Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-02

ate the facts to suppress nothing and to state on
" known facts.
I simply ask, has this been done, by the showing
of the charmains own report? lie himself calls it |
nm "impertcct report, and pleads lack of time
lie begins his abors, where? at the beginning by !
mo means. lie begins after more than two thirds of
he work is built after almost all is contracted for
with the first act of mine, he thinks, capable of |
being censured, and what, let any just man say, is
the spirit and tenor of that report shown in every
page , To a!raign and to ceasure my management. !
lille proceeds to "cXaminc" the affairs of this cor
poration as he would take account, commits
Eoncr appointed by a County Court of Il country |
store co-partnership In work of millions, he |
seeks to show extravaganza and bad management in |
betty transactions, which possibly may seem in his
view, very important, but will look to fair minded
men very small not only in their real consequence,
but far more in the fact that only by such examples
ou of great work of millions can he find material
for his report.
Even these tri1cs have in this communication
fully explained
The chairman has studiously avoided addressing
Ito me any enquiries. He has asked questions from
the subordnates touching matters best known to
me, as chief in authority. Could he thus obtain
the fullest information? He has cenSured me for
work DONE plans adopted. and contracts made, be-
fore my term. Why: Because not examining (if he
d,l not examine) the papers file, he has taken
that whatever wrong, Was my act-whatever
waS right, the act of some one else.
Is this my allegation only?-see his report--sce
The contracts of the men at the shops; all made by
Col. Gwynn, originally and for the kind of work he
most censurcs I'LL charged to me because he conSld
cred them aiortiing matter for - his report.
Would not any of just purpose have been
glad to see exhibit such as my report has made
for information? The Legislature and the people
have been glad to it. and what Is lar more I'M
satisfactory to the chairman, they have been salts
fed with it, in advance of his report but the
chairman is inclined to be in referring it;
he calls it "a report not authorized by the directors,
50 far as their journal shows provided for in the
charter and bylaws of the company, which has 50
much delayed our enquiries This is very severe
Oh MY report extra iinary," which t1atercd my
self the chairman mi ht read digest and ut least not
condemn, in such unqualified terms.
The chairman sir, has been very hard to please
or to satisfy. lie commences by proposing in his
place proceeding not warranted by the act of in
corporation as he states in his first letter to he
proposes in the midst of his ditics legislator
for few weeks, to undertake the hercuean labor O!
Investigating the affairs OF Il large corporation
through nine years of its existence. An absurd
inpossibiity! For it mil ht be questioned by some
if he could do it in nine or twelve months. Being
allowed by courtesy Of its authorities to proceed
he peases in this adventure he rapidly grows
sion /" and the men into custody; grants "lelvc of
absence and "orlerS attendance at his pleasure.
But not satisfied with this in which he is INDUCED
harmless t1ouris,ng in the way of brief author
v, he applies to the Senate for still further pow
er-thiS already potential cilarInan-"to send 70:
persons and papers, and to examine under OATH al
though he had, Sir ! pray You to mark, all he re-
Quircd of both, which could give, freely subject
to his commands thus, by this application, casting
upon us, through the grave avenue of Legislative
action, an imputaton of having withheld what he
required for his enquiry, and an nsinuation that
serious difficulties had occurred. He asks for nfor-
nation only from subordnatcS, wholly ignoring the
all or existence of the chief officer; he refuses to
this official the use of his records; he complains,
first because forthcoming report is too long delay
ed, then he impolitcy surs that report when it is
issued and does not exactly suit his uses, "unau-
thorizcd;" he greatly lauds the chief engineer of
construction, and he greatly his acts; he
thinks, upon the whole, rather well of the compa-
nys shops, but he objects to the houses; he be-
comes soon learned in the arts of railroad manage
ment, and condemns cmphatcaly running Of
trains; he finds the train we thought our best and
most profitable sinking us so much per month
that is fortunate for the road receipts he did not
figure out the other train; he proves to his own
satisfaction that there ought to be large surplus in
the treasury: have thought ourselves doing very
well to be out of debt and to have small one
rcents from his stern character of prosecutor on the
part of the State, so far unwavcringly maintained
and for moment, 1.-THE quality OF mercy" allows
"that In tile management Of 50 erteHsice r0ad, the
most rigilant 0nd jadic;ous mlministretion might
co,nn,U errors" but he concludes with this
dict that this road has been badly managed by
the president and directors" How p" In the par
ticuars which have been able to examine, in the
time and under the circumstances herein set forth.
In many important particulars, we have made no
examination"
give the chairman the full benefit Of whatever
publicity this paper may confer on his "ccnclu-
sion because intend to make witness of him,
and he shall not have to say that suppressed any
portion of his conclusion"
My respect sir for your honorable body would
not allow me to speak harshy Of the chairman or of
his report, even if | was disposed to do so, or
deemed it worth while. ] have referred to the doc
ument as the chairmans report and | shall state
here, what have right to say, and what will not
be denied-that of the sgners, the senatorial associ
ate has given very occasional attendance on any
meetings, and very little aid in any enquiry. state
further that rarely in any meeting of the committee
has there been general attendance. Of course,
therefore, it has been signed the faith of the chair
mans enquiries.
But sir, what, after ALL has been the value and
the effect of this cxaminaton-to the Legislature OF
to the State? Does the report give you the cost Of
the road in figures? Not at all Docs it give you,
for general information any account Of its business
in the past, and its prospects in the uture-detinte
ly: None whatever. Is there single speciIca
ton of msmanagcmcnt shown, in bad pocy-neg
lect of duty-danger to life, or loss of property p
Not one. Is single inaccuracy or misstatemen'
shown in my reports? Not one 1t is altogether
made up ofvery small things-full ofmis-statements
which | have corrccted-fu of errors, which
have exposed-and bears upon every page mani
fest spirit of censurc-almost but not altogether
throughout, for the closingpage makes full amende
Shall then be at trouble to defend myself and te
denounce the chairman! By means. He is en-
titled to my best acknowledgements return hin
publicity my thoaks. His examination has been Of
immense value to this much abused public work
about which absolutely nothing was known or I'M
derstood heretofore, in directing public attention tt
its condition, and in causing that general interest
ho f,lt IN, r.;