The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-15

HDDA0 PSvples want your dssiattIce ID
this great and laudable enterprise" Ate
some discussion Of the subject, We agreed
to defer TO his wishes. He then said he
would furnish an editor, at hii own ex-
pense, and we would be expected to keep
the paper up as we had done previously,
By our own labor and capital. All Of the
profits Of the concern we're to be ours-the
losses could fall on no other persons. \
Gov. Johnson procured the services Of
s. c. Mercer as Editor, and on the 10th Of
April, 1852, the NAsHvILLE USroS took the
place Of our FIRST paper. During all that
year, day and night, We toiled and spent
our means to make it successful. By in
dustry, perseverance, economy, and
proper distribution of the various duti, 5
within the office, we carried il through the
year. Except for a brief season, when we
were cut Off from Intercourse with the
outer world BY the retreat Of Buell. and the
subsequent Investment of the city By the
rebsls, it paid expenses all the time -
With the advent of the army Of G,n.
Rosecraus, towards the close Of the year,
its circulation began to increase aud By the
lst Of March, lsG3, had attained number
beyond precedent. This increase kept up
steadily until the army moved someweat
beyond convenient reach. Gen. ROsecrans
having moved upon the enemyat Tullahoma
aud driven him across the Tennessee.
In the month Of July, Gov. johnson no.
tiied US that he could no longer pay the
editor-that we must shoulder that respon-
sibility ourselves. We interpossd no OBJ
eclions. Dssiring to retain Mr.. Mercer,
from respect to His Exeellency,-we
made him an offer. The result was, we
paid him, SI00 arrearsges Of salary, which,
he alledged Gov. johnson had not paid him,
and retained him as Editor, sgreeing,to give
him one-eighth OF the net profit Of the
concern as his salary. It was not long be-
fore the patronage began 70 decrease and
Mr.. Mercer became uneasy. He sought to
make different arrangement with US, but
we would not change. Thus things
went Oh, until late in the fall, when
he made trip 70 Washington,
stating that he could be OF much service,
whilst absent, to the office. He had not
been gone long, before we saw in the Wash
ington Chronicle, Communication stating
that the object Of his visit, was to purchase
materials TO start paper Of his own, in
Nashville. This was the frst intimation
we had Of his real intentions. We felt in
dignsnt Of course, that he should have
prsctced deception upon US. We took
steps Immediately TO counteract his effort
10 undermine US, but during all his pro
t-scted stay east, paid over his share Of the
profits weekly to his lady.
Upon his return we called his attention 10
the rumors that he intended to start another
paper. he admitted the fact, aud said there
would be no ungensrous or unkind rivalry
on his part. We suggested to him TO write
his Valedietory. He promised 10 do so inn
meaistely. We waited on him several
days, and finding he did not intend to com
ply with his promise, announced to the
readers OF the UNION that he had no further
connection with the paper.
TWAS not long before he issued the Times,
and commenced a war upon US, similar 70
that he is engaged in now. His object
then, as now, was 10 direct patronage from
US 20 himself But he failed. The UNION held
on its course, its aggregate profits varying
bat little; and no time, since the advent of
his journal, has its circulation been less
than it was when we struck his dishonored
name from our columns. Il is greater to.
] L. ~, a No.. h.. - h H. ,,,. , 4
custom had increased threeiOld. Il Twas the
best days work we ever did, when We rid
ours, Ives Of him.
Aud now in conclusion q word Of com
ment:
The reader will see from this statement
that in the establishment aud conduct Of
. the USIOs, We toOk al the risks and fur
! nished al lhe capital and labor to keep il
( up. Il was our industry and business tact
4 that made il success. u the paper hsi
! done the country ssrvice-if it has accom-
= plished any good-we deserve very large
? share OF the honor, and the rewards Il any
e accrue. And il is simply absurd and dis
( honorable for an interested person like
= Mercer 10 attempt to whistle Us down the
e wind" lie but degradss and disgraOs
: himself when he does it.
: Tito Mercer cur success is due, how come
4 it that the Times lie 8 paupsr concern, KEEP
3 alive by leviss upon private parties. Sure
a ~ il he could build up our interests, he cal
also build up his own, that being q vita
consideration with him. He has faded
is wofully failed, to make the Times profitable
y because be has neither the business habit,
It industry nor enterprise to conduct news
: paper
D, Hoping our readers will pardon US 70
consuming 50 much space about matter
purely personal, We dismiss the subject,
a THI HAsTFoSD PHoENN.-We cath stten
/ ton 70 the advertisement, IN another col
r,r,,r NJ tha phsniW of Hartford Tnss1ra M.