Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-01-04

road II true, that leading and intelligent men,
bpr of her Council in Resolution offered by him
denied the power of that Corporation to subscribe
funds in aid Of Rail Road "ncithcr terminus OF
which was to be located within the Corporate lin
s of the City, but the right was affirmed All" ihc
proposition carried, by vote of to 3; and sub
ssquen,ly, when another member sought 10 obtain
an expression Of opinion from the citizens upon the
pruprie,y of this movement, the proposition was
lost By the casting vote Of the Mayor. The move
ment. Of these gentlemen were doubtless ad cap
tanGunl and intended merely to feel the public
pulse; while the Mayor being ono OF the initiated,
was fully aware that all obstacles will he removed,
aud oyery objection overcome. And here 1t may
be proper to mention as forming a curious aud IN
tsres ...lg commentary upon the history OF these
proceedings, the fact that the deliberations OF the
Council on this subject were, on moti"n Of mcm-
Der, held with closed doors! Is not this q fact us
significant as il IL omnous Does it not prove, that
movements are on foot with which the public
unacquainted, and which require secrecy for their
succrss? There is but little doubt. that Augusta
will become Interested in this Road to the amount
Of three hundred thousand dolars and Savannah
to corresponding or greater extent. Are not these
significant indications Of the designs of these rrs,-
plel Are they not omnous iorctodngs of evil to
bur State, her metropolis, and her f,vorc enter
prise both Of which arc al once, the objects Of
her pride and her boast.
But, Mr. Editor, is additional evidence Of the
hostility 10 our State and her interests on the part
Of this Company wanted If SO, it is to be found
in the selection Of its President and his known op
position to Charleston and 10 the South Carolina
Rail Road. It may be true, that your c"rrcspon-
den, is better informed upon this subject than are
majority Of your numerous Readers and If 40, an
imperative sense Of duty prompts him TO the disclo
sar.. The acts of public man form portion Of
the history of the age in which he lives, and AZ
such are the fair and legitimate subjects Of public
criticism. HIRAM lIuTcnIros is now public man
and his character and conduct his motives and de-
,igns are Of course, subject to this ordeal Upon
this subject, however, VIC are adnIonshcd t" be
courteous and respectful. A just Of proprir
,y part, rs well as proper degree of respect
for the feelings Of others. alike dictate this
And we must be permitted alan. utterly to diSclam
any intentional disr-spcct to Mr.. ICTcnwoN: For
it is with the public man rather than the private
citizen, The President Of Company, and not Mr.
lIv1crsoS, that we intend to deal. Besides, hi.
motives and designs firm prominent place in the
ric,urc and are tho most salient points Of this
teri. e. They are prominent objects in the path
vf duty; and are therefore, not remotely or
collmcrally, only, but directly the subjects of fair
and legitimate comment for af:-. -'!i H. :" 'i.-.
grew, ,,eua 1u, rrunt-.he living cmboimcnt-of
this Company to whom al ollrcr and opposing clc
mrnts, must ultimately become subordinate. Pos
ses.vd of will singularly d-sro,ic and temper
that will brook npp"ition he has always either
controlled or abandoned every institution with which
he has heretofore been connected His temporary
connection with and subsequent abandonment Of
Columbia, afford proofs Of the latter proposition
while his present and long c"nt:nrcl connection
with the Bank Of Hamburg, amrIy sustain the
former For years he has controlled this latter
one dared to twa-t him in his designs or even Ia
dispute his right TO aba"luc and entire authority.
And were any Of its officers and directors bold
enough to hazard the experiment, his position in the
Bank would pay the forfeit for his temcri'y. Asa
Fnancicr. he has the honor Of being the first t'
introduce into our Bands, the system Of lending
money ad Ebitum, upon the hypothccnti"n Of the
stock Of the very institution itself, rs the security
therefor thus enabling man actually to rcnpa
profit fran his orn indebtedness, and to share in
mot a dollar in il, raniis! and 10 this mas,rrly
stroke of financial policy, is he indebted for the
foundation Of hi. present fortune.
AS Mr. llrrcIlsoN has doubtless obtained the
control of this Company for his supposed financial
skill and ability, an ausiop 10 these matters was
deemed to be not inappropriate and unntcrcstng.
THAI, he sought the position, is evident from III"
fact, that resides hundreds Of miles from the scene
Of the Company's operations, was not Interested iii
s affairs, nor had his ever been spoken of IN
connection with the office, until the assembling of
the stockholders for the purpose Of organization.
1t is idle and improbable 10 suppose that the stock
holder, in projected Railroad in the Valley of the
Savannah River remote from New York, would,
unsolicited and unnflucnccd, have dreamed Of Sc
lrcng for their chief officer man who was not
only not Interested in their enterprise, but who
not q resident Of their Slate Particularly rs
there are among them. men whose intelligence and
nualifcutinix otlipr Of fl,i, |
Sort would put TO blush those Of this financial sage
of Wall Street. Nor the supposilion, that Mr.
IIUTcnIsuS sought an interest in this enterprise aS
IN investment fur his money, or from Jealous and
conmendable pubic spirit, be entitled to much
sideralun among those acquainted with tho cllarac
ter OF the man.
But that Mr.. EIuTcnrsoS had IN object in i,lcnti
flying himself with this enterprise, and getting the
control of its affairs, beyond that Of ncre desire
to pocket the salary of sinccure place. is obvious.
His hostility to the South Carolina Railroad Com
pany is old and deeply acatcd 1t had its origin
many years ago from an Intellectual attempt 10 OBJ
tain the control Of its affairs, and to shape its nan
cia policy: And though failing in this, he was in
The constant habit, for years, of obtrutng his advice
in the management of its matters upoa those who
had them in charge. This was borne for a time
until its constant iteration became irssome and an
noyins, and lie was very plainly told that the COM
pany deemed itself capable Of managing its own
affairs The time has now arrived when he can
demand the "pOund Of flesh !" The opportunity
is now offered him Of nl;ciing blow at its pros
pcrity from which perhaps, it may never fully re-
cover. He knows that the building Of the Road