The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-06-09
"a MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION"

In our paper today will be found a COM
munication signed observer" The writer
takes exceptions to an editorial Of ours, which
appeared few weeks since, on the ground
that the tendency of the views expressed
would be to engraft purely local policy
upon the railroad interests of East Tennes-
see. "Observer" has entirely misapprehend-
ed the spirit and Intention of the article al
luded to. We are about the last man who
would inculcate the building up of local in
terests, further than such local interests
might be calculated to contribute to the gen.
eral good. What we desired to impress up
on the people of East Tennessee was this !:
That their true policy was TO build their own
railroads, and retain their control and man.
agement in their own hands-that they were
quite as capable of managing their own af-
fairs and looking after their own interests rs
any other people, and that the effect of con-
solidatng two or three companies into one,
and making continuous line Of some five,
six, or seven hundred miles of railroad un-
der one management and that management
outside the limits of our own State, would
be to build up two purely local interests at
the two extremes of the line, at the expense
of the centre and intermediate points, there
by preventing that equitable distribution of
advantages which should never be lost sight
Of in the projection and construction of pub
JIG enterprises. This is the point which we
wished to enfoPe in our former article, and
if we were thisapprehended the fault was per
haps attributable to our want of capacity to
make ourself ineligible.
No one will accuse this paper of entertain
ing any particular Partially for Knoxville,
although we have many warm friends at
that place. While portion OF the people
of that town were opposed to and disposed to
cast distractions in the way of an enterprise
in which not only East Tennessee, but the
whole State is interested, we were not SPAR
ing either of censure or condemnation of the
narrow and selfish views by which we be-
lieved they were actuated. But now, when
we see the whole community, united and act
ing together, engaged in efforts to. build a
system of improvements which we know will
benefit all East Tennessee, Knoxville being
common centre, we are just as ready to
bestow commentator and to give them our
feeble aid, as we were to censure when we
believed they were pursuing mistaken and
injurious policy. We do not wish to see
Knoxville, or any other town, prospecting at
the expense of the adjacent and surrounding
country; but if the building up of Knoxville,
or any other place in East Tennessee, will
contribute to the welfare of contiguous sec
tons, we say speed the work."
We have had the misfortune to be fire.
quenty Inexperienced and misunderstood,
but we are conscious of having been actu.
ated by no other than the best motives. and
we think the results, so far as results have
yet been developed, justify every position we
have heretofore taken in regard to railroads.
As private citizen and a resident of par
ticular locality, we would, of course, prefer
to see the interests of that locality succeed
and flourish to the largest extent; but be-
cause, unfortunately, that prosperity may not
exist at present, itsabscence furnishes no rea-
son why we, as public journalist, should
withhold our support and encouragement
from enterprises calculated to build up other
points in our State, if we are satisfied the re-
suits to flow from their construction will not
be likely to initiate against the general good.
If our neighbor, Grimes, has the industry
and enterprise to make two dollars n day
while we are making only one, it should
create no feelings of envy ard opposition in
our breast; but, on the contrary,we ought to
feel gratifed and proud of so enterprising a
neighbor, knowing that the fruits of his in
dustry will not be confined to himself alone,
but must enter into and add to the general
welfare. And so of Knoxville, or any other
town. If large prosperity is built up there
its advantages will not be confined to that
place alone, but the healthful and stimuat-
ing influences will radiate as from n common
centre, and penetrate in every direction,
cheering and fertilizing the interests of all.
Such will be the Legitimate result of the
building of the roads now projected, having
their termination at Knoxville, il wisely and
properly managed. Knoxville will be largely
benefited; and while no particular point
may reap as great benefits as that place, yet
theaggregate ofgood to EastTennessce which
must ensue from the construction of these
works will exceed any mere local advantages
by thousand fold. This is our view of the
subject, it is the correct one, and the building
of the roads will demonstrate the fact; and
in this view we can afford to arise above the
selfish prejudices which would bind us to one
locality, and advocate such policy as we are
convinced will contribute most largely to the
general good. ~
CHoLERA.-The cholera has again made
its appearance ut Nashville, and a number of
l..,L. o..,.-oJ Al l.ot .J.,:~s. Al i. H..