Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-12
Herchants' meetfng-The Louisville
and Nashville X abroad.

Hercizants' meeting-The Louisville
and Nashville X abroad.
at an adjourned meeting of the merchants
and business men of Nashyille-a large num-
Der being in attendance held at the court
house Saturday evening, December 8, the re-
port submitted to the meeting, December s,
was read and adopted by unanimous vote.
Mr.. JAMES NJ. HAMILTON, from the commit
tee making the report, then submitted the
following resolutions:
WHEREAS. For several months past ship
ments over the Louisville and Nashville Rail
road have been frequently, if not generally,
irregular and uncertain of delivery, in many
instances freight having been sent over the
Entire line of the road Southwark without
any manifest of destination, consignment, or
charges therefore. thus rendering accurate
deliveries impossible; involving the business
| OF the road in confusion. producing serious
| inconvenece to shippers and iustiiying pnb-
/ lie complaint; subjecting much freight to
damage and loss and the road to pecuniary
liability therefor; and in as much as said
| 70 ad. in the absence of river navigation, is
the most direct. if not in the only means open
| to us aud many Others, by which to draw
| supplies from the vally of the Ohio river:
and as patrons and stockholders ofsaid road,
| both for public convenience and our own
| profit, we desire the same should be reliably,
efficiently and economically operated, to all
| the ends and purposes of a railroad; holding
1 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 right the
| official power of discrimination in favor
OF freights INTENDED tor distribution South OF
and beyond Nashville, over the same descrip-
| ton of lreights to Nashville, and have exer-
cised this claim, to the grievous injustice of
| Nashville shippers, by charging them a much
higher rate than is exacted from others for
the same description of shipments over the
same distance of road, and We have good rea-
son TO believe that this unjust discrimination,
as it has been heretofore exercised. will be
renewed whenever the competition okriVer
navigation sbafi eease 20 restrain it, we hold
| ing that the spirit of the enterprise aud its
main purpose was and is advantage fairly to
ali concerned, exclusive advancement to
| none; aud recognizing this whole rule of dis
elimination as usurpaIiOn unsanctioned of
justice and unwarranted by the spirit or the
letter of the roads charter; therefore,
ResolUed. That as patrons of the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, we regret that du-
ing the pressing need of the efficient service
of said road, which has existed for the past
several months, it has fallen short of the ex-
pectations aud demands upon it, and as stock
holders condemn the confusion and ire ocular
ity which have SO generally existed in the
transportations and delivery of its freights.
ResoLUed, 1t is the sense OF this meeting that
the Superintendent of freight transportation
is specially responsible for these abuses and
we view with distrust and disapprobaton the
continuance of his official connection with
the road, without a strict investigation of his
official conduct by those managing the road
as our representatives.
ReSoEued, 1t is The opinion of this meeting
that both the interest OF the road and the
convenience of shippers at this point, will lie
better served by allowing the merchants and
shippers of Nashville a voice in the recon-
mendation of some suitable and competent
person as freight agent at this depot. since it
would be more pleasant to Nashville shippers
to have their business relations with one
knowing and known to them, and the road
would be thereby more strongly commended
to favor and patronage.
ResoLUed, 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 service of it than is eX-
acted from others who have in no manner
contributed to its construction, and whenever
Nashville shipper sends freight over the
entire line Of the road from Louisville, he is
entitled 10 do so at the lowest price charged
others for the same description of shipments
from the same point and over the same dis
lance of road.
ReSOiUed, That in as much as the President
and Board OF Directors have, on application,
failed to recognize what we deem our rights
as shippers, in this respect, we recommend
reference OF the matter to the Courts for adj
justment, and as the most practicable means
of securing this end, we suggest, that those
of our merchants and citizens having accounts
with the road as shippers, shall pay the same
price charged others for the same services by
the road, and refuse to pay all excess above
this, until their rights and duties in the premi
ses shall be Judicial y determined. But in
order to- prevent all embarrassment to the
road further than is necessary TO establish
such rights as we may have under the char
ter, we desire, if possible, 10 test the right to
these determinations by single agreed case,
and by the speediest and cheapest means.
Resoived, That the Chairman of this meet
ing appoint committee of three to receive
subscriptions aud employ counsel to secure
our rights as set forth in the foregoing reso-
lutions.
The resolutions were, after debate. adopted.
LII on'ii "ioi "PPOih'eo -1e0oio' 4HAii l.
STRATToN. G. w. CUNNINGHAM, and r. ii.
GARDNER the committee provided for by the
last resolution.
On motion of Mr.. HU. MCCREA, the thanks
of the meeting were rendered to the commit
tee for the able and satisfactory report they
submitted in regard to the management of
the freight department of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad.
The meeting then adjourned sine die
JOHN Morrow, Chairman.
JNo. MILLER MCKEE, Secretary.