Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-15
For the Patriot
For the Patriot W
To the Directors of the Northwestern
Railroad. and Others.

t'ci mas DceH partly Int Cduse Vi t"o VI
your Presidents resigning, and producing
law suit, much i'll will and damages, (and
think you have managed your road as they
did the bridget 1 will state some of the facts
hoping it may cause you and others to be
more cautious how you act for if was born
and raised in the South, without education
or trade, and have worked as negro, both
day and night, body and mind, will not be
treated as a negro. and iDsulted and damaged
; by Southern men to support Northern sharp
ers in their idleness and extravaganza, with
out rescnting it.
gave $3.50 to build said bridge, put my
self TO some trouble and expense to get the
County and individuals to contribute, went
South to examine bridges and there came a
|. Dragging Northern sharper. and DIR. Carter,
Mr.. a. Brown and others made contract
with him and Mr.. S. Demoss, as you did with
Messrs. Becker aud Rusk-got themselves in
debt and sued for damages, as has been the
case with you, and the bridge was rotting
and likely to fall down. At their request,
again took charge of it, paid the debts, re-
leased them and completed the bridge at
cost to me of about $4,000, got one of my
best negroes wounded, and exposed the 9th
ers and myself in various ways; and l sup
pose Messrs. Carter and Brown are aiding you
to get Others to pay your debts, as l did
theirs l will thauk them and Col. Stevenson
to correct part of what has been said about
the bridge, myself, and my three toll gates,
and take some of the blame on themselves, or
may say some other things about them, you
and your road, which Mr.. Meigs says runs
through the greatest and best iron region on
the globe. 1t will add to his credit and the
wealth of his country if he will let others see
it, for three furnaces and three forges have
been stopped there for the want of iron ORE
md Mr.. j. L. Bell is hauling pig iron twenty
miles by them to his forge and for what is
)r what is not on the globe. is beyond my
comprehension, and will leave that for Mr..
Meigs to say, though will say to him that
have seen an iron region in Missouri which
think is as far superior to his as he thinks he
to me.
l wish it to be understood that l have great
respect for good lawyers as lawyers, for in
many cases think one is worth more than
two preachers, doctors or mechanics
Though | think l know as much about iron
md roads as they do if you will get General
Zollcoffer, some other man that will stand
md die by his figures and statements to say
and let me see that he has the means to build
the road without increasing debts on my
country and children, will give him some
,1,-ia %;
others. If Mr.. G. had taken my advice.
think you would have got twice the work for
the same money, and kept out of debt and
trouble.
think my road is protected by law. and
have but one gate. | was told | would be
paid damages, as had been other roads.
was offered a good situation on the Chatta-
nooga road, and was twice told could be
the President of your road, and refused all
three of the offers, and if you think did it
to protect my little road, that was already
protected, you must think am much of a
fool. | will try to convince you that l am
honest and liberal and did aid your road
about two years, and until saw it must fail,
as did the bridge, and would have acted as
liberal towards you and your road as did to
the commissioners and the bridge, if you had
treated me as the commissioners of the bridge
did, though / suppose you, or your aids,
thought because worked like negro that
was unworthy of notice, and was a fit subject
for Insult and ridicule, which have been heap
ed on me freely by your engineers and others.
| think part of it was to hide your situation
and to get an excuse for your failure for il
you had had the money. you could have gone
On with the work. And | again say, think
that you and your road are situated as the
commissioners and the bridge were, aud /
would respectfully ask the commissioners to
explain how that was. and how / acted, for
have been damaged and slandered for my
kindness to them. value my reputation
more than 1 do my life or property, and
have cause to regret that was raised in the
South, and had skill. energy and capital, for
it has been the cause of i'll will where there
was friendship.
/ have left some papers at the Patriot of
fee from which you may learn something
about the bridge and me. 1 will thank you
10 see lne DTluSe anu my nelSnDOrS-the
timbers marked s. w. A" and the roof was
added by me.
Thinking this is the best place for the brag-
ging stock, / re-publish what is below for
their benefit, and advise all working men TO
give way to them, or they may be treated as
as have been.
I think you and the builders of the bridge
would do well to buy me out, and / will try
to go on the Henderson road and help them
to supply you with coal to work up that iron.
Colonel STEVENSON said that if the tax was
voted, you would resign, as he had done.
think a favorable report from Board of Di-
rectOrs, that was not sued for damages or en-
dorsers on Mr.. BEcKER's notes. and perma-
nent location of the line of work. would do
much TO restore confidence and get new stock
along the road, and stop opposition.
As my health and education are bad /
hope you will forgive mistakes, for want
peace. if | can get it fairly.
Very respectfully.
s. w. ADHESION,
A Ne :halic.
CuFSNTrr GRoyr Juno IL 1850