New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-04-14


you my reasons for the performance of a conscien
tious duty but may be excused when it is known
that have been misrepresented, threatened and
maligned, in consequence of the course / was re.
qured, under the obligation of my duty, to take.
desire, in conclusion to say, that in no instance
since my connection with public afairs, have been,
to my mind, more clearly and entirely right than
in the present case and, with firm reliance upon
the justice and intelligence Of the Common Council
and the assurance they will engage with me in
soctnde for those interests Of New Orleans involved
in the proper consideration of this subject. submit
my action for their approval and the approval of the
citizens Of New Orleans, who, commercially morally
aud politically all involved in the position have
assumed in their behalf.
have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
/ oHAs. NJ WATERMAN, Mayor.
Letter TO and Answer of his ExceIIency w.
McWiliie, Governor of Mississippi.
MAYoRALTY OF New ORLEANS
City Hall, April I, 1858.
To His Exceleney W. Neville,
| Governor Of the State of Mississippi:
Sir: Your presence at this time in the City Of New
Orleans affords the opportunity of obtaining from
you, as Governor of Mississippi representing the in
terest of that State in the n. o. Jackson and G. N.
hdufudu COulphugg soult IN relation to
your views, and the views of the Mississippi Stock.
holders in that Company, upon the subject of the
controversy as to the extension of the road beyond
Canton towards the Tennessee and Alabama line.
1t is asserted that those in favor of advancing
the road beyond Canton, propose the immediate ex.
tension at cost of six or seven millions of dollars
and it is stated that the Company, considering the
present state of her finances is unable in Justice TO
other interests, to entertain such proposition and
hence the determination, the part of those holding
these views to stop the road at Canton, and oppose
its further progress.
! am DESTROYS, in view of the responsible position
which occupy in this connection to learn from re-
liable source-from yourself-if it is intended, or
contemplated on the part of those you represent to
require from the Company, absolutely the extension
of the road in the direction stated at the sacrifice Of
any Of those other important interests or if, as
have learned, the State and people of Mississippi are
disposed to come forward and contribute the means
necessary to construct the road beyond Canton to the
point originally designed and agreed upon
And If it is contemplated to divert from their pro-
per and legitimate channel-such as the expenditure
necessary for REPAIRS the payment of current expen
SEES, the payment Of the interest upon the debt and
the liquidation Of matured and maturing obligations
or iabilitiesany part of the revenue derived from
the operations of the road and If any part, what
part and how much of this revenue it proposed to
use for the purpose Aforesaid,
would be obliged, by information if possessed BY
you, to the amounts that may be reasonably cacu-
lated upon from the Treasury of the State of Misss
spp-and what will be the probable action taken by
those citizens of your State the line of route from
Canton to the Tennessee and Alabama line May it
be calculated upon with any degree of certainty that
aid to any considerable amount will be furnished to-
wards the objects now under consideration?
make no apology for thus abruptly addressing
your Excellency, believing you will appreciate and
understand, that in doing so, have but the single
motive, to actin relation to the controversy now
pending upon this subject-with view to the best
interests of those represent and with the desire to
do justice in all respects to all concerned.
Your early reply, if you are at liberty to furnish
the information asked, will greatly oblige,
Your most obedient servant,
CHAs. NJ. WATERMAN Mayor.
REPLY.
New ORLEANS, April It'll, 1858.
Hon C. NJ. Waterman Mayor, etc
Dear Sir-Yours of this date has been received
and hasten to reply Congratulate myself upon the
fact however unexpected on my part, that you have
put me in situation in which | am enabled to ex.
plain to the Stockholders in the N. o. Jackson and
G. N. Railroad Company and also to the State of Lou
siana, aud the City of New Orleans the true position
of the State of Mississippi and myself as her repre-
sentative in reference TO the affairs of the Company
don't know that can do this in a better way than
by plain statement of facts, and the application of
those facts to the Law of Charter You are aware
that by the Charter, our Company is required to
make the road through the state Of Mississippi in ten
years from the date Of the same in 1852 so as to trans
port freight and passengers to forfeit our Charter
In the fall of 1857, learned that portion of our
Directors were in favor Of stopping the road at Can.
ton. After learning this, was in New Orleans late
in the month of October, and called upon Mr.. Cal
houn, the President of the Company, and informed
him Of what had heard of the purpose of Mr.. Robb
and other Directors, in reference to stopping the
road at Canton aud requested him to call meeting
OF the Board of Directors that l might learn the |
true state of facts-sayng to him, that as Director
in the Company ought to know, if such purpose
existed, and that it would very soon be my duty as
Governor Of Mississippi to know the truth upon this
point as ] would then represent the stock of the
State In the road. Mr. Calhoun, when requested to
call meeting of the Board of Directors So tgested
that the time bad one for the purpose and |
that, as Mr.. Robb, from whom the proposition had |
emanated, was absent from the city that he would |
prefer that would not press the call of meeting Of
the Directors. To this consented, informing him, |
however, that would visit the city at as early day
after my Inauguration as conveniently could, for
the purpose of having the question settled Late in
November wrote to your President, informing him
that would come to your city at any time after the
LIST of December, for the purpose of meeting the
Board This did and at the meeting of the Board,
submitted the following resolution which was, after
mature and long consideration, unanimously adopted:
Whereas, it is the purpose of this Board TO pro.
secute the works as vigorously as its means will per.
nit, in the direction of Koscils1o and north Of Can
ton therefore, be il resolved that so soon as the road
is completed to jackson, that the grading shall be
commenced north OF Canton"
This resolution l had hoped and believed would for
settle the question of the extension of the Road
north of Canton. But in this it is apparent from the
present very great excitement on the subject that
was mistaken. By whom and for what purpose this
excitement has been gotten up, it is not my purpose
to inquire further than is necessary to give you the
information asked for and for the justification Of the
State of Mississippi and myself as her representative
In what has been done in connection with this ques
tion OF extension north of Canton. From the pres
ent farore on the subject stranger would suppose