Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-17

may - least fsply In the seauhful language OF Al
immortal poet 1scs adecorsm est pro pGria mort
Or paraphrasing the less classic but not less patr
otc, Language ef the humble Kean, ~ have les my
life, but hare saved tAe bridge" they might say
1--WE have dag our own graves, bat we h&ve saved
the State"
know not how It may be bat had hoped that
we had arrived at period in our history, when
the nobler instincts of patriotism had supplanted
those selfish considerations by which all of US have
une0nsciousy perhaps, too often been aetuated.-
We have too much at stake now to divide upon
questions Of personal interest The question, the
only question which 1t becomes the true pat.
riot now to ssk himself is, not what
is best for myssE but what is beat for
the 6tGtsi not what win please most, but what will
best Eubservs the interest of those for whom We are
appointed to act not what ia most likely to add to
our Oscn political fortunes, but what will most
strengthen the national arm in Its present struggle
for existence, not what will alleviate the pangs
of the cQrnsSt but what is best for the permanent
well being of the whole. Guided by such motives,
We shall be far more likely to do right than if sgi
tated by the perpetuany recurring phantom Of our
@politicsl graves"
If there be any whom the terrors of political
inmOlatiOn may brighten from the path Of duty, let
tsen take courage from and emulate the example
OF The Hfty thousand men Of Tennessee, whose
hearts have not qussd before that real grave from
which there is no earthly resurrection. They too
may have "dug their swn graves" But in the
last moment of life, htfu strugge how glorious the
consolation that they die in defence of the right and
to save their country. Agratefal people will hold
their names in eternal honor, while the time server
of popular applause, will be consigned to that mild
est but Httest pun:shment Of auper>sel6shnesk--
oblivion. i
1 an far from attributing to any, whatever
course they may pursue in ret erenee to the tax
bill, or other question before the Legislature any
unwor thy motive. DiHerepce Of opinion does not
Of itself imply dishonesty of purpose. L can well
understand how the loftiest patriotism may be en-
listed in = measure intended, however unwisely az
Imay think, 10 alleviate the burthens which now
hang with such grievous weight upon the shoulders
Of our infant republics can well understand how
the very intensity Of anxiety to afford temporary
relief 10 patriotic people, may lead Us to post-
ponement which, by accumulation, viii but agra
vats the evil which it Is intended to avert
But to the question: What Is best for the perBdns.
welfare Of the publieT The plan Of substituting
an additional amount Of bank Issues in lieu Of the
treasury notes which the war tax was intended to
withdraw from circ ulation, Is Low 40 generally
condemned that 1t need hardly be further dis
cussed. The policy Of substituting our OWE State
treasury notes, though it avoid the unnecessary
expense Of eight per cent for the of Bank credit
Is AtN liable to the objection that II defeats
the great and paramount object of the
tax, which was, to reduce far practicable tAs
arsOsst Of paper currency which the pressing emer-
Eenciea Of the moment had created. The evils of =
redundant currency need not, trust be further
discussed. All understand that it is but the Ehad-
ow, At BEST Of reality that instead Of warming
and quiekeninE, and nVigorstiDg the real life blood
Of trade aRd commerce, it bat chills, freezes and
impsaes its circulation. eur swn history, commen-
cling with the old continental paper iEsues is repete
with the bAneful effects Of = too expanded credit,
based upon and expressed by the various forms of
mere paper promises. Shall We, with all these ex.
anplsI fresh before Is, d,regarding the teachings
Of all past e1psrisncs plunge heedlessly, reckless
y on in the same path of bankruptcy, only that we
may postpone till TO morrow, with accumulated
debt, the liabilities Of to-day? Why, then shall we
not march boldly up to The tAak and pay this tax
sncsl
Ays ne GAk, ere az uiEirgG These questions an
awered in the Affirmative and there ought TO be no
further hesitation a. to what We shoGld do Let Us
look at the subject with the angle motive of finding
out the truth and our duty, and leave all minor and
contemplate questions Of political grave digging to
these who may be more tenacious Of their political
sXisteAcs.
TO the great question then ere zee sSe to pay this
war taxi snsWer unhesitatingly, in the face OF
every asseTerAtiOa to the contrary, however dog
nGticaIly or orscElarly made yes, yes. But vii
\ 1t AJAX the reader TO accept ray simple ipss diI
but viii Iofer such brief bat irEesistible proof
-, being within the knowledge Of al, shall Ieaye
scarcely doubt or serve for caviLin the mind Of
any enc who has not prejudged the question.
In what then does the ability to pay tho tax con-
siss. Why ssursdly in the possession Of the neans
thatiS to say Of either the thing itself or OF some
thing readily convertible into the thing demande
in payment Of thI tax. The thing demanded il
treasury notes. Bat notes of our banks being the
equivalent of these may be regarded for all PractA
eEl purposes as ths thing itself What are oar
means then in this respect have ne accur ate sts-
tsticG upon this subject but it is within the knowl
edge Of all that currency it is called OSs neusr
before 90 obKndahe, In proof Of this assertion
advert to the fact that our owe State has dasursed
but little short Of Ave millions of dollars within the
laat eight nentha: to the additional fact that not
withEtsndiHs the large amount of new notes that
have been issued, ths banks have absolutely SO far
exhausted their circulation that they are without
the means Of paying their creditors even in spspsrI
In addition to this fac. but few goods have been
imported and no part of our foreign debt has been
paid, for many months and fear, owing to the IN
wise interference of orr Legislators and Judges bat
small part Of our domestic debt. But this Is not all
millions Of dollars have been received from others,
the army principally, for the products of our soil
/ might Addues other proof Of like character TO
sAtabIah the fact net only Of abundant but Of q
supsYabuaGaAt circulation. Bat there Il another
ssrs Of pToSf more conclusive if possible than any
mere statistics NOT only because it is more generally
known, but because the inference must be from The
very nature Of things infAlibls.
Never, perhaps, before has PIovidsuss blessed
our soil wish GEch abundant crops, and never be-
fore hars sxsh pricss been rsaliasd; prices which