New-York tribune., 1868-04-03
4 c.nD rRou uR. DlNLEl DsEw

r. fls Edtor Of 7As Tnbm.
SIR: Ina your paper of March y there appears a
leading article headed The Erie War IL states
that the question az issue is one of principles more
than men, Had Your article confined itself 10 the
discussion OF principles" | should have ha no Oc-
casion to address YOU under my own name. But as
il Is really and chiefly discourse about men. and
/ believe "a very injurious discourse as far as | am
concerned in it, must ask you 10 give me space for
a few personal words
l. The discussion OF principle" in the article be-
gins with am ingenious parallel between Mr. Wander
bl's administrative ability and mine. There is no
such issue as this before the public. was interested
coniointly with Mi Vanderbilt iU the Harlem Road
but never was nor sought TO be bis rival or opponent
i'm It's administration. or the Erie Road have been
director for years and. a director. have sought
to serve the interests of the Road 10 the best OF my
ability; but have never been IN a position 10 con
troll it's administration a. Mr. Vanderbilt that oi the
roads which he manages Your skiliiul parallel theh
goes for nothing except, indeed 80 far rs II has
served its purpose a. a rhetorical eNpedient O excite
odum against me-.
. Yonr article insinuateS at does not exactly
charge that s. 000o0O Of Erie stock were issued 10
me at 60 cents the dollar in some fraudulent way
The simple fact is that lent some millions OF dollars
to the road when il was in need and received it's
as believe have been found at the time TO lend the
nl6nst 1n the same security II there were any fraud
IN the matter it was very stupid and prohtess one.
;. So1r article furnishes another pretty parallel
II pctnres Nh Vanderbilt sitting in his office in
Tourth,stu buying LIE, and Drew fugitive
from iu,ticc in New Jersey Here again the rhet
orc is impeachable but the rhetoric alone. am in
Ney-Jersey it is trme but whether the combination
which has driven me from my home and business Is
AN honorable aud just is precisely the question NJ
issue You seem Ia think il is hold il to he wicked
and dsgrceiul Az or the receDt issuc Of bonds, II
was made by the directors under the very same law
as that nnder which the Central road issued some
millions Of bonds few years ago. Ihcii right they
believe to he unquesionable, and they will continue
40 to believe until the eourts decide otherwise
do not pretend to skill in the law. IN all these
proceedings Including my taking refuge III New
Jersey have acted under he advice of the best
LEGAL counsel ! could obtain II fhey have been
wrong IN their law few weeks will suffice to
show the er,pr All the questions AT issue will
shortly come befOfe competent courts Of Jurisdiction.
Should they decide that The money nirused to me
A. Treasurer of the Erie Railway is not TO be used
fol improving the road and extending its connections
with the Great West, but is to be paid over To Re
cciyer shall so pay IT, even though the result be, as
Your article has 1t, to make the central WHAT IL
ought 10 he. the best property in the country. H.
on the other hand the courts decide IN favor Of the
Erie Railway ITS directors Will endea'or-so far, at
least, as my influence goes-to make the Erie
what II ought 10 be- and what its managers have
been for wears seeking under enormous difficulties
to make 1.-THE best safest and cheapest channel of
communication between East and West, and at the
same time great convenience TO the people of the
State of New-York who granted its franchises.
The road will then. and cannot till then. become
source of income TO its stockholders am. Sir, your
obedient servant, DANIEL DREW.
Jerssy Oiiy, April D. isss.