Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-12-25

ss l(.iLL Il
That by the terms of the law above referred to
the State has in each case first lien on the entire
road and franchises, including the rolling stock
| right of way, grading equipment depots, and all
other property of the road that by the terms of the
] bond executed TO the United States the United
States has lien only on the property sold to these
companies; that it is believed that the lien held by
the United States is in the nature of second mort
gage, tho State of Tennessee having prior claim
that the failure TO meet the interest due the State by
the above named roads has been source of serious
embarrassment and has compelled the issuanees of
new bonds by the State to the State to the amount
of S4,500O0o; that the debt 10 the United States
has been an incubus on the energies and ability of
the various rail roads, and prevented them from
performing all the service of which they we're ca
pable; that In consequence Of such failure the Nc
Minnville and Manchester, the Memphis Clarks-
vile and Louisville, and the Edgefeld and Ken
lucky railroads are in arrears of interest to the
amount of S5l9,244 and that they have been placed
IN the hands of receivers for the benefit of the State
which has thereby assumed the debt to the United
States, amounting TO S53l, s7ls2 that TO enforce
the lien on these last mentioned roads would be- in
effect, compelling the State to pay the general gov
eminent over half million dollars for debt which
it never contracted and for railroads TO which It has
extended aid in The sum Of 1924 00O thus forcibly
taken away from the State the entire amount in
vested in these roads, as we'll all hope Of ever re-
covering it.
That the United States has heretofore frequently |
aud wisely donated large tracts Of public lands in
aid Of internal improvements, in none Of which has /
the State of Tennessee borne any share or received
any benefits whatever
That the railroads Of Tennessee would have cost /
the United States, if operated by their companies,
several millions of dollars than the actual cost
Of operation, and that from the nature Of the debt
Of the railroads TO the State and the large interests
Of the State in those railroads the State has Just
and equitable claim for the Of those roads by
the general government during the war; that at
the close Of the the railroads were without de-
@,ss o. machine shops, rolling stock or equipments
The have been almost totally destroyed during
the war; that the prosperity Of the State beingide
pendent largely upon her railroads, their helpess
condition has been source Of great loss 10 the
State
Your memOrialists would also represent that. bv
the action Of the Congress Of the United States and
the states OF Tennessee and orth Carolina certain
portions OF the public lands in this State were re-
served Tor educational purposes that, under the
fostering care Of the State, the school fund has
reached the amount of 81 100000 that this sum. so
soiemnly dedicated forever to the purposes Of edu
cation, was stolen from the depository and totally
lost to the State that the last Legislature passed
common school law under the operations Of which
al the educational interests Of the State have TO
ceived new impetus that schools now rapidly
in every county Of the State that It is
impossible that the school fund should ever be re-
placed in the ordinary course Of events that the
general government has from time 70 time shown
ts beraity and fostered the cause Of education hv
muniicent grants of public lands for the Aid Of f,
schools; that the amount Of Indebtedness Of he
railroads to tho general government win make rood
he |oss Of the school fund and enable Che state h