Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-03-02

n OCCASIONS of mQuiSltl0n, n, ito tell the truth,
on d" whole truth, and nothing but the truth" to
.s,e the facts to suppress nothing, and to state on
.;u,nly ask, has this been done, by the showing
IL" chairmain's own report? He himself calls it
o. IL. ;umrtect report" and pleads lack of time. =
an h.r;ns his labors, where? at the beginning? by
III means He begins after more than two thirds Of
~ FORK is built after almost all is contracted for
M, the first act of mine as he thinks capable of
".., ensured and what, let any just man say, is
%" sanrit and tenor of that report shown in every
wv To a,raign and to censure my management
Eas.oe,cis to 'scxarnine" the affairs of this cor
IL. .a p As he would take an account as commis-
P :'"sr appointed by County Court of a country
s .,rs co.mrtnership. In a work of millions, he
ss Srts ia show extravaganza and bad management in
SUN. transactions, which possibly may seem in his
p:es! ycry important, but will look to fair minded
W.. Wv" rery small not only in their real consequence,
' far more in the fact that only by such examples
' A. great work of millions can he find material
for his report .,
fully explained. ..,., ,.,....;,,.
~. any enquiries. He has asked questions from
.io su,.r,lin.tcs touching matters best known to
~. AZ chief in authority. Could he thus obtain
NV Iho s,,,rs information. He has censurcd me for
u" done. plans adopted. and contracts made, be-
sr, my term Why: Because not examining (if he
al not examinc) the papers on file, he has taken
~ ,rantel, this fair, impartial, just nquis:tor-
,!',t whatever was wrong, was my act-whatcver
r.. r; rl,t, the act of some one else.
/ this nv allegation only sec his report--see
., contracts of the men at the shops; all made by
,a t;wynn originally and for the kind of work he
o., ensures all charged to me because he cOnSi,l-
nrcl them as atforting matter for - his report.
W,rltl not any man of just purpose have been
r,,, :, see an exhibit such as my report has made
6n rtormatony The Legislature and the people
have been glad to it, and what Is far more I'M
s,.:s,,torv to the chairman, they have been salts
t,} with it, in advance of his repolt:-but the
es,; nan is inclined to be severe in referring it
h. it "a report not authorized by the directors,
"a fr Is their journal shows, provided for in the
charter ard bylaws of the company, which has 50
u,n.l DELAYED our enquiries This is very severe
Al nv "r,,ort extra in,ry," which fattered my
f The chairman migh read, digest and at least not
condemn. in such unqualified terms.
The chairman, sir, has been very hard to please
or to satisfy He commences by proposing in his
mace a proceeding not warranted by the act of in
oror,tion as he states in his first letter to me he
nr,,o<.s in the midst of his duties legislator.
fra ,w weeks, to undertake the herculean labor of
Investigating the affairs of large corporation
through nine years of its existence! An absurd
mpos<bility! For it might be questioned by some,
# he could do it in nine twelve months. Being
allowed by courtesy of its authorities to proceed
he pe,seS in this adventure, he rapidly grows ar
rogant; takes 1.-The papers and books into posses
SION and the men into custody; grants leave OF
absence and "orlcrS" attendance at his pleasure.
But not satisfied with this, in which he is INDUCED
as harmless tiourishng in tine way OF 'brief author
ir. he applies to the Senate for still further pow
e-ths already potential chairman-"tO send for
persons and papers and to examine under oath" al.
though he had sir, | pray you to mark, all he re-
duire,l 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 imputation of having withheld what HI
required for his enquiry, and an nsinuaton thai
serious difficulties had occurred He asks for infor
nation only from s;lbordnatcs, wholly ignoring thu
all or existence of the chief officer; he refuses t,
this official the use of his records; he complains
first because forthcoming report is too long delay
ell then he ilnpolitcly slurs that report when it i
issued and does not exactly suit his uses, 'unau
thorized;" he greatly lauts the chief engineer Q
construction, and he greatly censurcs his acts; h
thinks, upon the whole, rather we'll of the cOmpa
ny's shops, but he objects to the houses; he bt
comes soon learned in the arts of railroad manag,
ment, and condemns emphatically cur running
trains: he finds the train thought our best an
NEST profitable one is sinking much per mont
that it is fortunate for the road receipts he did
figure out the other train; he proves to his ow
satisfaction that there ought to be large surplus
tie treasury. VIC nave tllOtlSut OuIScNeS uOl1S vet
well to be out of debt and to have a small one
Finally drawing his labors to close, he apparent
relentS from his stern character OF prosecutor tn
part Of the State, so far unHaveringly maintained
AM, for a moment, ''the quality of mercy" allows
"that IN the management Of 50 ertcnsire road, III
mast sigilant and judicious administration maigl
c"mmit errors - but he concludes with this vc
dict" that this road has been badly managed b
the president and directors" How -" In the pa
tcllarS which have lppn able tn examine I'll
time and under the circumstances, herein set fortl
In many important particulars, We have made 4
examination
give the chairman the full benefit of whatev
publicity this paper may confer on his "cOncl
sion"-because intend to make witness of hin
and he shall not have to say that suppressed ar
portion of his conclusion"
My respect, sir, for your honorable body wou
not allow HE to speak harshly of the chairman or
his report, even if | was disposed to do so,
deemed it worth while have referred to the dc
,'ment as the chairman's report and shall sta
here what have right to say, and whit will n
be dened-that of the signers, the senatorial assoc
ate has given very occasional attendance on al
meetings and very little aid in any enquiry. l sta
further that rarely in any meeting of the commit
mas there been general attendance: Of cours
therefore, it has been signed the faith of the cha
mans enquiries.
But sir, what, after all, has been the value Al
the effect Of this examination the Legislature
to the State? Does the report give you the cost
the road in figures? Not at all. Does it give ye
lot general information, any account of its busint
IN the past and its prospects in the future-defini
y! None whatever. Is there single specii
1on Of Encouragement shown, in bad polcy-n'
sct Of duty-danger to life, or loss Of property
Not one. Is single inaccuracy or misstatemt
Shown in my reports? Not one 1t is altogetl
made up ofvery small things-full of mis-statemen
winch | have corrected-full of errors, which
nave exposed and bears upon every page a ma
isst spirit of censure-almOst but not altogetl
throughout, for the closing page makes full amend
snail then be at trouble to defend myself, and
u. eenounce the chairman By no means. He is
aued to my best acknowledgements. Ireturn Il
paostcty my thinks His examination has been
immense ~ value to this much abused public wo
about which absolutely nothing was known or
aerstood heretofore, in directing public attention
us condition, and in causing that general interest
S ~ eit IN the reading of its Report which was ne