Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-27

sea- III AAAE AAAAAA a. 0A4CI "
At the close Of the war there were twenty
seven millions in circulation greenbaels
that we had to pay no tax On. Now, how
is it2 These patriotic men, that loved
their country so well, they 60 to the Gov
eminent and tell it-"we have stood by
you, sold you supplies, the war is over and
now we don't want to loan our money to
individuals; we prefer loaning to the Gov
eminent; just take in these green5acks and
give US bonds bearing six per cent. in gold
Interest; you can pay us the interest semi
annually in gold; we will wait twenty o.
forty years; in that time yo- cSn redeem in
gold; we are anxious TO assist you, Mr..
GCFefnment." Mr.. Government says
swell, yes, 1 II do that, Mr.. Shylock, yes,
sir, for you took our greenbacls and bought
up supplies for us when j. took three
Of them 10 buy one Of gold; you
had f-ith, you believed I'd pay, and l
am anxious to satisfy you for your disin-
terested patriotism, yes, I'll give you six
per cent; that will be equal to eighteen per
cent on your original investment, and I
think thet Is right when people have been
so patriotic as You ShylOcks have been.
We have paid of all our soldiers in green
backs, you can now sell them supplies and
get their money and We viii bond that for
yOu, and with the interest you get you can
control all the products of the country; as
It Weie, you can sit upon thrones Of gold
as kings and dictate to a the producing
classes Of this country the prices Of these
products. If YOU viii combine with the
large manufacturing interests of New
England, you can set your price upon every
ranrrrd - IN, - ],
bushel Of grain and pound Of meat in the
Northwest, and pay them IN manufactured
goods and never let any money 60 there.
If the South complains, you can cry
1Rebel' the Northwest may complain, but
1t is composed mostly Of our soldiers, and
you can cry 'COpperhead,' Rebel sympa-
thizers,' and that will shut them mp and
by that means we will arrive at a specie
basis
Mr.. Government goes along for a few
years, taking up his nOn-interest bearing OBJ
legations, and be finds that there is not
enough gold produced in all the rich mines
Of his realm to pay the interest on his
debts, and his high tariff laws aare such
that il throws the balance Of trade against
him; consequently, no gold comes to this
country. In great agony Of soul, he goes
to Mr.. ShylOck for advice. ShyloCk's patriot
ism suggests plan of immediate relief
about in this language: "Here, Mr.. Gov
you pass a law allowing us to
national banksj we viii issue a
currency called national currency; we will
deposit bonds with your Comptroller; you
continue TO pay us interest on those bonds,
Or, we will say, on those currency notes;
hey are secured by bonds deposited with
The Comptroller; that will make them good
ANY where in the United States; we will
BUY cotton and other agricultural cOmmO-
1itieS to send over to EUrOpej buy gold and
pay off the interest In that Way.n
Mr.. Government says: "That is a bright
idea; it will give you great power; you can
sit upon your throne Of authority; you can
carry in your girdle the keys of the COM
merce Of this country; whatever you have a
mind to bind will be bound, and whatever
you have a mind to loose shall be lOOsed;
you can control the Southern and Western
States as so many plantations; their inhab-
tants will be nothing but your servants.
admit This is a little contrary to what has
been declared the spirit of our government
Dy such men as Washington, Madison, JEFF
eTsOn and Jackson, but, sir, they were old
Ogies, demagOgueS; experience has taught
IS that liberal minded gentlemen, like
-Oursef, are the ones that government
must look TO for support; you have money,
md sir, your interests must be looked 10;
" doing that We give strength to the gov
srnment; the fact has been well established
hat the labOring classes of the country
hOuld not control it; they maxi its securi-
les unsafe and unreliable; we need a
stronger government; we can get that, and
III tell you how: my friend ShylOck, your
amily has been very kind to me since l
anne into power; you have made me so
many magnificent presents that you have
loosely allied me to you; my term Of service
will soon expire and l shall retire to
he private walks of life, but before leaving
viii inaugurate your policy; l will send
Phil Sheridan South with discretionary
,Ower; he is a hOtspuT and aristocratic; he
will take great pleasure in tantaliZing the
south and the proud SOutherneTin his pow
.rty; New Orleans is the best place to be-
in, as its inhabitants are the easiest to
tart; they are mostly Of French and Span
sh origin, naturally inclined to war and
stir them up, put them under
military rule; viii place Brooks in power
n Arkansas, and If Andrew johnson is
lected to the United States Senate from
and he comes here and attacks
nv administration. ike l know he will do,
viii send troops to Tennessee, for he will
,e elected by Rebels if he is elected at all,
IS there are only twenty-five original Union
men in that Legislature, Republicans and
III; so, if he is elected, it must be by
Rebels, and l will put that State under
military rule, and enough Of the other
states to elect one Of your family, and you
must then make a President for life; you
viii have the army at your command; there
S but one other thing to do, and that is to
egislate upon railroad tariffs; get them so
Ow that railroad stock will be worth moth
NJ: have your secret service men to buy
Ip the stocks; you can soon have the tele-
Taph III the same way; YOU then have all
he bonds, the army, the navy, the rail-
Dads and the people as much slaves as the |
icons Of Mexico
This, sir, is tie established policy Of the
United States Government, and it has been
in Tennessee. ! today ap-
zeal to this Legislature and to the people
f the State, if they intend any longer to
uhmit to such a policy. There is not
nOugh money in the State to-day to pay
he taxes by two millions Of dollars, ire
pective Of private contracts. There are |
lot exceeding five thousand men-I mean
moving, living, producing men-that can
Day their debts in ten DAYS.
Now, why is this? While we siumbered,
We have drlfted upon the verge of ruin.
Dur liberties have been swallowed up in
bond rings and INSCRIPTIONS corporations.
We are to-day bound down hand and foot.
The outlook is slavery 10 Us and genera
ions yet unborn. Bonded mOnOpOlies
Iaye us bound PrometheUs-like, and when
we Writhe and complain, they pierce their
goEged beaks deeper in-demand more
blood, more muscle, more brain, and say
s Y on talk reputation, you dishonOr your
State"
l tell YOU now We mean war up to the
handle. We mean TO pay you in our way.
We mean to stop the interest. We mean
not to enslave our pOsteTity. We mean
war Of argument, justice and votes. We
have no fears Of blood Those we have to
contend with are not those who bore blood
stained banners. No, they are those who
at a safe distance from blood in
he late war. washed their banners in
tears, and to-day are wTinging
lsurrous interest from the labor Of the
and washing their banners in the
cars Of orphans crying for bread. These
r,,av, f1,sf fo1l- 81 r,ohlyT about ~