Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-02
Bank ofTennessee--Lette from Hon.
Gave 4 Johnson.

The Union and american, of yesterday, pub
fishes the subjoined letter from Hon. CAVE
JOHNSON, with the remark, that
In stating that Col. johnson was perfectly
satisfied with the action of Gov. Harris and
the Legislature, we intended TO correct any
impression that might have been derived from
an article in the Patriot OF the day previous,
to the effect that Col. Johnson had desired a
re-appointment as President of the Bank, and
that his claims had been passed over. We
knew that such inference would do injustice
TO Col. johnson and we felt authorized to
sert from our own knowledge OF hin repeat
eddy declared intention To retire from the
position, and from the information of gentle
men who had conversed with him on the sub
ject, that he was perfectly satisfied with the
action of Gov. Harris in appointing his sue
cessor.
This is a violent construction of the ar
ticle in the PATRIOT, in which there was not
even an intimation that Col. JOHNSON de
sired a re-appointment as President OF the
Bank" Such an intimstion would have
been unjust to the venerable President, had
il been made. He must feel under special
obligations to our contemporary for its at
tempt to shield him from al imaginary at
tack. -H -st.
Itwas understood that Col. JOHNSON and
the remainder OF The old Board would serve
If re-appointed. Gov. HARRIs preferred to
pass over their claims, and to supplant them
entirely. They had served faithfully, and
no complaint, so far as we are advised, had
been made against their administration of the
affairs of the Bank Why, then, were they
supplanted! We're they not worthy of fur
ther' confidence If they had discharged
their duties creditably, were they not enti-
tied to q re-appointment The position is a
post of honor only; they had not served for
selfaggrandizement but to advance the in
terests of the State and the people Under
the circumstances We still think they, (par-
ticularly the President), have been migrate
fully treated. This, we apPrehended, what
ever may have been the intentions of Gov.
HARRIS, will be the general opinion, outside
OF the few who have been opposed them and
the Bank OF Tennessee.
In making these remarks we do not wish
to be understood as Directing TO the new
Board of Directors. Some of them are
strangers to US; others, we have long known.
and we entertain for them the highest respect
The gentleman who succeeds to the Prrsi.
dency We believe will make an able and Ell,
Gent officer; and he has few, IL any political
or personal friends, who more sincerely de
sires to see his administration crowned with
success:
BANK or TENNESSEE, Oct. 81. 1859.
10 the Editors Of The Union and american - In
your paper OF the 30th October, under the
bead of Confirmation of the New Board
you say that " OBJ johnson IS perfertiy sah.R,p
scita tks action Of Coo. Harris and he Leylslape.
This does not express my true position on
that subject, and may lead To misrepresrnta-
ton hereafter. / therefore desire it's corrrc-
ton now by the publication Of the following
statement:
I had served with the Old Board six years
knew them to De gentlemen of high cbarae-
ter and unimpeachable integrity. They had
performed their duties during the whole time.
without compensation, to my entire satisfac-
ton: They were the known friends OF the
Bank, aud did not believe that the interests
of the State in that institution or Of the In
stitutiou itself could be placed under the care
OF any gentlemen more worthy OF public
confidence, and said as much TO Gov. Harris
In one Of my communications withdraw ing
my resignation. So that l could not have
been :. perfecfiy satisied" when they were
passed over and others nominated 10 I'LL their
places. As 20 myself. had no reason to be
otherwise than satisfied had been long
anxious to give mp the situstson and repeated
" 40 expressed myself to the Governor. and
was urgent for the selection OF some Other "a
I'LL the place, but was induced TO Withdraw