Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-05-23
THE RAILROAD auEsTIoN


To the Editors Of fhs Aszphis appeal:
I see in your issue of the 2lst., a eommuni-
cation written by NinO, in which be strives to
place me in false position before the public,
and h.Pes thereby to bensf: his side Of the
question.
He says" the ball was put in motion" By
Alderman Martins speech in favor Of the Nj
Horify Report, Gad his arguments were cOnelu-
sivs as 10 ii: moral aHi legal right of the peo
pie over this question, as argument oOHd be /;
and that during The debate an admission was
elected from Alderman Street, that the resoiu-
rion Of Alderman Shsnks, which was passed
on the 26.h Of april, 1880, and which was
prior to, and made part condition Of, the sub
scriPtiOn Of S5OO,OOO to the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad, was binding on the Board;
and that if there was anything in the TesOlu-
tion to prevent an extension Of the road to the
river, then the Council would be bound to refer
the question to the people.
The above gives, substantially, the facts I;
but ! differ with gentlemen in regard to the
true meaning and spirit Of the Shsnks' TesOlu-
ton. The object in view was clearly, 1st, to
subserve the public good by having the depot
placed central to the city, and also to pre5eEt
The road from running to the Mississippi river
By t0ay Of the Cd road bed at Fort Pickering
and, as evidence Of the fact, Waldrsn offered 4
resolution on the 9Th of May, fourteen days
after Shsnks' resolution was passed, and after
the election before the people, that clearly
shows the fact; because language is used that
indicates the object beyond a Doubt In nei-
ther resolution do they say track shall Eoirun
to the river, or near it, thrOsgh the eltg; but in
both strong grounds are taken to prevent the
Company from running lateral branches con-
Meeting with the river, GboUs or bsLoW the city.
The object in view is elesr-if the Company
connected with the river out Of the corpora
ton, Of course business in the city would be
affected iuiuriously. | believe that bV leaving
the depot where it is (Which NJ. Tate says
will be done) to accommodate the travelling
public, and to enable all persons who desire to
do go 10 receive their freight there, that then
the true spirit Of Shsnks' resolution is carried
out Hence, it was, 1 was free to admit that
il Shanks' resolution was violated, it being
made part of the question voted on and viz
tually passed by the people, that The Board Of
Aldermsn could not change it, and should not
do so.
Believing as | do, as stated, that the spirit
Of Sbanks' resolution will not be violated By
the passage Of the resolutions offered by the ma
ioritv Of the Committee, concurred with them
IN the maiH. The words "tsrminatss," ard
@fhe depot is located east Uf the BayOu," is
brought up. Suppose the words used in the
resolution had been, (leaving out StsTlsinates'')
and the Depot Is located east Of the BayOu ;
would it not have retained the depot at its pres
ent location, without being changed by vote
Of the people, as sffectuslly? and would any
portion Of the citizens be subject to iHconven.
ience by running track TO the Navy Yard oI
landing for the purpose Of giving cheap transit
to through freight, or to accommodate any Of
our citizens who might prefer that point to re-
esivs their freight at, instead Of the depot
with all the privileges aud benefits that al
have a. the depot left untouched? / think il
is clear, therefore, that the Board have the
right to pass the resolutions, and that it will b
no violation Of contract, or the resolution ol
Sbanks. No citizens rights are violated
they can do ss at present, without injury or in
convenience, which is all the resolution O.
sHAxKs' contemplated.
! II some Of the oppossrs are sincere wbei
they say they would not have the road run L
the river through the sOutlerB portion Of th
city. why should they object to the aO-thsTi
portion Of the city, allowing if (the Railroad
| to run 10 a point near the river where it doe
not as shown aboye) detrset from them an
benefit they now derive at the depot or fsou
tue Railroad, and instead thereof, will Incl
IDENTIFY greatly benefit them, in ny opinion, an
especially ss there lie not one dollar Of none.
asked from any portion OF the citizens to carr
i5 through.
There is one other point I wish to notice
Niao's Communication. He says-"wben
was asked for reason why would not lssv
it to vote Of the people, ! took the high an
bold ground that the people had 10 right to
heard on The question"
I explained my position clearly it was tbs
the people had no right 10 dsmand a vote o
the question, because the compact made b
them end the railroad was EOt violated. As
understand the form Of our government, it
that all people instruct their representative
by fundamental laws-sueh as constitution
charters, &c. Is there anything ia our ehsrt'
which gives the people the right to ds@eHd
vote on an resolutions that are passed BY Il
BOARD. in accordance with the provisions OF Il
charter? / think not That being the cas-
lam correct in the position tsken-buf, as
stated, the people could iSstTsct their reprsse
tativss, by petition or otherwise, and 1t "ou
be legitimate and proper. ] also stated ina
so far as was concerned, bad no obieetiC
to giving the people an opportunity to vote
! the question, bat that ] did not believe the
had the right TO dsmsnd it. The same obJe
can be attained as is usual in such csses,-il
struet by petition. No representative in Il
legislature or Congress, on new and impOrtal
questions that come up, is expected 70 get Il
sentiment Of his constituents by vote. Th'
do, however, sometimes, ascertain BY publ