Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-02
the RAILROAD CONTROVERSY,


We invite attention to the calm and we'll
tempered reply Of Mr.. BURNS to the Report
Of Judge WHITwoRTH, as Commissioner
and proxy Of this county to the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, published few
days ago.
We do not propose to take part in this
controversy further than TO give both, as far
as we deem the public sufficiently concerned,
a fair hearing. But we cannot refrain from
expressing a hope that it will not be pro-
longed in the newspapers, for the reason that
we can see no substantial good that is TO flow
from it.
We have not examined the chartered
rights Of either ofthe companies concerned,
and feel under no obligations to do so. Il
either has violated the laW-given rights Of
the other, it is a subject for judicial decis-
ion, and not for newspaper controversy or
popular sqaabble and clamor.
As to particular policies in the mana &c
ment Of the roads, not transcending the law
creating them, intended to benefit the stock
holders and communities most deeply inter
ested, that matter cannot be controlled by
newspaper quarrels, bat must find its recti-
fcation in the action of the officers and di-
rectory Of the respective roads, to whom the
law has confded it. We do not desire 10 be
drawn into discussion of this point in the
questions presented by the case before us ;
but it would not be out of place to state a
general fact which applies to these as well as
all other roads-that the managers of rail-
roads are universally found working for the
benefit Of the termini having the largest in
terest in their construction and use We
know Of no exception. Col. TATE, of the
Memphis and Charleston, for example, has
managed for the prime interests of Memphis,
instead ofthose Of Stevenson or Chattanooga /;
MmToN BRowN operates the Mobile
and Ohio for the greatest possible advantage
Of Noble, over Corinth or Columbus and
even Memphis-and bis policy and that of
Col. TATE have led to like controversies
and conflicts as we now have before US; the
Western and Atlantic Road is run for the
greatest benefit Of Atlanta; and we have no
thought that the statement would be denied
in any quarter, if we should say that Mr..
GUTHRIE is now running the Louisville and
Nashville Road to the best advantage Of
Louisville over Nashville. And it generally
happens that the interests of the greatest
number Of stockholders do really, or are
made to seem to lie in this line of policy in
railroad arrangement. We know of no ex-
ception to the rule thus established; and we
do not expect to be surprised by the exhi-
bition one Of while the human family, and
that part Of it known by the gene
raj name Of incorporated companies" are
as selfish as they are accredited to be. For
one road to level a complaint against an
other for pursuing rule steadily followed
by itself savors of that degree of nonsense
that amounts to madness. The less said
about it the better.
The particulars facts alleged by Mr.
BURNS, in the premises, are for those con-
cerned TO judge He has shown no passion,
and his tone must be unexceptionable. But
we repeat that the legal rights of the par
lies are for the courts to decide-and each
had best let the other alone, as to its internal
and man agement.