Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-06-26
THE KNOXVILLE WHIG.
Knoxviiis, Fean. June 90. 1857.
interesting COrresp0ndence-..A Fools

Errand.
1t win appear from the following letters
that Secretary Fletcher, in his CLEVELAND
speech, referred to the rebel Congressman
Atkins, as one of those who had somo per.
sonal knowledge as to what had become O
the coin of the Bank Of Tennessee. On
reading the Secretary's speech, Atkins II
seems. became apprehensive that the facts
stated by Mr.. Fletcher might be construed
into an imputation upon his honesty, to re-
dress which he iourneyed, it seems, with a
friend from Paris to Nashville, some two
hundred miles. A consultation with another
rebel Congressmen. an Ex-Governor, and
others. resulted in the FIRST letter of Atkins,
delivered by A. s. Colyar as a friend The
amusement of the Secretary may be imag-
med, when it is observed that this letter ad-
mits a good deal more than is charged in
the speech 1t admits that he not only got
the gold, but carried pile TO Isham G..
Harris, bis brother-in-law 1t viii be seen
that Atkins soizes upon Fletchers remark
that " it was no doubt business transac-
tion"-expresses himself satisfied and af-
ter consulting day or two, publishes the
correspondence The letter makes Atkins
case worse because that which was before
only charged is now proved-admitted 1t
shows where the money went, which is what
the people want to know. "a business
transaction it was indeed, but very Gu
rious one. For who ever heard Of Bank
after suspension, or even before, while on
wheels, loaning is coin without any secu-
rity-"one day after date to a friend
without a cent Of money in his pockets.
We venture that the transaction, though
not inconsistent with the personal honesty
Of Atkins, is without parallel in the his
tory Of banking transactions.
But the most damning feature Of this
whole case is, that Atkins does not deny
that with all the nacJs wfrhln his knowledge
he has charged the loss q this same missing
coin to the present State officers. 1t viii be
much more difficult for him to show that
this was honest than the act Of getting the
gold. But here is the correspondence
THE SCHOOL FUND.
CoIrespoadencs Bet1eeen Gen. ATKINS and
Secretary Fletcher,
NASHVILLE, June 13, 1867
4. j. Fletcher: SIR-On yesterday, be-
fore leaving home paragraph in your late
Cleveland speech was brought To my notice,
in which you leave the inference that you
intend TO make an imputation against my
honesty The paragraph is as follows, as
published in the Press and Tines of this
city
Ne paper has been so noisy about the
sacred fund as the Nashville Union and
Dispatch I am told that Torbett the Pres
ident Of the bank which contained the lost
school fund, is one Of the owners and a wri-
ter for that sheet. And there is Troasdale,
another reputed owner and writer for that
paper and Atkins, another editor Of news
paper, who seems TO have been repeatedly
on hand when chisels and hammers were
used in the distribution of the school fund.
These are the men who elamor most about
the sacred fund" Fa
About the conclusion of the late civil war,
being on my way from Richmond, Virginia
TO tho State Of Texas, where my family
temporarily resided, without one cent Of
money in my pocket, 1 borrowed from Mr.
Fisher, Cashier of the Bank of Tennessee
$1,000 one Thousand dollars in gold, fol
which l executed my note, stating on as
face, that the money was in gold, which notC
was returned with the bank to this city, and
is now in possession Of the present officers
Of said bank The money was brought tC
me from Greensboro, Geo., or some Otbel
point on the Atlanta and Augusta Railroad
TO Coyington, Geo, as was also at the SAND
time, $3.50 in coin, for Ex-Governor J. g
Harris, claimed aud drawn by him as a pslr
Of his salary as Governor, which carried
10 him at the request Of himself and Fisher
Mr.. Leon Tronsdale brought me the money
10 COvington, Geo. was not nearer thu
bank than the distance between CovingtoI
and Greensboro, and never saw dollar o
It's coin, except as above related, which
transaction / never thought of otherwise
than business transaction, which wouIC
enable myself and family to return home
l returned home in the fall Of 1865. Tht
present officers of the bank have moro thar
once expressed their entire confidence tha
l intend to pay the note which, Of course
shall do as soon as possible. If the oth
GERS Of the bank had doubted my Intention
and had ever intimated that they desireC
security npon the note, they could have haC
nve hundred solvent names upon it. Be
hevlng that you would be ready to reliev,
me from any semblance of such an imputa
uon, upon knowing all the facts. ] hav,
gwen them as above, and submit them Il
you, and shall expect a reply.
Respectfully, ]. D. ATKINS.