Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-11-27
ADVERTISEMENT.
FAIRFIELD, BEDFoRD COUNTY, TENN,

Nov. %, 1858.
70 the Stockholders both corporate and iadiridqqD
inMe Naslgile and Chattanooga Railroad Com
pdny:
do not claim to be the origin of the opposition
to the present Board of Directors. That opposition
$50 far as l have UNDERSTOOD commenced among
the tax payers in Nashville. The corporation is
stakeholder in the road, to the tune of half mil
lion of dollars-consequently does, and ought to
feel deep interest in its prosperity. These tax
payers are the immediate neighbors Of the Pres-
dent and had been for years examining and scru-
timing his course. They knew well his grasping
specializing and tyrannical disposition and that he
was plunging the road almost hopeessly into debt.
Is it any wonder then that at the last Municipal
election this subject should have been taken into
the canvass, and signal rebuke administered TO
the President? Stockholders everywhere owe the
citizens of Nashville debt Of gratitude for thus
commencing the work of reform; and l trust will
assist them in carrying it out.
Stockholders: you have all along been led TO be-
lieve that the books of the Company were open for
your inspection, whenever you desired to look into
them. But is this so? Let US see. As soon as it
was determined to have an opposition ticket it
considered all-mportant that lis. Of stockholders
should be obtained. For this purpose Dr. JAMES
OyERroS Ciimself large share holdeD at least six
weeks ago applied for list; and has at various times
since that period repeated the application, and even
though he was never positively refused the list has
never been obtained. Is it indeed truth that the
books of the Company are TO be forever sealed
books to you; and that having once committed your
interest to V. X STEVENSON you are never to be al
lowed to look into the books and find out who
are associated witt you? Dark and gloomy is our
prospect for reformation when we are not permit
ted to consult together partners Of looking
into the books to learn how our business is being
carried on; for as l have heretofore abundantly
proved there is no reliance to be placed in any Of
the reports
Having very lately understood that LEVI WADE,
ESQ, another large stakeholder living in Ruther-
ford county, and of the former Directors Of the
road had applied for list of the stockholders of his
county and had been refused, and that he also pos
sessed important information, relative to the specula
tons of the President and other rich Directors of
Nashville in the stock of the Company, l called
upon him for the facts in the two cases, and have
received from him the following statements
MURFREEsBoRo', Nov. 10, 1858.
DR.. ]. L. ARMSTRONG:
SIR-At your request, and in answer to your en-
quires, | now state that about three weeks ago |
called upon Mr. COLE clerk Of the Railroad Com
pany at his office Ior list of stockholders of my
county. Mr. COLE then alleged that he was
so constantly employed in m king oIt the account
for the Presidents report lately published that he
could not at that time attend to it, but promised
that when went again to Nashville he would do it.
Last Wednesday Doth inst.,) | called again on the
clerk for the list who then appeared to doubt wheth
er he ought to give 1t or not and said he would 90
to the Presidents Office and consult him about it
then asked him if he had been instructed by any
Of the Directors not to furnish a list? He an
swered, not directly but indirectly he had been so
instructed | then said | would go to the Presi-
dent who was in his Office and see him myself
But the clerk requested me TO be seated and he
would go and ON his return (after being absent
ne) he stated that the President said no list
could be issued without order from the Board of
Directors. | then went myself to the Presidents
Office and asked him how it was that l was refused
list of the stockholders? His reply was that he
did not intend to furnish stick to brert his olUa
heGd-and refused to let the list be furnished
In answer to your other inquiry about specula-
ton in stock further state that WILLIAMS Il
GLOVER, Intelligence Agents of Nashville informed
Inc about six weeks ago, that they We're authorized
by V. X. STEVENSON, President, &C. to purchase for
him $4,000 OF railroad stock and that they had
some time previously purchased for him $4,000 of
the stock
Another director, living in Nashville, told me
himself that he owned 100000 of the railroad stock
LEVI WADE.
Stockholders Is it possible that you will submit
to such trcatmeRt as this-and still continue these
men in office? Dark, dark they keep themselves,
and still determine to govern you. What could the
Autocrat OF all the Russians do and be more des-
potlc than this? Here also find the stock in our
road reduced, either by ignorance or design to a
ruinous point then rich President and other
rich Directors Of Nashville, buy it up to amounts
truly astounding! Where do they get the money
to operate so freely? All yes where do they get it?
Will you stand all ths2 If you do, prepare to lick !
the dust from their feet
In connection with this matter it is worthy of !
inquiry, how the seeming endorsement of a COM |
mittee OF the Board Of Aldermen of Nashville GOT |
into the public prnts-as we find it prefxed TO the
Presidents report published 3lst ult. This report |
is carried about by the county Directors and other
peculiar frlends-exhibited to the people, and that |
Preteaded endorsement trumphantly pointed out as
sustaining the whole When | wrote nv fourth
number, analyzing this report of the President, l
had no knowledge OF the manner in which that en-
dorsement was obtained, and merely used it as [
found 1t. But since that time l have received fur
Their information, and to show what desperate and
questionable efforts made to sustain the Presi-
dent, will here give the facts of the case. After
the report oil that committee was read to the Board
of Mayor and Aldermen one of the members moved
to lag the Whoemate1 on tile table, lrich motion lCas
carried By a large DadjOrty-Oaly three members TO
ting an the negGtige. Since which time it has never
been taken up from the table. All of which can
now be seen by reference to the proceedings and
records of the Board. Yet this is the report that
has lOunu us way as an introduction
TO the Presidents report; and which he Immediately
carried on to the cities Of Charleston, South Caro-
lima, and Augusta, Ga.
There Is still another matter, TO which l beg leave
to call the particular attention Of Stockholders, as
placing them in a position TO organize and 90 up
to the polls fully prepared and armed for the con-
iict. In doing this, hope and tustthere are none
who will charge me with dictation, as the course
now take has been forced upon me by circumstan-
ces and the popularity of my position Having I'M
dertaken toinvestigaie aud expose the conduct and
of the President, it was natural that
others who thought with me, should communicate
their sentiments, desires and any information they
might possess. In this way have had communi-
cation, either by letter personally, with great
many Stockholders from Nashville and from every
county on the line of the road In this intercourse
found out completely that the only chance for
proper organization, was to place before the Stock
holders the names ofsuch persons as would be suit
sble to form an able and efficient Board of Direc-
ors. In this way l have had names placed in
ny hands, asiorwarded to me from every county