Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-22
The above statement so far as it relates to
me is correct. w. II. CHADBOURNE.
tcoNNu SIcATED.l

VI ESsRs. EDITORS: Three ofhceS OF the
n. Il G. X. r., have attempted a vindication
Of themselves personally over their Official
signatures. Such being the case, il will be
difficult for us 10 make the distinction which
they seemed 10 desire 10 make in their com
munication Of date March Goth, 10 the city
papers.
As individuals, signing themselves Off
cially, they "do not object to the criticisms
Of the Chamber Of Commerce, and of the
signers Of certain letters that have appeared
in the city papers upon the management Of
the railroads which (we) they are connect
ed" What they might do officially, over
their personal signatures is not so apparent
They go 20 far in their anomalous condition
as 10 magnanimously excuse and overlook
those things on the suppostion that
one may know more of anothers BUSH
ness than his own" The business"
Of the Chamber Of Commerce, "and Of
the signers Of certain letters that have
appeared in the city papers, is no
better known 10 these officials than their own.
Nashville should act as the guardians of
their own Interests; and not permit the brief
authority Of their. servants who are employed
and paid out Of the capital they have invest
ed in the Nashville and Chattanooga rail-
road, to he used 10 divert, distract or destroy
the usefulness of their Improvements. These
officials are but the custodians of q trust, and
that trust is the conduct Of a public improve
ment for he benefit of the people for whom
and 10y whom it was built; and these officials
are amenible TO their employers--the peo-
pie whose capital is invested.
"The result of a mans act is brought
into question, and decided upon, without re-
Al. .ssx.
may surround him, or the unavoidable facts
and forces which may compel him TO adopt
a particular course"
We are obliged 10 the signers Of the let
ter Of the 10th for putting us in possession
of 'club for their heads" The result Of a
committees labors is brought into question
and decided upon without regard 10 the pc
culiar circumstances which may surround
them; or the unavoidable facts and forces
which may COMPEL them 10 adopt a particular
course. The result of the committees labors
was decided upon by the Chamber Of Com
merce, heweyer, upon the merits of the case,
which the officials of the n. &c G. X. Il.
seem TO avoid. The officials seem TO decide
rithom regard 10 the merits of the case or the
peculiar circumstances" which they them
selves placed around the mercantile inter-
NNlS Oh lniN Etklbus Ailh IL AtiN1 ~ BNh
unfrequently happens that those most ready
and eogcr TO pass Judgment are the ones
least qualified, by knowledge ofthe case, TO
decide upon its merits" The Judgment Of
the Chamber was deliberate, after hours Of
discussion. How was itwith these ofhcialsY
"In view of this we take no notice Of 50
much Of these letters, reports and proceed
ings as regards the workings of the roads,
in a general business sense"
As officials, they are not very ready or
eager" 10 meet the question at issue between
the mercantile and railroad interests, on It's
merits
"But such part of them as reflects, or at
tempts 10 reflect upon US personally, OF upon
our motives for the course we have pursued,
we declare false and without foundation"
No necessity for so strong defamation.
Not a single individual that we have heard
Of has censured or questioned the personal
action Of any Of the gentlemen whose names
are attached to the letter Of the goth; but
their official acts have been of such doubtful
propriety as to court and receive the just
censure and condemnation oflegal ard COM
mercial men. Sensitive 10 fault as to their
personal characters, they say nothing OF
their official acts, although using their
official titles. The personal acts Of officials
is not a matter for discussion, unless official
ends are effected thereby. We do not COM
plain Of any of these gentlemen for doing
their duty 70 their roads; but we do object,
and will continue 90 object 10 any arrange
ment OF the signing of any agreements, or
the giving Of any bonds, by.which it is made
their duty as officers of the road, uader or
ders. TO do. directly or indirectly, any act
which will DESTROY the mercantile pros
perity Of this city, or direct the wealth or
capital of Tennessee TO cities beyond her
borders
As 10 the balance Of their letter, il creates
questions Of veracity between individuals,
of which this committee, as such, can take
no notice.
J. j. MCCAIN, 35 Broad street.
SAN'I. A. MEDARY, Is & II Broad st.