Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-25

8 we'll regulated government, where each
class Is kept IN its proper sphere: But suppose
from one cause or another that the government
is in the hands of persons who have no CON-
mon interest with those over whom they have
sway and they choose for selfish purposes to
combine with the shaver and Money dealer to
plumber the real people that they and those
whom they can seduce by the prospect of large
and Uncomfortable gains shah grow rich do not
they and all parties concerned in such 3 vile
ir as this;would 6e.beceme criminals before
the laws OF God and man, And pray what can
be the difference between A, going to my store
or warehouse and stealing from me what have
honestly earned and stored away, and convert
ing il TO his own use, and his going and COM
bining with the authorities, who are but my
agents and trustees and under preteDse of law
for their individual benefit. take from me my
property or money in the shape of taxes. Some
would say there was no difference, but think
there is. and as | verify believe that difference
Is this. that the man who goes and steals my
goods directly and takes the responsibility. is
more liable to detection, and can and does less
l take it sirs. that no man will dare dispute
that there Is a combination with our city au-
thorlties to do the things mentioned. that the
men outside the city government who thus com
blne and give aid and support by their money
and influence to the communication OF such an
outrage, are in all respects equally guilty with
those in authority. and are as justly censurable
as those with whom they trade. Now is it pos
slbie that We have amongst US men engaged in
business who would contribute to our ruin
simply for the sake of making money. hope
not. l ct 1t seems to casual observer that the
proofs are so apparent that, If such state Of
things as is described has not and is not going
on around US there is no understanding
OF the signs Of the times. Why. but o short
time ago, reports were made and it was assert
ed that the taxes when they came for 1865
would with the bonds on hand pay all the debts
and without further trouble the city would
move on aud be able to meet all its liabilities.
1t was asserted all last year that the
realized. be sufficient to run the gOvernm ent
and pay fully its debts and put the
checks at par; but how does it turn out and that
too without any extraordinary outlay for work
done of a public character? The taxes are
pretty well in, and the bonds as understand,
are all abroad. and the outstanding debts be-
sides the bonded debts is overwhelmingly in
creased if those who have made it their business
mistaken. L know of no means by which
the debt of the corporation represented
BY checks and judgments can be ascertained.
but am satisfied that it is very greatly larger
than almost any suppose. 1t is well knOwn
that there have been always nearly any day
since last year this time, large amounts Of new
checks thrown on the market and shaved of for
whatever they would bring, and what has be-
come of the money no outsider can tell; and
even when an effort is made By those in the
council to investigate and ascertain the liabili-
es of the city it is stihed by the inhuence
of the Finance Committee who have had the
sale of the Ihecks. 1t is further well-knoWn
that there has been constant effort by the
same Finance Committee to borrow money by
selling or by hypothecating checks and that in
many cases large amounts have been used.
1t is further well known that numerous and
large transactions have been made by getting
parties to take checks at great discount, per-
haps as low down as fifty per cent, with the
agreement that they shall not be forced or
thrown on the market for six or eight months,
and II not then redeemed, the party to sell and
pay himself or keep the checks and have them
other a a md
keep up the deception and fraud as long as the
cupidlty of the mOney-lender can DO induced or
brbed to hold on. Now. if this can be done
and will be sustained by the courts of the eoun-
thy when put to the test, there is no remedy;
and in n very short time the property must all
be wasted OF fall in to the hands Ofthe despOilers
Can and Will the courts, when a case of con-
spiracy between the city authorities and those
acting under and in concert with them is made
cut to take usnry or defraud the city and people
out OF their money, sustain the transactions
court because of their unclean hands and con-
sciences2 We think they will. Now, sirs, il
these transactions are thus going on in
our midst. as they seem to be, without
even disposition TO hide them, ex-
eept to keep some nominal non entities
as plaintiffs in the Federal courts and some
unknown or worthless individuals as plaintiffs
in the Circuit Courts of the county and before
justices OF the peace, so that rs far as possible
to shirk and shun responsibility and disgrace
before the community. But this, sirs. is all a
pretenee and Can not be permitted to pass off
IN this way. These gentlemen who stand be-
hind the street brokers and go betWeens, sooner
or later. will be brought before the public gaze
notwithstanding they may have fictitious plain
tiffs on the dOekets instead of their own names.
No man who viii go and examine the dOckets
where the judgments are rendered but will
come TO the conclusion that there is fraud and
eriminalty in the transactions that resulted in
the judgments. for he will see at once that the
checks are not founded on real transactions,
but were made to be sold or shaved to raise
money.
But suppose all this and more as verify be-
lleve has taken place says one. how will you
expose il and bring the real parties in crime TO
lussice and before the bar of public opinion
Why. sir. that Is the simplest operation imag-
Unable unless all or large portion will swear
falsely. .r--. 49,. ...-
Put in your pleas of usury, and also the plea
that the corporation had no authority to thus
issue checks for the purpose OF raising money,
and my word Tor It, the courts will abate the
u3ury on all such checks, and where the knoWl-
edge can be carried home to the real eWner of
the checks. or their agents ami attorneys, that
they were made to raise money, the courts will
declare them absolutely void aud order them
cancelled. There is yet another way 10 discov-
er who is the real owner of these checks and
reach the man of substance and
not the irresponsible school boy who is away or
the man OF straws, and that is to indiet the
nominal plaintiffs for shaving without license
and tho peFsOns engaged in the trade for the
sale of checks. together with their aiders and
abettors, for conspiracy to deiraud the corpora
ton and the people out of the amount of the
checks so sold for such purpose. 1t may be
asked how will all this be done and by whom.
This is a question l cannot answer, except that |
It may be done by any citizen or association Of |
eitizens or the validity of the checks may he |
inquired into in the courts when sued on, or By |
anynumber of citizens taxpayers fling bill in !
The Chaneery Court and having receiver ap
ointed and the claims all filed 10 that court for
Adjustment. .rsf-=r --.-FZ
There is yet another way by which all these |
hings can be made manifest, and that is for the |
mall men of the city. both white and black, |
who have TO make their living by hard work, |
o combine together to put it down. by making |
he whole crew that are engaged In this work of 1
odiOus among the people, as well as /
before the Attorney General ana the
yTa1d jury of the county and indieting them. |
This is a course, l know, which people, in the /
main. dislike to take. but let me say to all men
Who have no money with which to buy checks /
IA speculation, that there is really but one L
emedy which will save you and your property L
rom destruction, and that is, to vigorously pur-
ue the criminals in every way known to the 4
avs and to society. Your debt now due, fellow /
itizens, if debt it be, outside Of the bonded 4
lebt, can not fall short of 5000 0O0 and If it is
made to increase in the next few months as it |
las in the last few months, it win soon be mil
ions. If the authorities can issue checks to
aise money at pleasure, who among us does not
eel satisfied that the outside co workers and
bettors in this great swindle, will continue as
ong and to as great an extent as it is possible,
" large pTlDeS OF gdluSs 10 interest |
he sharks in the trade. Small prop
rty-holders. draymen and haekmen. Eag-
ners and shOpkeepers and all men who |
'ay taxes and have no money to speculate on. i
ast think Of the state Of things around you. |
lake up the morning newspapers and see the
offices that you can have your taxes paid by !
alling at certain shaving shops in the city. and |
{ you have q large check as | understand. for |
consideration it can be cut up to suit either to |
ay taxes or to sue on before q magistrate, and |
D this way they accommodate all peIsons-the |
ak payers by furnishing them change, and the
bark by facilitating the collection of his money
nth accumulated costs, and thus bnrying the |
riginal evidence of debt by returning it to !
hose who issued it. and getting in return many
nall checks, SO as 10 complicste the whole
hing in such way that it cannot be looked
Ito hereafter. Men of Nashville. if these
lings are and can be done, as verify believe |
ley are and can, then as to what the debt is or
i'll be. no mortal man can even guess for it is
lmost as easy TO make it millions as few hun |
red thousand dollars. Look to it at once, and
70 that you are, not further embarrassed by |
lis wicked combsnation of public plunderers
your midst. q 80 JUsTTTIA.
Wood Turner Wanted.
A good Wood Turner wanted by
WRAKLEY & WARREH.
March 81 If
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