Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-21
The Planters, and Union Banks.

The Memphis Bulletin republishes the ar
ticle of the AUGlanche, commented upon in
yesterdays PATRIOT, and says:
That is boldly and honestly spoken. There
is no equlvocatiOn or attempt to shuttle and
twist and put two faces on the policy the De-
mocracy intend to pursue in reference to the
banks. And it is trifing with the good sense
of the people to equivocate further upon the
question of the banks. The Democratic
platform, though cOuched in terms that re-
quire construction, really means. if is has
any meaning, the banking in Tennessee must
come to an end, and the language of the
AvdLdnche-''Let them prepare to die the
death"-s the knell the democratic Organi-
cation is ringing in their ears. If it cannot
make them ''die the DEATH" it will only be
because its arm will be struck down before it
can hurl the up-lifted death-bolt. We speak
of the party as an organization, and OF It's
opposition to banks as an organized Opposi-
ton. Individual Democrats in all parts of
the State desire the continuance of the Union
and Planters Banks with proper restrictions
upon them. But a Democrat of this de-
scription in the Legislature would most like
ly have to yield before the stormy wrath of
the bank eXecutOners, or find himself out
lawed by the majority of his party friends.
1t will not be safe to trust such a man to
defend the banks. 1t is expecting too much
of democratic legislator to count upon his
breaking through the stern discipline of his
party and acting with the Opposition upon
any question that may divide the two par
ties. Such Democrats as have not been Sc
duced by the ''legal-tender' cry OF their par
ty, and favor the re-charter of the two old
banks ought to vote for the ticket of the
Opposition.
1t would be idle to expect a hard-money
Legislature to charter these banks at all, and
a mixed democratic majority, with the "softs"
in the ascendant, would charter them-if at
all-with restrictions that they would not
accept or if accepted, would destroy their
efficiency. And thus stands the case. 1t is
a pure question of State policy, and men of
all parties have the same interests involved
in the issue. We maintain that these two
banks ought to he rc-chartered. The great
industrial interests. OF the State require it..
The exigencics OF Commerce demand 1T. The
rising vigor and expanding muscles of
great commonwealth plead for it. The re-
tention of millions OF capital that would,
upon the destruction of these banks, depart
from the State, must depend upon the success
of the Opposition in August. All who wish
to drive this capital from the State-to make
the experiment OF an exclusive specie cur
renew or to have the State flooded with
foreign bank paper-to place the industrial
interests of the planter, mechanic, merchant.
artisan, and every class of people, at the
mercy of a swarm of brokers-let them vote
with the Democracy. But if they approve n
reverse policy, it can only be secured to
them by sending to the next Legislature an
opposition delegation. 1t is for them to de-
tcrmine in 1859 what the future monetary
policy Of the State shall be. If they think
with The Avalanche that banks should die
the DEATH" then they can commission their
representative TO kick them out of existence.
The issue is very plain one. 1t is, Banks
or no Banks in Tennessee, and it is to be
determined by the people at the polls.