Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-18
Col. Netheriaud and His Record.

The Opposition press affect to believe that Gov
HARRIS and the Democratic press criticsing the
record Of Col. NETHERLAND to excite the prejudice
Of particular class against him. This is not so.
We have proven Col NETHERLAND t, be class
legislator net to array one class, but all classes,
against him. His hostility to the policy Of exempt
ing from execution, in the hands of the head of
family, those implements Of industry necessary to
support, and which constituts the only safeguard
against psuperism and crime, is an offence, not
simply against one class Of men, but all classes Of
men, inasmuoh as it is an offence against sound
policy in which the whole body polite Is interested
We hold up the fact that Col. NErHERLAND re-
fused to exempt from execution the last hoe the
last pillow, and the last horse Of the humble hus-
bsndmsn and the last Get of mechanical tools in the
hands Of the mechanic and at the sams time voted
to exempt from taxation capital in the hands Of the
shaver and the pleasure carriages Of the rich, not
merely as Ga evidence that be is unfriendly to the
laboring classes whom he demsgogically processes
to love- but as conclusive evidence Of o want of
craftsmanship, and positively dangerous to the
preservation of those Wellsetled principles in free
government which secure us, as people, equality
of rights and equality of privileges, whatever may
be our personal fortunes or Eaisfortunes in life.
We have referred TO the fact that Col. NKTHER-
LAND while voting to render the stockholders of
the Banks Individually liable to their depositors,
who reside about the towns and cities and are the
last to lose anything by the frequent failures that
occur, voted GgOinst giving the same protection to
the innocent nots-hOlders. who are invariably the
heaviest sufferers, not simply as an evidence that
he is Indifferent to the rights Of the many and only
to protect the few but as evidence that he be-
longs to that class of men, who, in their lsgis-
lstiOn never look to the good of the whole, and who
would never devise a system Of banking that would
be alike safe to sll, or which would rebound to the
public good.
We have referred to the fact that Col NErHRR-
LAND, while so friendly to capital and uRfrieudly
to labor, seeking to benefit one at the expense Of
the other, was extravagsnt in his policy Of apprO-
priating the peoples money for local objects and
class purposes such the establishments Of law and
medical schools, not for the mere purpose of exoit
ing the preiudices of those against whom his nm
wise policy directly operated but for the bet
ter purpose Of showing good men Of all classes that
he is wanting in those higher elements of character
which sink the private in the public man, and en-
sble him to look beyond sectional interests and class
prejudices to the equal rights and equal privileges
of all.
All Of these matters in Col. NETHERLANDS his.
tory involve grave questions of public concern,
which, while they may affect classes differently,
concern the whole people, and will be judged Of
alike by all wherever patriotism influences the mind
regardless Of fortune or Of class. Whatever con-
Germs the public good, concerns both the humble
man and the rich man, notwithstanding it may af.
feet the class more Immediately than the other
We spurn the idea which our opponents inculcate
and upon which they have acted, that there is
necessarily such antsgOnism between the wesllhier
and the poorer classes in this country that we can
not defend the one without exciting improper pre-
judices against the other. All classes, rich and
poor, are deeply interested in preserving our free
republican form of government. 1t can only be
preserved by sdhering to those great principles
which secure equal benefits and equsl burdens with
out distinctions in legislation. Right thinking peo-
Ple whatever may be their relations in society," un-
derstand lhis The rich are interested in ali correct
legislation that will aid hepoOr the poor are To-
terested all proper Legislation that gives protec-
toL to the rich. 1t is only when class or call
ing in life seeks advantages which unequal and
oppressive to another GLASS; that their interests be-
come antsgOnistic And 1t is against this species of
SntsgOnism, based upon sel6shness and nuItured in
corruption that the Democratic party have been un
Ceasingly at 1t is the duty of all good citizens
to help them in this war