The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-05-27
80 o 0AgGR @@WM@p
For the Cnlcdoninn.

Mr. CHADWICK; In your nCtcc of the vex-
atious proceedings instituted in Grafton Co. N.
H., rs the Directors of the Conn. and Pass
Rivers Rail Road Co, you have very properly
ascribcd the origin and agency of these pro-
ceedings to few interested individuals.
Although the proceedings are in the name
of the State, and ostensibly in accordance with
the official duties of the Grand Jury and the
Solicitor for Grafton Co., yet it is due to the
great body of the people Of New Hampshire TO
cay, that these proceedings nre almost every
whore reprobocd aud condemned. Even IN
Hnverhill, the agency in getting up these pros.
ecutions is confined TO a very small clique
The better and moro rational part of the peo-
pie openly and decidedly condemn them, and
feel mortified that such malcvolence should
exist in their community. 49,.
1t is no longer an experiment or matter of
theory whether the eubank mcnts of the Rail
Road within tho waters of the Conncctcu ut in
jure or impede the navigation. AT the hear
ing before Judge Gilchrist, in FEBRUARY last,
upon the application for an injunction, it was
proved to the satisfaction of the Court by the
testimony ofncariy all the river men and pi.
lots that the aforesaid entertainments actually
improve the navigation al certain places and
iniure it nowhere. More than 50 afidavts
went clearly to establish this fact.
The Solicitor or Counsel for the State, was
Obliged to abandon, and did abandon at said
hearing, the plea that the navigation was in
jured, and confined his complaints to two sim
pie points,
1t has, ,I..l H.. h
the jurisdiction OF New Hampshire, il was n
trespass upon her sovcreignty-G per praesta-
aud therefore should be enjoined,
ID. That although the river at these
places was now sufficient for all the purposes
of floating ~ tying up boats, lumber, RATS &c.
yet as the places occupied BY The entertainments
had been sometimes used for tying up RATS,
&c therefore the injunction should be grant
cd, because if one set of men might take pos
session of one part of the River, another might
take another portion of it, and 60 on until tho
whole is occupied!
Bat The Court decided otherwise and refused
10 graattke Injunction
- The recent indictments and arrest of
some of The Directors is in pursuance of the
Vindictive threats fcertan men in Haverhll,
Rumney, and Meredith, that the Connecticut
and Passumpsic Rivers Rail Road should new
or he built to Wells River.
Those threats,so arrogantly and 5oisterously
made, they are now attempting to execute
But they only meet the frowns of an indignant
public and are securing to themselves n most
infamous notoricty.
The question whether the Rail Road Com
pany have done an illegal act, virtually
settled by the Judge ofthe Superior Court on
the hearing for an INDUCTION, and these men
who are now getting up these prosecutions
have not the most distant idea Of succc ding
in their attempts. But so long as they can
raahe the State a party, they avoid all costs
themselves, while they are enabled to crafty
q very prominent constituent of their nature,
10y annoying and vexing an interest they would
gladly destroy,
It's worthy Of notice that the Vermont Cen
tral Rail Road, between Windsor and the
mouth Of White River, occupies quite as
much land forme rly within the banks of the
Connecticut River, as does the Passumpsic
Rail Road north of the latter place, and is con
sequently liable to the same process.