Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-23
THE LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE RAILROAD.


The new Surveyor of this port notifies shippers
that on and after Monday next "permit" from him
will be necessary TO enable them to shin ANYTHING
over the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
This is road it is true it was built with our
money +; our people are now taxed heavily to pay
the Indebtedness incurred by the city in building it
this has been supposed TO be free country, in
which the citizen was only required to obey the
law; but officially informed that per.
mission must be obtained from Federal officer be-
fore cask bacon from our pork houses, q bar
rel Of -four from our mills, plough from our
ufactories, bushel of wheat from our farmers
before anything can be shipped on that road from
Louisville to any plsce-before lawful act can be
done
There isn't respectable LAWYER in the State who
doesn't know that this interference with our trade
is illegal who doesn't lnowthat bis interference with
our trade is iegal--who doesn't know that the Al
ministraton has just much authority to order
Mr.. Cotton to have the first half dozen men he
meets ia the street in the morning beheaded as to
order him to stop any shipments over the railroad
70 Nashville.
And If the Administration is permitted to do this
thing to what extent may it not go? If it may pre-
vent us from sending goods away, may 1t not pre-
us from receiving goods from elsewhere If it may
do one palpaby illegal act, shall 1t be restrained
from doing others?
We don't know, either, that this is all this occurs
ed despotism contemplates doing. We suppose the
next thing will be to examine trunks and carpet
bags is now done in New Albany and Jefferson
Vile. we suppose tney VIII IDen search persons
for contraband goods and that even ladies will be
compelled to submit 20 indgnities such as are inns
posed on ladies in st. Louis by the ruisn soldiery
there.
And If quiet submission 10 these acts should con-
vince The powers that be that we really slaves,
then Heaven only knows what else is in store for
US
One thing is certain-tbere is law for this in
reference with shipments; and resistance to any
extremity to any unlawful acts is proper, and may
become an imperative duly.
One other thing is certain-that any community
that does submit TO illegal exercise of power by
the Administration must be considered as subjects
and not as citizens as slaves and not as freemen.
We don't know Whist course the Railroad Direc
tory will take in regard 10 this order. We hope
they viii pay no attention to it. They owe it 10
themselves TO resist it by all legal means at east
and should they secure legal decision in their ia
vor, we know it is the duty OF the Commonwealth
to enforce it.
What other steps may become necessary we don't
knew.
II the Federal Government takes possession Of
this end of the road we suppose the State of Ten
nessee or the Confederate States Government will
take possession Of that part of the road in the limits
of Tennessee. They would certainly be justified as
defensive measure in going that tar.
But 10 any event we conJure the people along
the line OF the road to do damage to the track or
she bridges or stock Of the road That would not
help them; that would not injure the government
that wrongs them; it would do no good; and whtn
the road is again opened. as il must be sooner or
later il would deprive them for greeter length OF
time of It's benefits.