The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-07-18

not of itself tempt us to pursue an advantage
so apparent, but there are questions which
remain unanswered by the Sentines, besides
new points, to which we invite public atten-
| ton.
The Sentinel denies that Gov. Worth re-
moved Messrs. Thomas and Lassiter. yet the
Sentinel admits that when the Governor ap
pointed the State Directors, he Enepths result
could be tohat it is. Such an argument is a
reply to ITSELF vs. g
There was no special complaint made by
us of the appointment of g Hon, ? C. c. Clark.
But we called attention to the fact that Gov.
Worth appointed Mr.. Clark, a Director, when
the Trcasurer's report returns him as holding
only one share of stock, and the law requires
that Director shall be possessed of .6oe
shares. Then the question was asked, has
| Gov. Worth violated the law2n The Sentinel
| is silent What are we to understand by
such silence2 Has Gov. Worth violated the
law, or has he not?
It would afford US no pleasure to know
that such was the case. Nor do we charge
it upon him. But it is apparently an extra
ordinary proceeding, which demands to be
explained.
There is another matter which has been
explained by the Sentinel, to which attention
is again invited. is, that the commissions
of the State Directors were not intrusted to
Mr.. Morrissey, States Proxy, as usual. to he
officially announced in the Stockholders
meeting. The Sentinel replies that the APP
pointments were withheld Git does not say
WHY until the latest moments of the depar-
ture of the train that day, and his Excellency
fearing that Mr. Morrisey, the States Proxy,
would not reach Beaufort in time, entrusted
| them to the care of "a Stockholders marked TO
Mr.. James Rumley, @ho is not a stoektolder.
| The above contains a reflection upon Mr..
Morrissey, who proved his punctuality upon
the occasion notwithstanding the mistrust of
the Governor. But Mr. Morrissey, who was
present, did not receive the commissions at
all. They were in the pocketof Mr.. Rumley
for aught we know, notwithstanding the
Stockholders in meeting made two efforts to
get hold of them, and adjourned finally with
out being officially informed as to who they
were This we contend was breach of an
established custom. The blame rests here
at Raleigh, for the appointments of State
Directors had been made some days before
the meeting of the Stockholders, and suffi-
cient time had elapsed for the commissions
to have been sent to the States Proxy as
was usual, and not forwarded at the very
last moment to Mr.. Rumly, who is not a
stockholder-a thing before unheard of in
North Carolina.
In order to break the force of the charge,
which is undoubtedly true, that Gov. Worth
was actuated by selfish political motives in
effecting the removal of Mr. Thomas, the
Sentinel assumes the position that the Gov
ernor as well as the State Directors were gov
erned in their course by the wishes of the
Stockholders. This cannot be true in fact or
correct in theory. How was it possible for
Gov. Worth to be accurately Informed of the
wishes of the stockholders? Whence could
he derive his information2 From Mr. Whit
ord and his friends? They were interested
parties, incapable of being admitted to give
evidence. But we shall touch this point
more fully hereafter.
Nor is it correct in theory that the Direc-
tors on the part of the State should defer to
the wishes of the individual Stockholders
The State owns the Atlantic road almost ex-
clusively. She has an important interest to
protect, and her Directors are appointed for
that purpose. Whenever the road is well
managed, by competent and energetic
President like Mr. Thomas, the dictates OF
patriotism as well as common sense point to
his retention in tine public service. Such
hitherto has been the practice of the Cover
nors of North Carolina and their State Direc-
tories on the different railroads. But new
principle has been at length introduced: in
the election of officers, the State Directors
are to defer to the individual Stockholders
the interests of this great State, of all her
people and all her taxable wealth are here
after to be placed in the hands of modicum
of her population, who are moneyed men,
Stockholders! And for what? For votes
merely-yes, for their political influence,
which is courted and bought in this abomin-
able manner!
How was it possible for Gov. Worth to be
accurately informed of the individual wishes
of the Stockholders We have asked this
question before We learn that Messrs.
Whitford, Green, Clark, Flanner, jenkins,
and others, had been engaged sometime in
getting up proxies-for months perhaps, pre-
vious to the Stockholders meeting. Letters
were written to every quarter of Craven
County, and elsewhere. Mr.. Green held the
vote of Craven County-numbering about
$50 votes. These modest gentlemen having
secured all the proxies they could, and the
vote of Craven cast them for Messrs. Whit
ford, Green and Hughes. If Gov. Worth was
governed by such an expression OF the indi-
vidual wishes of the Stockholders, he was
evidently deceived. 1t was combination
which smothered the individual voice OF the
Stockholders. And there is a significant
fact connected with this part of the proceed
ings. To such an extent had Messrs. Whit
ford and friends carried the matter of proxies,
that the bylaws of the company were amen