Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-30
The Northwestern strike Ended

TO The Employees Of the Nashville and North
l0eSieTn Railroad. GENTLFATEE We have
been united together in strong and de-
termined stand against injustice and the
grossesi wrong for over two months. 1t
has been our good fortune, aided by Provi-
| dence, and the good intentions of the State
government, to succeed in our plans, and
TO triumph over a cabal which sought 10
crush down labor and ruin the credit of the
State by the most nefarious practices.
When you organized for the purpose of
fighting at once that Cabal and injustice
together, you saw fit, for reasons best known
10 yourselves, 10 place me at the head of
your organization. Without being egotis-
tic, | may conscientiously say that have
tried to do my duty honestly and fairly
toward all parties, and in performing this
duty / WIS aided by your good sense and
council, and the path was made easy for
me by your forbearance and discretion.
During our long and trying period of Buf-
fering depending as we were principally
upon the support and sympathy of friends,
We never committed a wrong knowingly
toward any one--never violated ANY law or
gave Ohense to any worthy person. The
best proof of your good conduct and the
best Endorsement of your good sense that
could possibly be given was the approval Of
all classes of people in this city. Leaving
out a very miserable and disrepuiable fac
ton, it is not going beyond the truth to say
that you were supported in your struggle
by every one in the State. The press was
a unit In your favor, and the people, in
your darkest hour, gave you substantial
proof Of their sympathy, and | am proud
TO say you were not unworthy of them.
The "strike," as it has been called, is
now over. The Northwestern has fallen
into other hands. The gentlemen who now
control il seem inclined to act honestly to-
ward us. They have given a guarantee Of
their intentions by paying up, out of the
State money, the wages which the State
owed you. You have their word of honor
that the old hands to whom money is still
due for work done under the old regime wiz
be the first employed and the first paid out
of the surplus proceeds of the earnings.
All this was submitted to you to-day, and
you agreed to accept the terms. There is
now no further cause Of complaint. II is
our interest, it is the interest Of all con-
oerned in this business, to forget the past,
go to work with new hope and heart, and
build up the credit and business of the
road, thereby beneiting the people and the
State, who have been our friends, as well az
beneiiting yourselves.
A great many of You have families and
are more or less firmly rooted in the soil at
different places along the line of this rail,
WAY. The success Of this road will be
yunr prosperity; and its failure will be
your ruin. There is bright future before
YOU conduct yourselves that no act of
yours may dim its brightness. From this
dav forward We are all together, from Re
cei4er aud President down. Our interests
are identical, and our interest is bound up
in the interest Of the State. Let us work for
the general good aud we shall not be left
beoind in the race of prosperity.
Onr organization is now dissolved, and
as President thereof, | bid you brotberly
farewell. Yours,
Tom. CANNING