The next apology of Col NETHERLAND and his |
friends was, that he acting under instructions
from his constituents in opposing the exemption law |
of 1888; when, q a matter Of fact, no such Gin
structions" had been given; and if they had Col
NETHRRLAND was not the man to obey instructions |
when in conflict with his own wishes, as shown by
his resignation Of his seat in that very body rather
than vote for the "expunging resolution" as re
quired by his constituents
All Of these devices failing Col. NETHRRIAxD
and smarting under the popular condemnation
which is manfesting itself in every quarter, he has
been driven to what would have bsen more truthful
and manly in him at the start-d Qualification of his
vote against exempting the last hoe, the last plow
and the last horse Of the humble husbandman, and
the last set Of tools in the hands of the unfortunate
meehsnio-the essentials to support-decEaring, as
further learn that he does NOT want the vote of anu
uDhO OOuId GUail himself Of the exemption Laas
We are gratifed that Col. NETHHRLAND has final
ly worked himself up to his true position It will
relieve entirely the Democratic press from every
charge or suspicion of having sought to do Col
NETHERLAHD injustice in this matter 1t will re- !
sVe his own friends from all further cavil as to the
reasons upon which he based his unfriendly action
to the exemption laws. Il makes up the issue.
squarely and fairly, between himself and Gov. HAIR
Rs on that subject. 1t becomes, essentially, prao-
teal question in the canvass upon which not only !
Col. NETHERLAHD and Gov. HARRIS should be re- :
quired TO take their stand, but every candidate for
the Legislature, also. \
We presume that Col NETHERLANDS friends will ;,
back him up, now that he has taken his stand .
against the exemption laws. We have no hesitation =
in saying that the entire Democratic ticket in Ten
nessee will be the other Way-the friends to that
wise and salutsry policy; policy which not only
protects, in great measure, thousands from abso-
lutte want but which protects society at large from e.
much Of the evils of sbjeot pauperism We had re-
yardsd the exemption laws part of the settled W
policy of Tennessee, but If Col. NETHERLAxp and m
lis party sre put in control Of the State we shall 50
SgSrd the people as having declared in favor of c,
heir repeal. ri-
Let the question be agitated. Let the popular
lind be thoroughly awakened upon the subject
et every candidate be required take his position to
et the people vote understsndingly; and as they TO