Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-05-20
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE JAMES
RIVER AND kANAWnA COMPANY.

act OF the board beng wholly unexpected, anu nav
ing been consummaied withou, any previous ,nna'
ton of their intention, you might be led believe
that some supposed derelctipn Of duty had oeen
suddenly revealed. which rendered imperative the
r,ost severe aud decisive action. am therefore
compelled. in defence of my character. to assure
your that no such occurrence has tfnnspired That
charges, to my knowledge. have been preferred a
ganst me, and no open impeachment has been III
suted. This blow came unlocked for. while was
engaged at the board in the exercise of " hat power
possess, in discharging the duties which have de-
voyed on me IN Forwarding your interests.
Desiring to be informed Of the motives which {
would be alleged FOR my expulsion, | called this T
morning at the office Of the Company, and request
cd the Secretary TO announce To the board that ]
was DESTROYS OF an interview. lie returned with a
message from General Cooke, that the President,
Mr.. Joseph g. Cabcll. absent aud that he, +
General Cooke. would prefer that would postpone
my Interview until his return. ] requested the Sec
Rotary to Inform the board that had no business
with the President in particular, would desire 10
have a brief conversation with the board in session.
at that time.
NV reception by the gentlemen present.
courteous and kind, as intercourse had always
been. up 10 the moment when had left them on the
day before.
| stated to these gentlemen that had received Il
letter from the Secretary, on the previous evening,
announcing the fact that had been suddenly super
seeded IN my office and that, having assumed the
personal charge OF the work IN its Incip'ency. aud
conducted II onward to its present attitude, without
having hcari whisper OF dissatisfaction IN re
iaton To the falhuness Of INV discharge OF the Off
cal duties of the pest, from any member Of the Dl-
rccory had called to ask Of them, their legal
right aud power 10 elect aud dismiss their agents
they deemed would most subseye the interest Of the
Company.
I General Cooke at first objected 10 giving mo the
Information which sought and desired me waIt
for IN explanation from the President. | replied
that the members Of tho board having individually
voted for my dismissal, they were, doubtless,
formed OF the reasons which had prevailed with them
respectively. and could AS well satisfy me as Mr..
Cabell himself
General Cooke, acting as Chairman nj the time,
then proceeded 10 give me assurances that
Der OF the bnnrd had cvinced the shp htest per
| sonal hostility towards me according TO me the
highest praises for ability "talcn,," Ito USE his
language) professional skill that was amply adequate
to the conduct of the great work, "energy aud per
, severance unsurpassed" asserting that charges
had been made against me, but that the board had
deemed. under all the circumstances that the ap-
pointment ol the gentleman who has succeeded me,
(who, he stated, had, being applied TO- given some
| members of the board assurances that he would
serve II c|ected) would promote the interests of the
Company.
] replied to this gentleman that he had given me
vaty excellent reasons for retaining an officer in
place; but that had called To learn those which
had caused my expulsion and that desired to know
whether he intended me 10 understand that | was
dismissed from an office which had held so long
and which the board, by his statement admitted
Had been ably filled, and IN the discharge OF the du
ties of which had mered such cncomiums with
out having committed any rcprehenslbe fault, mani
ieStingany dereettion OF duty, evincng any neglect
OF the interests oi tho Company, and while IT WIS
conceded that the duties Of my station had been dis
charged with unsurpassed energy -
lie again desired me TO wait lot the return of the
President but being urged by me to give an ansn E,
on his own account aud Tor The gentlemen present
he stated that he would say for himself that he
hat thought that, while admitting that | was my
self energetic and vigorous in the discharge of my
duties, ] had not sufficiently preserved snbordina.
ton and attention IN the corps acting on the line under
my direction and that IN consideration of this cir.
cnmstante, together with INV treatment Of contrac-
tors aud relations to the propIietos along the work
r (the meaning OF which ! do not understautn he
thought tha, the interest ofthe Company would be
promoted by my removal and the substitution oil
Judge Wright.
then turned 10 the other members OF the board
and inquired II il true that for such charges
winch had never before been made in my presence
had been discharged abruptly from an Office had
so long filled satisfactorily, by vote that was de.
strnctnc OF my reputation. and as ruiuous to my
Character as their vote could be i-Gcn. Cooke inter
tuped me with the desire that | would wait for
Mr.. Cabellto explain it," and then added that the
board were dissatisfied thar did not advise with The
companys consulting engineer
on my asking IN reply to this If they were no,
aware that that officer had been IN Virgin, Ia,
tre months, and that | had possessed no means oil
consultations and that il thai were the cause of re
moya, whether the offence must NOT have been con,
mHted anterior 10 the last general meeting of the
stochholders-he replied with warmth that he mus
INSIST on my waiting for the Presidents expana
ton.
Tue other gentlemen prescn--Messrs Early
& sampson, h'Is and Bonduranf, said nothing on III,
OCCASION; and on leaving the board was promp ed al
my own Knowledge of how deep part the Presiden,
had acted IN the deed To admit that was cienly
acquainted with MI Cabe's resources to be satisfied
that ms explanation would be an ingenious one
There were present during this interview, besides
the members OF the Board, my successor Judpe
wright, anu the Secretary of the Company.
ms, gentlemen, is all the official information
whch have been able 10 obtain of this transaction
IL ~ not Iaid before you IN the hope expectation
OF fedress-even Il! redress be mcried. | cave The
hne and the State aud have nothing 10 hope from
my trends here, and nothing to fear from the few
enemies whom have left III the control Of your
work.
My object in addressing your through the press.
is TO offer the only which were alleged 10
me Tor my eJectment, viz
The inattenilon OF the Assistant Engineers
II, My treatment of Contractors.
~ My relations to the propretors" on the line
/ ~. Neglect To advise with the Consulting En-
gneer.
! And TO assure you that however pure and bo
nest may have been the intentions of part OF the
directory think an investigation would show that
WIN others there other causes.
IL Tue niree brst imputations contain the reasons
'e oos'o owe II 10 me il not to themselves, to ex-
paul 'ne'r meaning; and sustain the charges by
po"''"g OUT the Engineer who has been treated too
.enehuy the contractor who has been used nm
yL;.;i ""o Instance those relations TO projectors"