Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-24
KSoxyILLE, Tenn June 20, 1853

hNOAYILLkf lenns June ~ 1000
Messgs. Tn, Cauniag, H. S. Bouslard NJ ". Glenn,
NJ Rsarsssy sud others.
| GEETLEMEE Your note of the 18th inst by
the hand of Mr.. Henry Aderhold, in regard TO the
/ Northwestern Railroad, has been received. had
/ previously read your appeal to roe, through the
Nashville Pres, and TINES, complaining Of bad
faith on the part of Gen. Innis, and of the inprop
er use you believed him to hsVe made Of the funds
/ Of said road
/. is matter Of regret that you had not made
this appeal to me before you organized yourselves
Into mob to stop the trains and destroy the busi-
ness Of the road
Seven months ago I appointed Gen Inpis re-
csiger on that road under the following creum-
stances Gov johnson had employed Gen Innis to
finish out that road for military purposes on account
II bis large experience and superior talent as
railroad man For similar reasons, the stockholders
Of The Tennessee and Pacific Railroad, with almost
absolute unsnimity, elected him President Of that
road. President Burns, Of the Nashville aud Chat
tanooga rola urged upon me the appointment Of
Innis. ia the event that should have to appoint
receiver fully endorsing his ability, experience and
integrity The Clerk in the Comptrollers Office IS
sures me that Gen. Ipnis makes bis monthly reports
regularly, in which be accounts for all receipts and
disbursements. These reports are open 70 the in
.pection Of I'll who are interested Il is one thing
to charge a man with swindling and misaPpTopri-
stiDg money, and another and different thing 20
sustain these charges with proof
The truth is, gentlemen, this whole var on the
Northwestern road is but part and parcel of The
rebel warfare against the State Government Of Ten
nesseo That rebeliOus party has sought ever since
the organization Of tie State Government in April,
1885, to get the control Of ali the railroeds Of the
State the entire judiciary of the State and the
rious county and other Offices. In order TO this,
they have sued out writs Of injunction writs Of
mandamus and sought by every possible means to
obstruct the enforcement of the laws and TO prevent
the general prosperity Of the county. Had they
not commenced their war on the Northwestern
road ns soon rs Gen. Ianis was commissioned, the
bonds would have issued regularly and the eontem-
plated branch at the west end of the road would
now be almost completed, and hesitate not TO say
that You would have received your pay ere this
time
sul sorry 10 say, it places you in the attitude
Of cooperating with these bad men, that MAORI
ty of YOU as l am informed, are not loyal voters
under our laws, and portion of you boast Of hav-
ing served in the rebel army. Others Of you, as
am informed, we're liz the late strike upon the
Louisville and GAINESVILLE road, and hence you are
placed in the awkward attitude Of tinerating from
one road TO another, to get up these strikes" and
thus set at defiance the law of the land. But no
matter what your politics may be, you are entitled
to your pay for it is divine maxim that "the la
borer is worthy of his hire
Still, gentlemen, with the lash of these rebel ia
functions suspended over my shoulders, and your
threats Of violence to the trains on the Northwes
tern road, staring in the face, self-respect for
bids that should entertsin propositions for a
promise from any source whatever. If you think
your strike" or organized resistance to the run
ming of trains will secure you the payment Of
your dues you viii, Of conrse continue hostilites
And if the rebels of Nashville who encourage this
warfare and those living on the long line of this
rosd expect thereby to the in.ere is OF trade
and travel, and to expedite the carrying Of the
mails, they will, of course, keep up this upon
the road. Meanwhile it is my purpose not to yield
inch but 10 eight it out this line If it takes
from now to the assembling of the Legislature in
November
Onthe other hand, if the employees will cease
their outrages and 90 to work, will see that they
are paid for their labor according to the contract
and if the rebel leaders who have instigated all
this mischief will Withdraw their malicious partisan
suits will see that the road ia regularly run, and
that the contemplated western branch ia at once
completed. If each and all Of these prefer to run
the road to ruin, as We sre now upon the down
grade, propose to help them complete the work.
have honor To be &c
w. @. BRowELow,
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