Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-03-07

joint committee appointed to review the loca-
ton Of the northern and southern railroads, up
on that part of the southern road, from Monroe to
Branch. This report, which passed the commit
tee by vote of six to four, recommends re.lo-
cation Of the road, SO as to run through Tecum-
sch and Jonesville, to Branch. Those of the CON-
mittee who recommend this report, are the Hon.
CRADLES Vincent L. Bradford, Of Berrien, A. w.
Buel, of Wayne, Stephen vickery. of Kalama-
ZOO, Andrew Dorsey. of Calhoun, Samuel Doty,
of Washtenaw, and John r. Kellogg, of Allegan.
The report is lengthy. but we cannot perceive
that they have given any good reason why the
road should be relocated.
We have received, alse, the report Of the ma
.jorty Of the committee of the senate, appointed
to consider the propriety Of the location of the
southern railroad. 1t is very able document, and
we doubt not, will settle the question, upon that
part of the road. We extract the following from
the report of the majority of the committee of
the senate:
ITO the Senate and House of Representatives
Of the State Of Michigan
The majority of the committee of the Senate,
to whom were referred sundry petitions relative
to the location Of the northern and southern rail-
roads, respectfully
REPORT:
That on the 29th Of January they met with the
select committee previously appointed by the
House of Representatives, for the same purpose
as led to their appointment and chose the Hon.
A. w. Buel, one of the members of that commit
tee, as chairman of the joint committee, since
which time they have acted with that committee
jointly.
That they are compelled to dissent from the
report signed by the chairman and five others of
the joint committee, as they consider it to con.
tain partial and imperfect view of the facts in
the case, adapted, although they would fain be.
iieve not intended, to mislead the legislaturc-as
nfounded in its assumptions, and erroneous in
its conclusions.
1t had bean determined by the committee, that
the portion of the railroad route lying eastward
of Branch, in Branch county, should be first ex-
amned. The course of inquiry adopted by tho
committee was two-fold first, as to the proprie-
~ Of the location independent Of the conduct of
the commissioners in making it.. Secondly, as to
the propriety of their proceedings in connection
with it.
The testimony on this latter point was short
and unintelligible. 1t had reference
First, to the acts of the board collectively.
Upon this point there was no testimony except
as to the letting of contracts.
The advertisement of the letting Of the con-
ira obo d In, fbroa h,,f "a
certainly did not appear that the notice had been
published in the state paper. There was no pre-
sence that actual publicity was not given to the
notice, and perhaps to the full extent that it would
have had if advertised in the state paper. 1t is in
proof that the contracts wers let very low, and
the engineer of the road and the majority of the
committee do not pretend that there was any cor
ruption the part of the board, but that at most
ii was mere informaity.
Secondly, as to the acts of individual commits
soners.
After the passage, in January last, of the reso
luton suspcnding all further operations on the
southern railroad for thirty days, it appears by
the testimony of Luther Harvey, one of the con
tractors on the southern railroad, that Genera
Humphrey, the acting commissioner on that road
informed him of the above resolution, and tina
the legislature had ordered all the proceedings t.
be suspended; but the witness told the commits
sioner that no would not suspend.
The undersigned sec nothing in the conduct O
the acting commissioner on this subject, deserving
apprehension.
A strong effort was made to show the direct in
tcrest of the acting commissioner, in lands tina
would be benefited by the present location.
Gen. Humphrey, like most of the citizens o
this state, is landholder. Some witnesses wer
found whosw vaguely to his interest in certain
large tracts of land in the southern part of Hills
dale and Monroe counties, but in the most unsat
isfactory and indefinite manner, and two @
them afterwards admitted that they were mistu
ken entirely. The undersigned respectfully be-
leave to refer to the testimony of Daniel s. Bacon
on this subject. one Of the witnesses produced il
opposition TO the location and expressly with
view to prove General Humphreys interest, b.
whom it was conclusively shown, that the state
mcnts oftho extent Of General Humphreys int,
est on the located line, were greatly exaggerated
and that, such as they were they did not equal hi
interest on the northern line. Such being tn
fact, we should not be surprised at the very grea
degree of liberality towards the acting commits
sioner, which induced the majority of the con
mittee TO declare, that :" they could not justif
themselves in inftrring or presummg that Ger
eral Humphreys interests have preponderated
yer the interests Of the state"
When the legislature perceive by a reference I
tn testimony, that there is nothing else in it, e
ther directly or indirectly eliminating the boar'
although the most unlimited range was given
the admission of evidence, affecting the commi
sioners, and no specifications of charges were r.
quired Of those making them,) they will find som
difficulty in rcconciling with ingenious feelin
towards respectable citizens, and with proper n
gard for the reputation Of public officers the COT
cluding sentence Of the report of the majority
which declares-not that the board should be col
sidered exculpatcd and innocent-not that Il
charges against them had originated in the r.
vengeful feelings Of disappointed selfshness, an
were unsupported BY any thing but lying rumor-
but that there was not sufficient "to warrant Il
committee in charging the board with corruptio
or with wanton and wlful disregard to the be
interests Of tisa state ~