Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-17
LETTER FROM GEN. j. T.. BOYLE,
REC1A ABIDING THE IOIISVILLE
md NASHVILLE RAILROAD, Ere f,
ETC.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 1t, lS67.-To
THE EDITOR OF THE ROBERTSON REGIS
TER: My attention has been called to an
article in your paper Of last week, entitled
"The Consolidation of the Edgefeld and
Kentucky and the Henderson Railroad
in which more than Justice is done to me,
and fear injustice to others.
There are no grounds for assuming any
hostile competition between the Evans
vile, Henderson and Nashville railroad
and the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road Company. These roads will, aud
ought to be, of mutual advantage to each
other, and justly and literally managed
will prove so.
Great injustice is done the officers and
managers of the Louisville and Nashville
railroad, in charging chat the Louisville
and Nashville Company sought 10 cripple
the Henderson and Nashville railroad and
gain possession of it by foul means, to use it
for the oppression of the commercial in-
terests of the people of Southern Kentucky,
and at the expense of Tennessee and her
capital for the enriching Of Louisville"
Ihaveno knowledge or belief that the Lou
isville and Nashville ltailroad Company
ever sought to cripple the Evansville, Hem
derson and Nashville railroad, or to gain
possession of it to injure or prejudice the in
terest of any railroad company, or any
State or section, for the benefit of Louis
vile. | do not believe that the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad Company has or
will take any unfair advantage or do in
justice to any public interest.
Injustice is done me as well as the officers
of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Company, in speaking of ''the means by
which the diabolical plot was sought to be
accomplished, was through the agency of
the military power of the government
that the Louisville schemers were en-
deavoring, by lobbying and other foul
means, to induce the military authorities
of the government TO seize the Edgefeld
and Kentucky road and sell it for the gov
eminent debt, when they would be able to
buy it for mere song, and leave Tennes-
see to suffer the consequences "this
wicked and thievish plot would undoubt~
eddy have succeeded had it not been for the
manner in which Gen. Boyle stood square
up to the rascals," etc.
Now, sir, feel sure the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad Company never pro-
posed or desired to purchase or acquire pos
session or control of the Edgefeld and Ken
lucky railroad, and never instigated the mil
itary authorities to interfere with any road
in Tennessee. 1t certainly was never to their
interest to do so. l do not know of any
thing done, or proposed to be done, by the
company or any officer Of it, to justify such
suspicion or charge.
have done nothing except to prepare,
at the request of Gov. Brownlow, a legal
opinion on the subject of the rights of the
State and the railroads as against the gem
eral government, and the legal mode of
enforcing their rights, etc. This opinion
was published by the Governor, and sent
by special message to the Legislature. But
there is nothing in that opinion or the state
ment of facts which intimates a sus-
picion against any person or company.
Now, sir, / will feel obliged if you will
publish this card in your paper, as l feel a
sense of justice requires that | publicly
disclaim any such suspicious as are con-
tanned in your article against the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad Company and its
officers.
l believe the consolidation of the Edge
field and Kentucky railroad and the Evans
vile, Henderson and Nashville railroad
will prove advantageous to both roads and
to the State of Tennessee, and / trust that
your hopes in regard to the success of the
road will be fully realized.
l am very respectfully your obedient
servant. j. #. BOYLE.
President E., III. and N. Railroad.