Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-11
ArrIrnI oF PassenEer Trains.
n.nnrtnrr. nr Freirht Trnins
Merchants Nee tIHg.-.The Louisville and
Nashville Railroad.

Merchants Nee tIngs--The I'oHisVile an
Nashville Railroad.
At an adjourned meeting Of the merchants an
business men of Nashville large number bein
in attendance-held at the courthouse Saturda
evening December s, the report submitted to tn
meeting. December 3. was read and adopted by
unanimous vote.
Mr. JAMES NJ. HAMILTON, from the committee max
ing the report, then submitted the following resO
lutions
WHEREAS. For several months past shipment
over the Louisville and Nashville Railroad have
been frequently. if not generally, irregular and un
certain Of delivery in many instances freight hav
ing been sent the entire line of the road South
ward without any manifest of destination consign
meut or charges therefor, thus rendering accurate
deliveries impOssble; involving the business of the
road in confusion producing serious Inconvenience
TO shippers and justfying public complaint sub
jectng much freight TO damage and loss and the
; road to pecuniary Hahilty therefor; and in as
much said road, in the absence of river naviga-
ton is the most direct if not the only means open
10 and many others. by which to draw supplies
from the vally of the Ohio rivers and patrons and
stockholders of said road, both for public eonve-
nence and our own profit we desire the same should
be reliably efficiently and economically operated, TO
allthe ends and purposes of railroad; holding that
to deserve public patronage is the surest means to
permanently command it, and thus give security to
the value OF the capital stock Of the enterprise;
and whereas. the present President and Board Of
Directors of said road do claim a right,
the official power of discrimination in favor
OF freghts intended for distribution South of and
beyond Nashville, over the same description of
freights to Nashville and have exercised this claim 70
the grevious injustice of Nashville shippers by
charging them much higher rate than IS exact
ed from others for the description of shipments
over the same distance OF road, and we have good
reason TO believe that this unjust discrimination,
1t has been heretofore exercised, will be renewed
whenever the competition of river navigation shall
cease 10 restrain IT, holding that the spirit of the
enterprise and its main purpose was and is adYan-
tage fairly to all concerned, exclusive advancement
10 none land recognizing tins whole rule of discrim
nation as usurpati0n unsanctiOned of justice and
unwarraRted by the spirit the letter Of the roads
charter therefore
RESOLVED. That as patrons of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad, regret that during the press
ing need of the efficient service Of said road, which
has existed for the past several months it has fallen
short Of the expectations and demands upon it. and
as stockholders condemn the confusion and irregu-
larity which have generally existed in the trans
portatiOns and delivery Of its freights.
Resolved, 1t is the sense of this meeting that the
Superintendent OF freight transportation is specially
responsible for these abuses, and we view with dis
trust and disapprobatiOn the continuance of his Off
cIal connection with the road, without strict inves-
tigation Of his official conduct by those managing
the road as representatives.
ReSoiued 1t is the opinion of this meeting that
both the interest of the road and the convenience of
shippers at this point will be better served by al
lowing the merchants and shippers Of Nashville a
voice in the recommendation of some suitable and
competent person as freight agent at this depot,
since it would be more pleasant to Nashville ship
pers to have their business relations with one know
ing and known to them, and the road would be
thereby more strongly commeded to favor and
patronage.
Resolved That neither the charter of the road nor
evenhanded justice afford any good reason why
those whose labor and means have in part built |
the road shall be charged more for the same |
awrapa rf tod fapun pfI0 vfr
have in manner contributed to its construction,
and whenever Nashville shipper sends freight over
the entire line of the road from Louisville, he is
titled 10 do at the lowest price charged others for
the same description of shipments from the same |
point and over the same distance of road.
Resolved That in as much as the President and |
Board of Directors have, on application, failed t. /
recognize what we deem our rights as shippers, IN |
this respect, we recommend reference of the mat /
ter 10 the Courts for adjustment, and the most |
practicable means of securing this end, we suggest |
that those of our merchants and Stizens having &C
counts with the road shppers shall pay the same
prize charged others for the same services by the
road, and refuse to pay all excess above this until
their rights and duties in the premises shall be judi
cially determined But in order TO prevent all en-
barrassmen to the road further than is necessary to
establish such rights We may have under the |
charter desire, if possible to test the right to
these determinations by single agreed case, and |
by the speediest and cheapest means.
ResOlCei, That the Chairman of this meetin 6 APP |
point a committee of three to receive subscri ptOns
and employ counsel to rights as sci forth
in the foregoing resolutions.
Mr.. T. L. BRANsFoRD inquired Of the committee If
the road had not been managed as to involve |
forfeiture OF its charter, and if it would not be ex
pedient to assert the forfeiture;
Mr.. Nancy, from the committee remarked that he |
believed there had been certain things done in the
management of the road unwarranted by, and even
forbidden by the charter and the argument might be
~. L.
lated the conditions upon which it granted, had |
thus subjected to forfeiture. Whether, however,
there was sufficient cause to involve the validity of
the charter, a serious question, and not to be |
settled by the opinion of one man, by this |
respectable meeting For this reason, he would not
express an opinion on this point. As the question
of eKpelency, for himself, he not disposed |
to make 50 embarrassing question, since he be
leved upon fair and impartial administration of the
road it could be made to cminently the conve
QsRessad advantage Of all interested it, either as
shippers or stockholders. And without going into |
argument here he would state it as his opinion, that
the law creating the road charter did amply provide
for the security Of all concerned and the courts
when properly applied to would protect the interest
of all His purpose was not to ihjure the road but
to reform all abuses in it, and such he hoped and |
- elieyed the purpose Of all present Let no eff
F6rt be made to take away the charter, but rather
let all efort z made to enforce the management of
the road in compliance with the charter. The |
committee to whom this matter was referred
was in the main composed of merchants command
ing and entitled to the confidence Of their
fellow-merchants and the community, and | can
say have faithfully addressed themselves to the mat
ter Of their communtys interests and Just rights
they confident, have in their report and |
resolutions set forth all they thought it imPor-
tant or expedien to do. Pc thought could pro-
cure relief from the matters mentioned in the report
we should be satisfied and others would hav
cause to be dissatisfied. He hoped the meeting
would coincide with the committee.
Mr. BRANsEOBD said he had made his remarks |
rather inquiry than suggestion for any action
further than the committee suggested.
After some further informal discussion
On motion of Mr. JOHN LELLYErT the resolutions
were adopted by unanimous vote
Mr.. Nancy asked leave Of the meeting for an ex- |
panaton and it being granted he stated that at the
t.st annual election for Board Of Directors the
CITY Council Of Louisville had, some days before
such election instructed their Mayor TO vote the
CITY stock for the present Board The merchants of
Nashville had Indicated a strong desire to have
a merchant Of their selection put the Board and
70 o. tain this sent strong deputation Of mer-
chants to Louisville This deputation on arriving
at Louisville requested the Mayor to cast the vote Of
his city for their choice instead Of oneof the board
for whom he was instructed TO vote. The Mayor,
upon consultation with other gentlemen, members
of the City Council, expressed himself satisfied
with the reasonableness OF the request and prom
ised ae gentlemen from Nashville to vote
in accordance with their wishes but in the election
voted for the entire old board These were the
facts in the case and the first public meeting here
in regard to the road some of rmerchsnt-friends
stingng perhaps under the disappointment Of fail
ure IN the purpose Of their mission to Louisville,
had made use of some bitter and harsh expressions
in regard to the Mayors action, which, upon explain
nptG up