Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-07-08
Dialogue Between Captain and
Private.

question r.
"why do you think so, Tom3'
''For the reason shall assign. You Dick, are a
hard money man as well as i; now tell me which
Of the democratic candidates have you heard make
a hard money speech ?"
"Didnt Gov. Harris do il y
mol And when Netherland asked him TO say
whether he was hard or soft he didn't answer, but
talked round and round without committing him |
self to either side Of the question; and the soft
democrats believe he is a bank man, and heard
is bank man. 50 is Merritt, and how can these
things be so if our party is for hard money!"
''0ur party, Tom, can't be for anything, or do
anything unless il succeeds; and would you have
us TO loose votes by preaching up hard money in
this enlightened commercial DISTRICT We must
run on both sides of that question, according to
locality or we shall be beaten"
"That understand Dick and am prepared to do
my part towards success, though don't feel exactly
right when giving countenance to such fraud
But when we succeed-what then Are all banks
to be crushed? saw you in close conference with
Cave johnson when he was here last and presume
you posted"
"Tom, my friend, man is fallible being and Is
not endowed with ioreknowledge; it would be alb
surd, then, to suppose that even democracy can
foresee what may be the exgences of the State six
months before hand, and when our party advocates
line of policy, It is always with a mental reserva-
tom for can't tell whether that policy will be
"But win the next Legislature take the necessary
steps to wind up all the banks That is what
want to know, Dick 2"
"Well, now you see, Tom, as I have just said,
your question implies foreknowledge as faculty of
the democratic party. Suppose it shall appear that
the refusal to recharter the Union and Planters
banks will withdraw an amount of capital from the
business of the State, which will prove embarras-
sing in the extreme, would you have us add to that
embarrassment by putting the State Bank under
process of closing upT
~ don't know to what conclusion you are trying
to bring me, Dick; but if hard money is the thing
for the people, let them have il at once; and IL you
put down the two old stock banks, the State Bank
must go too, or it will issue paper and keep gold
and silver out of crculntion.-I want to know
whether democratic Legislature will give us an
exclusive hard currency?"
"You are aware Tom, that surrounding circum-
stances" constitute plank in platform, and as
we all pledged to stand upon it;-can you tell
me what those circumstances" will be next
winter2"
"No, nor don't care. Hard money is what |
am talking about-it is what want, and my object
is to learn whether the party is for it or is only
using it as humbug-will you tell me ?"
"Certainly. Do you not remember that Gov.
Harris said he was opposed to the charter of any
new banks after the old ones are wound up, unless
the Legislature reserves the right to crush them al
any moment ?--You dol Well then don't you see
that no company will accept charter such terms
and that it puts an end to banks ~
mo; don't see any such thing The State
Bank Is now precisely in that fix, and many of oul
party at the last session. tried to increase its capita
will they try it again, or will they wind it up
That is my question If we are for hard money
that should have been our first step, because tina
Bank we could reach when we could not touch thu
others, and we had ma ority in both Houses"
"That is true, Tom; but as the State Bank cal
, be wound up at any time, would it not be gooc
policy to hold to it whilst we are trying the ex
pertinent of crushing all the rest 2"
'Nol And if our party is honest it should hav
closed up the State Bank first proof of its sin
cerity, and the experiment could have been pro
crossing whilst the others expiring by limita
Rnt var hava nnto
!, are we to have nothing but hard money IA cor
:. stitutional currency?"
& at is not an easy matter, Tom, to secure, i
II practice, all that is constitutional For instance
we all know that the STAKEHOLDER has the right
claim the protection of Congress for his property
h the territories, but would you have us loose II
r. Black Republican vote by insisting upon thu
ID claim ~
of 'rm not talking about "nggers," Dick, but hal
Ks money; and want you to answer my questions"
ID "But, Tom, if Gov. Harris could not answer
le Your satisfaction it would be presumption in me
n try it, He defined his position and that of his part
Y, with remarkable force and clearness, and witho
X saying "yes or no" to Netherlands question,
of showed the soft" democrat how banks may be co
he tnued in existence if public necessity demands
he and he showed the haris how they may be wouI
ol up if the interests of the democratic party requi
al a return to the constitutional currency.-Do y
understand it now?"
up al understand that the good of the State is ma
secondary to the success of the democratic party,
,a the policy you have explained; but want to knC
ng whether Harris and the party are for hard mon
nix upon praaciple, and whether they determined
he smash the banks. Harris didn't explain Il
n point, and it seems as If you will not. Now,
its Netherand said to Harris, want plain answer
ur- yes or nor
md 81 might mislcad you, Tom, by saying yes or
iris because this is one of the questions which it
not do to answer in that way. True wisdom
mands that we shall, in shaping our action, look