Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1878-12-27

among other dispositions taken was
that of Gov. Isham G. Harris, a
copy of which is before US and from
which we present extracts. Refer
ring to the act of the Tennessee
Legislature, May 9th, 1861, provi-
ding for raising and equip
ping provisional force of
$4,000 men for the defense of the
State, and after admitting that
there was no money in the Treas
ury of the State for such purpose,
Gov. Harris was asked:
Ouestion-How did you obtain the
money used in the equipment OF these
troops? Did you obtain it by the VOL
untary action OF parties or by the ex-
ercise of the cOercive powers vested In
you? State if this force in your hands
was not of such character as to make
resistance on the part of the officers OF
the Bank impossible. : =
Answer-The OH section Of the act
of May, 1861, above referred to, au"
thorized the Governor of the State to
issue and dispose of s. 900 900 of the
State for the purpose OF carrying out
the provisions of said act. AS necet 81
ties for money TO organize and equip
the force presented themselves, L
issued the bonds, but finding no sale
for the bonds in the market to private
parties, l resolved that the three prin-
ciple banks in the state 4. e): The
Bank of Tennessee, The Union Bank,
and The Planters Bank, should take
bonds aud furnish the necessary
funds.
The officers OF the Bauk of Ten
nessee were in full sympathy with
me, but that bank was unable to meet
the financial necessities, and the
officers assured me without the CO.
operation of the UniOn and Planters
Banks / would not be able to raise the
amount of funds necessary.
The Governor the n explains how
he interviewed the officers Of the
Union and Planters Banks and
stated that he had the power to
seize and control their assets, which
he admits he would have done, and
placed them in the hands Of re-
ceiver. Mr.. Fogg's explanation of
his vote to take the war bonds, as
above quoted, shows that he under
stood the situation, and he knew
enough of Gov. Harris to know
that he meant business.
Again we quote from Governor
Harris deposition
Question-YOu state in the above
answer that you were resolved that the
assets OF these banks should not be
used against Tennessee or the Confed-
| crate cause--tO the extent necessary
! should be used in support Of that cause,
and should not have hesitated TO order
the seizure OF their assets at any time.
| Please now state if you made this re-
solve known to the officers of the
| Planters aud Union Banks?
AnsWer-My last visit To the L MON
| and Planters Banks, above referred to,
was made for the express purpose Of
making the officers of said banks un-
derstand, and 1 left them satisfied that
they would be compelled to cooperate
with the Bank of Tennessee in meet
| ing our financial necessities. ! had
| fire. quently resOrted to all other argu-
ments that | could command. and felt
| satisfied that this was the only one
that would be successful.
On cross-examination he was
asked to explain what force he would
have exercised to enforce loan on
the war bonds and replied:
L mean that If the officers
officers of the banks had refused to
obey an order to deliver the assets TO a
receiver, | should bave sent a file OF
soldiers to execute the order or to see
that it was executed.
Now is it likely that the Gov
ernor would resort to such violent
measures to carry out his plans
with men of high character like
those connected with the Union
and Planters Banks, without avail
ing himself of all the aid that could
be given him by the oihcers OF the
Bank of Tennessee, who, as he
says, and which was true, were in
full sympathy with him. The Off
GERS of the Bank of Tennessee were
straining every nerve at that time
to raise money for military pur-
poses-for aiding the Confederate
cause-and it is preposterous to sup
pose that their circulating notes were
not issued in aid of the rebellion.
No sane man in the State, who
knows anything at all of the facts,
doubts for one moment that such
was the case. The facts may
never be made out to the satisfac-
ton of court, but the people of
the State, if they ever have to pay
these notes, will know that they are
paying an unjust debt Illegally con-
tracted.