Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-13
EXTRACTS.


| tAndrew Jackson.
From the Clarksvile Tobacco Leaf.
The UNION AND AMERICAN is trotting
Andrew jackson out as the only man who
ever saw how capital could control, and
money oppress, and brings forward his
bank contest as proof. jackson has the
honor of introducing the "to the victors
belong the spoils" policy. he was the first
Of all the Grants in bold, hiyh-handed
measures. Such as bis action on the Geor-
gis Indian treaty case. His policy
toward South Carolina is the beginning of
that Capitalization which has ruined the
South for this generation.
No man can admire Jackson's character,
or his public career, unless he can admire
despot. II there is is q name in history,
the true Southern man should detest be-
fore all others it is that of jackson, the
author of all our woes.
Col. Burch.
From the GAINESVILLE Tobacco Leaf.
OF course we all understand that Col.
Burch had been warm friend and support
er Of Gov. Brown and his policy, and that
this had much to do with his selection; but
those who choose to know it can know, IL
they do not, that he appointed man thor
oughly qualified for the position, and mere
support and friendship would not have pro-
cured from Gov. Brown the appointment of
an incompetent man, however warm q sup
porter. The charge against Col. Burch is
not supported in the manner in which It Is
made s'that he received three thousand dol
lars from the retail liquor dealers to procure
the veto of the bill" Col. Burch did, how
ever, receive fee for presenting authorities
to the Governor against the bill, and says
that he did not say word against the bill
or for it in the UNION AND AMERICAN
during the time the Governor held it under
advisement.
There are two good reasons why he
should not have done so. As an ;itor
of prominent paper, the leading paper of
his party at the capital, it was bis duty to
discuss the measure, and hence wrong to
place himself in such position that deli
cacy forbade his saying anything against it
while he was directly inter-
ested in not saying anything
for it. A Congressman may hold stock
in public enterprises upon whose rights he
has to legislate, and he is still unbiased; but
no Congressman who has proper sense of
duty will place himself in thai; position. An
itor's duty to the public is fully as re-
sponsible, and his care to be unbiased on
public matters should be as great. At best
he should avoid deliberately becoming d.
rectly interested, in the public measure,
upon which be ought to give bis views free
ly, whether he does or not.
That ha did not say anything on the
question In the UNION AND AMERICAN, is
no excuse. 1t was simply q neglect of
duty If the measure was of any Importance,
or the constitutional guarantee of any
value.
1t had just the effect we deprecate-to
close the mouth Of public journal whose
duty it s TO speak, to inform, to warn.
We do not think the part played by Col.
Burch in this matter part W. ich lawyer
ought to play. We think it ought to have
the uDqual fied condemnation of any citi-
zen. A lawyer should not receive fee to
obtain passage of bill, or a veto, or par
don, further than to charge for mere attor-
ney's work, such as drafting bill or draw
ing up papers for pardon.
So lar IS these attacks are concerned we
do not regret them. A government which
cannot stand the tiercest attacks and the
most rigid scrutiny Of its foes, should be
changed for better one, and it would be in
fnitely better for the State, to have Re-
publican administration than to have s gov
eminent perpetuated that was unworthy, or
that stood solely because the truth was not
known. If there Is ANYTHING wrong it should
certainly be known; if everything is well, it
will be only strengthened by attacks like
this. Gov. Brown defes the malice of his
enemies. His character for integrity and
honor are complete answer to any charge
of intentional default, and if he has in the
administration of his office been guilty of
official mistakes in the discharge of his
duties his enemies have failed to point
them out. Opposition papers assume
that Gov. Brown is .demagOgle working
for bis own personal advancement. His Of
fetal course gives the lie to such an as
sumption. 1t has been Characterized by great
hrmness, moral courage and devotion to the
best interests of the State.
No man without imoral courage and de-
votion to principle would have taken his po-
sition on the credit of the State. A dema-
gogue would have been forced by the very
logic of dem2goguery to the opposite posi-
ton. He has upheld the law with firm
hand, and peace and quiet now reign where
all was before chaos of insecurity.
We have no intention of defending the
Legislatures we have had. For their errors
of commission ard what is more of omission
Gov. Brown is not responsible. His ad-
ministration has been wise and pure. His
position was difficult ore, and he has well
discharged the arduous trust.