Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-07-08
Gil A. r K SVILLE,
Friday, July 8, 1859.

BeS1 The Union and American denies, emphat-
cally, that Gov. Harris has proclaimed himself
hard money man. 1t gives us pleasure to correct
the error into which we in common with others,
have been led. Had Gov. Harris made such a
declaration, pride of consistency might have made
him the advocate Of that transparent humbug,
whereas we fully satisfied that he contemplates
reducing to practice no such absurity Were he
really for hard money, he would say so but enter
tanning such idea, and anxious to get votes, he
so shapes his speeches to bear any construction
that suits the locality. He declares himself opposed
to the recharter of any of the existing banks but
instead Of saying he is opposed to the charter of
any new ones declares that he will advocate Il e
charter of no bank unless the Legislature reserves
to itself the power to modify alter, or abolish the
same at lis pleasure.
Now, we ask the reader to connect this double
dealing with the fact that the State Bank is the
creature of the Legislature, and can be enlarged,
modified, or wound up, at its WILL and it will be
seen that it just meets the requirements of Gov.
Harris and his party. Connect this with the ad-
dtional facts that Cave johnson recommends that
all the other banks be would up that the capital Of
the State Bank be increased and its branches multi
piled, and that the last democratic Legislature tried
to do these things, and we have the programme
complete. 1t is known that the stock banks will
accept no charter that may be repealed at any
moment after they have gone into operation and
nothing will be easier than to re-charter the State
Bank, and to defend the act upon the ground that
Il is in exact accordance with the position assumed
in this canvass; and those who help to continue the
democrats in power under the belief that they will
abolish the paper currency, will find themselves
cgregiousy "sold,' and that instead of gold and
silver currency, they viii have to be content with
the paper issues of great political bank, under
party management and for party purposes.
This is no mere surmise; the course of the demo.
cratic leaders proves the truth of or assertion anC
though we do not speak by authority, we know
that what we say is true. There is not in tn,
State well posted leading democrat who is a hare
money man; and the cry to that effect is for NJ
other purpose than to mislead the ignorant and pre-
JUDGED and to retain power by false representations
Were hard money the policy of the party Their
would be but one opinion amongst its leaders OF
that subject. Look at the democratic candidates il
this District Mr.. Yancey has no objection to tn
retharter of the Planters and Union Banks, wit
the restrictions he proposes and Mr. Merritt occupie
the same position. But go into the rural district
remote from commercial facilities and you wi
hear different song. Why this double-deang p
Why this trifing with the people upon this Wit,
question: 1t is mere stroke of policy by whic
to win votes-to tic on the democrats in comme
cial localities who appreciate the absurdity of hai
money, and win over in retired sections such
the Opposition as can be taught to look upon banl
MS devouring monsters, And when betrayed ar
deluded people shall have continued in power Il
party-now in the ascendant they will find then
selves as far now from a hard money currenc
and will see a mouied mstituton-the State Bar
with irresistible power, controlling the politics
Tennessee and cnsaving it's citizens by means of Il
thousand and one agencies at the command of Ii
corrupt managers of a lever power that can contr
the commerce of the State, and mould the polite
opinions of the M 'cs
The President Of the State Bank, who drew
this programme, ranted for years against the U.
Bank on the ground that il was q great politi,
ehgine-corrupt in its management and corrupti
in its influence upon the people. The State Ba
Ia To Tennessee, what the Z, S. Bank was to
Unions there no significance in the suggestio
Democracy srkles ut nothing to perpetuate
power aud nothing can so well subserye this p
W pose as the plan laid down by Cave Johnson a
now being insdiuusly carried out by Gov. Hai
and his colaborerS