Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-03-29
The 'ermont Central Railroad.

tral Railrol, which took place last week, ma
turally cXclld IA good deal Of surprise, and has
been made te subject of unftvorable comment
in various qprters. We noticed the decline of
the Stock VIII great regret, both because we
were sorry twitness such an apparent evidence
of embarrassment in the affairs of one of our
great and imortant public works, and because
it unavoidabJ occurs that the depreciation of
public confluence whether Justly or not, in any
one, of the cterprlses in which so much capital
is cmbarkodm our State, and before either of
them is fully:ompleted and standing by its own
strength injriousy affects the whole. Such
great works re more intimately connected with,
and depended on, each other, certainly while
they are in rocess of completion and before
their rcmuncating resources are practically
seen, than tits commonly supposed. What
ever opinions nay have been, in the beginning,
entertained, il regard 70 the dcsirablenoss of
eth Of the great lines of Railway that now
reach Lake Ciamplain from the Atlantic, it is
certain that CRY large amount of money has
been invested in both, by great number of
people who had faith in tie representations that
were made to them Of thr cxcclenc of the in
yestmcnt; both nave their tracks laid on their
whole line; and both are precisely in the cond-
ton where the nd and encouragement of Judi
cious conideWc on the plt of the public is
cmincnly required, TO enable them to demons
tratc, fully AMI fairly, their public and private
MI 4, T., =, -
things, We can conceive of nothing more unjust
and widely injurious, thln that false runors
and needless excitement should occupy the
community, in cgard to either of these roads
They are d" fixed facts"-fXed by energetic
heads and arms by generous contribution OF
foreign AMI domestic capital, and by the iron
ligamcnt that binds them them to our soil They
are to be regarded as part and parcel Of the Gle
ments both Of Our prosperity and pride, be
encouraged, ald?d, protected from imputations
that are unlounhI, AMI that result in nothing
but bad consequences. A Railroad Corpora
ton is comparatively a detcncelcss thing, while at
the same time, immense interests depend upon
its ability to resist attack Those who best knou
the justice or I'M lsticc Of any camor that may
lsSall it and nirc its vital powcr-;ts credit
ire in measure prcclulcd from resisting, OF
liscredted by reason of their connection with
it! We hold it be be orr duty, therefore, at al
times, as promptly To mtcrpoSc to correct lul-
JjuadH aspc:s.onS upon the arrangement of any
Of our Public Works, which iniurously affect
both public and private interests, as we would tc
expose the dishonest conduct of those who have
.hosc interests in chlrge.
We have taken 5ona pains to ascertain the
FACTS in regard 10 the minors, verbal and
printed, thit are now calling 50 large a share OF
public attention TO tn, ',irs to the Contra
road an wilt W. hr, to shy we say on infor-
nation received from reliable an authentic
sources We arc rUH9r,cci to say That the ri
nor that 50 naturally r,vr '"""l "''',,,r, -..'
lwakCn ! 20 mach cyCitcmcn. that the Dir C.
roEs OF til" Central Road, being warned by
the sha low OF coming events "a the Bos n,
NJU,'cr says 50 i tn ,ir St):i p,cyiol'ly to tn,
recent decline in It's price, Is Wt0Hy Wihoui
foundttion-a statement that may be verified By
IN inspection the Stock Books of the Company
he best evidence in the world. DIR. PECK, of om
own Village, large Stock-owI : and Direc-
tor has not disposed Of a share for more than
two years AMI we happen to knor that Gov.
PAINE and one near relative own at least : 90 :
900 Of the Stock, and, what is more that he
II rer has soid Il solitary share Of ii since the dag
u his Subscription. The Stock Books will show
We repeat, TINT there is 10 truth, whatever in
he rumor that the Directors" have sold their
Stock We believe them to be gentlemen
quite incapable Of such transaction under the
circumstances Notwithstanding as they
would be both by considerations of self-rcspect
md the most obvious motives of policy. The
fullest Investigation, We believe, will show that
hey are acting in perfect good faith, and with
he single purpose of securing the best interests
II those whom they represent.
We have before had occasion to express our
opinion Of the value Of the extraordinary ser
vices which have been rendered BY Gov. PAINE.
IN prosecuting the great work of constructing
the Central Railroad. Our opportunities for a
full acquaintance and observation of the chordc-
ter and ertent Gf these services haye been such
rs fully to warrant rs in every thing we have
said-lnd more. We feel entirely at liberty to
add that he has not only devoted his whole
tlme and placed in hazard his whole property
for the advancement of the enterprise at the
head of which lie has so long stool but that
he has done so with the most generous desire
md purpose of connecting his name HoNoRA-
BLY, with thlt great enterprise, in his native
State (which has distinguished him with mark
of her highest conidence.) and without asking
or receiving a remuneration that has been equal
to the heavy expenses he has voluntarily assumed
and paid in its behalf. We knoU him to be a
thoroughly public spirited and high-minded
man; and he has certainly exhibited an energy
and force of character in whltcvcr positions Oh
embarrassment and difficulty he has been
placed, that are sure 10 command respect, As
they are likely, sometimes, to provoke censurc