Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-03


Offices vacant, aud Elect
Clark President.
A Pill for the People az Large, ana the
Stockholders I'm Particular.
The people of Tennessee, accustomed as
they have become to the despotism which
has every hour ground them down since
the furling of the Confederate fac at
AppOmattox, are hardly prepared for the
bold strides which relentless tyranny ia
now making. There is but a step from
corporations to individuals, and as Gov.
Brownlow does not hesitate 10 assume
control Of the former it is reasonable 10
suppose that in the progress of events this
latter-day despot will at no distant period
as coolly put his hands into the pockets of
individuals as he now fingers the funds of
organized capital.
The course pursued by the Governor in
regard to the Nashville and Northwestern
Railroad, is perhaps as striking an illus
tration of the confidence be reposes in the
name and power of William G. Brownlow
as could well be afforded. The Railroad
Company accepted the loan of $3.50, 600
from the State, provided for in the omni-
bus BILL with the understanding that the
bonds we're 10 be issued 10 the company;
and agreed that if the interest on the debt
due the State should not be paid at the ex-
piration of two years, the road should
be sold for the payment of such interest. |
In the face of this, 100000 of the bonds |
authorized by the omnibus bill for the |
L.
Receiver Innes On September l, 1867, |
the road was completed, thus rendering the |
Governor powerless to appoint Directors on
the part of the State, as the act authorizing |
the appointment of State Directors applied |
only TO unfinished roads.
The old State Directory, of which |
Judge ii. II. Harrison, Judge Alvin |
Hawkins, Hon. l. X. Hawkins, Judge |
Norman and other prominent Rad
icals, were members, requested the Gov
ernor to turn over the road TO the |
Company, as the Company had agreed to
accept the State Directory, and the other
conditions requisite TO the increase of State |
bonds. This was backed up by the opinion
of Attorney General Coldwell, and the
Governor seemed at one time disposed to
place the road where it properly belonged. |
In conversation with Judge Hawkins at
Knoxville, he stated that the read should
be turned over 10 the Company if a new
election could be held for officers of the
road When it was remarked to him that
President Burns might be reelected, he
declared he had no objection, whatever, to
Mr.. Burns, and accordingly the election
was held. 1t was a mere matter of form,
and all the old officers were reelected.
In few days, however, the Governor
looked at the matter in another light, and
suddenly put new face upon affairs by re-
fusing 10 turn over the road. Many saw
in this the skilful engineering Of Receiver
Innes. The charges against him were
never Investigated by the Legislature and
Frank S. Richards, Speaker of the House
of Representatives, was shortly after APP
pointed (by Innes) General Superintendent
of the road.
To cap all, on Tuesday of this week, the
Governor ousted the old State Directors,
embracing some of the ablest of the Radi-
cal leaders in Tennessee, and appointed in
their stead, Z. A. Otis, J. W. Paramore, d.
4. Davenport, A. +. Alden, Frank Hy-
berger, J. A. Edmondson, K. G. Jamison,
Clay Newland, ii. II. Thornberg, DR.. D.
B. Clifie, o. +. Brown, Chas. 4. Wing, H.
ID. Grant, B. f. Whitley, w. A. Steele.
The new Directors at once issued a call
for a meeting Of the stockholders TO be
held Thursday, April I'd, knowing well that
the notice could not possibly reach one
fourth of them in time for their attend
ance, and yesterday assembled at the
Northwestern depot, declared the offices
vacant, and elected M. p. Clark President,
and Col. II. l.. Claiborne Secretary and
Treasurer. They also adopted a resolu-
ton asking the Governor TO issue to the
Receiver the remaining $4,000 of bonds
by the omnibus bill.
In view of the fact that the "act TO de-
fine the duties Of Railroad Directors on the
part of the State" applies only to unfn-
ished railroads, the appointment of the
new Directors, can be considered as moth
ing short of gross outrage and violation Of
law, TO which the stockholders can never |
submit. The best men Of which the Radi-
cal party can boast must oppose this I'M
warranted assumption of power, and strong
as Brownlow is, he can hardly afford TO
disregard their ideas and opinions.
1t is asserted of the new Directory, chat
not one of them could to-day give a bond
of $4,000, and yet all the bonds of the
State are to be thrown into their hands.
But the scheme is bound to fail, for what
capitalist, North or South, will pay his
money to irresponsible parties for bonds of
any sort Ii must be remembered that
politics and money are very different things,
and that no capitalist will sacrifice his
means to keep up political machine, or
to enrich few penniless adventures.
Prompt action will doubtless be taken
by the stockholders Of the road in refer
ence TO the doings yesterday, and a rail-
road imbroglio such as Tennessee has never
seen ia seriouslv threatened