Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-25


ration Of Nashville to the Northwestern RailrOsd.
The amount to be taken is between 100000 sAd
100000 or such an amount viii run up the city
Subscription to lie Limit fixed by Law for aid in
works Of this kini--Ons fifteenth Of the taxable
property. The city already has S525,o00 Of stock
in the Nashville and Chattanooga read, and about
SIC, coo ia the Winchester and Alabams road, and
the proposition is to take sufficient additional stock
Ia the Nashville and North Western Railroad, to run
up the amount to the legal limit. As taxable
properly is twelve mllliens, the one-sfteenth is
$500, 600. 1t is eontendsd that, notwithstanding
the fact that the city owes $525o00 Of Chattanooga
stock stili her subscription was only $780, 600, on
which she earned $4,000, 6fty Of which she sub
scribed 10 Winchester and Alabama road. and TWEEN
ty-fve che retains. subsequently, che city assumed
debts in the Planters and Union Banks for the
Winchester and Alabama read amounting TO SIG, 600
or S27 000 and Increasing her subscription in that
said road by that amount Therefore, it is contend
ed that as the city has only 100000 in the Chatta-
nOOgs road, and SIC coo in the Winchester and Ala
/, bams road, she can take 1921, 600 Of additional
stock in the Nashville and North Western Railroad.
Or deducting the $50, 600 of stock exchanged with
the Winchester and Alabama road, she can take
$4,000 in the proposed work
As the election is 10 be held on the first Saturday
in June, public speaking is going on every night,
by the friends Of the road in various paris Of the
city. The campaign was opened on Monday evening
ct the Market House, by Col V. K. STEvESsoS the
President Of the road, who addressed very respec
table audience for upwards Of hour, in which he
undertook to show the means and the necessities
and the importsncs of this particular road. He
stated the necessity for immediate action, to be,
that if certain amount Of actual solvent subscrip-
tiOns were not made by the lst of February next,
the State aid would be lost And besides this work
had been permitted to slumber long, and it is Of
the utmost importance 10 every citizen Of Nashville,
whether he be merchant, mechanic laborer, or pro-
psrty-holder that the North Western road should be
built, snd tAst Immediately. Col. STEVENSON went
into detailed statement of the assets Of the road,
in the way of subscriptions Stale aid, second mort
gage bonds &c,-shoWed the advantages Of buying
iron while it can be purchased at q low rate, and
closed this part OF his argument by saying, 'Such
is the road which the people are told will not be
built. Such is the road which is attempted TO be
cried down by its enemies. 1t is the most SANDER
ed road in the Union" [Chsers.] @COl. s. referred
to his difficulties in building the Nashville and Chat
and Atlantic road, and said that al he had prOmis
ed had been complied with. The city of Nashville
had been largely the gamer by her aid to the Chat
tanoogs road, and even il she lost 100000 On
her half million of stock in this road, she was
amply compensated in the fourfold increase Of
her property and trade. He referred to the
agement of the North Western road, and replied to
all the objections he had heard against it-endeav
Ored 10 show its advantage to all cssses-the rich
and the poor-tbe tradesman and the artisan. He
pointed out the route oR the map, and showed how
rival cities were trying to go around US with the
Louisville, ClarksviIe and Memphis road within 40
miles on one SIDE and the CinoinBat DAnville and
McMinnvills road within 40 miles, on the other
side, and stated chat he had no more interest in
the matter than any other citizen who has the good
Of the city at heart. He had lived here from boy
hood-had no private interest the proposed
road, in property or anything else.
Col s.. in stating the opposition to increasing
our, taxes, said we knew nothing about taxes
we were children in that line-snd pointed to the
taxes Of Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati, st. Louis,
Charleston ana ether cities, where the taxes were
much higher than in Nashville. In fact, no grow
ing city pays such small taxes as the city Of Nash
Vile Our Slate aid 10 iberal-yery liberal-snd
he showed what Louisville and other cities had done
without Strte aid. Referred 10 the former opposi-
ton to internal improvements in Tennessee, and to
his own efforts in behalf of the general system
adopted by the State. And what pity that this
road cannot be let alone, and 60 on to compile
ton, instead of being put into Court BY citizens Of
the county, and charged with squandering its means
by lawyers who had been bought up for the Ooca-
kol nof haau andn cd
&C. He closed by reminding the people that it would
take 1850 votes in favor of the measure to carry it,
because the laws requires vote in favor equal to
majority Of the votes cast at the last Governors
election.
After Col Stevenson concluded, R. J. Meigs, Sr.
ESQ, took the stand, and said it near ten
o'clock, he would not attempt to make speech. He
said was simply question, not whether we would
be taxed by any legislative power, bat whether we
will tax ourselves. II o matter Of interest to
our people, whether not they want the road, and
we're willing to help pay for it. Mr.. NJ. defended
Col. Stevenson on the Of salary, and thought
1t was nothing but right for him to be paid for his
work. He presented general view Of the subject,
showed the Importance Of the North Western road
10 Nashville for all time to COMETS advantages to
the trade and property Of this city; and argued
evidence the good which the Chattanooga road has
already accomplished; by enhancing the trade, by
increasing our population; by bringing into requis
tion steam engines to our shops and mechanical es
tablishments by giving work to additional numbers
of mechanics in every branch Of business by build
ing up our admirable school system; and by giving
an energetic impulse to every branch of trade and
merchandise. .
Mr.. Meigs made some very striking illustrations
in favor of the proposed road, and closed amid
cheers from the crowd.
T. D. Moseey, Esq, then took the stand in oppO-
sition to the gentlemen who had preceded him, and
said he thought Col. Stevenson was trying to make
personal matter Of it, and that he had compliment
ed himself a good deal, and Dragged about what he
had done. Sc. He was attorney in the suit now
pending in relation to the Davidson county bonds,
dif he had been bought up, he was hOnorably
boueht-he was employed as any other lawy er wss
Mr.. MoseIy went into q statement Of the history o.
the road, and endeavored to show nismanagemen
AMI how fun de had been sQuandered, Sc.
While he was speaking, we left the Market House
and did not hear the conclusion Of his remarks, oil
the reply Of Colonel Stevenson, after he had con