Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-25

To THE EDITOR OF THE AVALANCHE: Gov. Harris
having convoked the Legislature to consider the
mentuous crisis now upon US, and place the State in
condition of defenoeand 10 meet the emergencies of
war, anything suggestive of policy of prepare
tons which points the interests, safety and happi-
of the people, in view of the perious dangers
and severe trials now pressing upon them, would
seem peculiar appropriate and should be freely
eanyassed, especially by the press.
That the State must haze money to meet the emer-
gency is not debatable. Money is the sinews of
war Nor is it less true that the people cannot
change the plowshare for the sword without the
material aid, in order preserve their affairs from
sacrifice and secure protection and support to their
home ones ETo enable them0 go TO the field of battle
AMI conquer a peace andimaintan the independence
of the South, the people must have arms in their
hands and money in their pockets This is the duty
of the State to provide. The Legislature is called
to take action upon these subjects. For is taken
for granted the people of Tennessee already out
of the Union, whether the form of secession is
cessary not which, of course, will be enacted
But, to armsl to arms we must fly first, already
| the enemy is upon Southern SOIL There is no time
for debate, or for the adjustment of mere forms.
Tennesseeans will not wait-are not waiting. They
have Southern hearts, and will now be as terrible
in arms as they have been terrible and Union loving
Deceived and lued in fake security by assurances
of peace they wake to the startling reality of war
upon the slave States by the abolition Adminisra-
ton OF Lincoln, Seward, Chase Co.. backed by the
free States with spirit irrepressible as will be
| the conflict now between the North and the South
until our independence ia secured or the last man
Of us perishes.
Preparation, then, is urgent. The security and
welfare of our people during the troubous times
of revolution are important and necessary The
State comparatively or adequately have not arms,
etc. She must be strongly prepared. The people are
suffering with pecuniary embarrassments, incident
to the extraordinary condition of public affairs
Theu must have relief in some way to save them
from sacrifice and ruin. Agriculture must not Ian
guish-labor must be stimulated-cemmeree sus
tained and indeed ali the varied interests of the
State must as far as possible be upheld and
preserved as the great source and means of power
of the Commonwealth. vitality involving the
success of cause well as the happiness of the
people. What. then. will the Legislature do?
What should it do? What can it do touching all
these points!
As matter of course, the State will arm herself,
and financial measure will be adopted. What that
measure will be is not known. But as thing sug-
gestive of policy, your correspondent will present,
simply for criticism, or for what it is worth the
same suggestions he made during the late extra ses-
sion OF the Legislature to our Representatives,
which were never embodied in g bill for action.
Having in view two grand 0bJects-nOney or ia
ctiesfor the State, and the 'S0me blessing for the
people, my suggestion was, sir, to authorize the
Bank of Tennessee to issue six or eight millions Tor
an adequate supply to meet the necessities of the
times) of dollars in notes bank bills from 81 to
$500 81 600, with the faith of the State pledged
upon their face be loaned to the people, just as
the bank does-only renewal upon payment of
interest in advance-On six months time, left sub
ject to future legislation The notes to be receivable
for taxes and all State Dues and also be received by
all officers of Il Estate. This requirement would fix
current standard the notes or bills of the bank and
guarantee the circulation of them just the other
notes of the bank. Suspended as the bank is with
probably no better prospect of redemption would be
given with the pledge of the States faith and cred
il. with the borrowers notes and bills representing
the circulation which, in point Of solvency would
be good until both the State and the people, or bor-
rowers failed and sank into ruin. And, as "the peo
pie constitute the State" and would be the borrow
and holders of the notes the novel and singular
relation of both creditor and debtor would be sus-
tanned, and the scheme thereby supported by the
checks and balances of a common and mutual in
terest. The State would get the interest in ad-
vance, and the people by paying the interest, would
obtain the facilities TO preserve their property from
sacrifice to keep up their productive, commercial,
and industrial interests and survive in all their in
terests the storm of Notwithstanding their fam
lilies at least protected if returned from
the field of battle besides the interest paid in the
shape of discounts would be in the stead of taxes
or TO a certain extent.
know this will be, by some, regarded as wild
scheme, but let them submit a better one for the
times. This would be relief measure. that would
not interfere with contracts, but facilitate their
performance. Stop laws are wrong in morals as
well as unconstitutional. The late relief law had
been pronounced by the Supreme Court as null
and void" Something must again be tried What
will il be? The State must have means, and how is
it to be raised?
Throwing out these suggestions without argu-
nent and as the individual notions of private cit
izen, shall not feel aggrieved ifthey fail to find APP
prevail while should like to have the plan and
subject canvassed and approved.
Respectfully, H. 3. S. WILLIAMS
April o. 1861.