Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-16
TIE ALTERNATIYE.

Ile rate OF NHAnttite 10 De DeeAdeV
TO-Day-Whai was Said at the Capt.
tOI Last Night.
The meeting held at the Capitol last
night in the interest Of the Tennessee and
Pacific Railroad subscription Of 100000
to be voted on today, was moderately at
tended, Notwithstanding the vigorous
pounding of the boistcrous sheepskin" and
the vigorous screaming of the flies during
the afternoon.
II. G.. Scevell was called TO the chair,
and Col. Paramore chosen Secretary.
Col. w. +. Prosser was the first speak
er. lie declared the proposed subscription
was in no way partisan measure, or one
having any political significance. Every
property-holder, every laboring man and
every person Interested in the prosperity
of The country, was interested in this en-
terprise. The building Of railroads was
no longer question of propriety. The
experience OF twenty years had amply
demonstrated their necessity. They were
AS much necessity to the business Of
the country as food and water 10
the human body. The Tennessee and
Pacific Railroad would give ia the
most direct communication with New
York, the great commercial center of the
Union, and the most direct communication
with Norfolk, one OF the finest ports in the
world. Geographically, no section in the
country wac more in need Of railroads than
Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Nash.
willie was the halfway house between the
lakes in the North and the harbOr OF. Pen,
secola in the South, aud the opening Of
Communication would insure for her bound
less wealth and prosperity. No we'll
managed railroad in the world was not
paving institution, and every railroad was
a source of wealth to the country traVersed.
Many roads we're immensely profitable.
He argued upon the principle that the.
more railroads there were in the country
the more need there was for them, and
declared the Northern railroads were now
insufficient for the great work they were
required 10 do.
Colonel Prosaer was followed by General
Nancy with one of the most solid argu-
menls yet advanced in behalf Of the enter
prise. An enterprise, he said, of such
vital public importance had interest for
all. II had the prestige Of antiquity, and
had been urged long ago by men who had
long since passed away, and it was 10 this
day favorile with the old as well as the
new citizens Of Tennessee. 1t was a me-
dunn and a neutral ground, and commended
itself TO all the people Of Tennessee. Adj
vancemenL progress and enterprise were
not asleep elsewhere, and in a moment Of
Idleness this State might throw away adj
vantages peculiar in their superiority.
Nashville was no way-station. IL was
the terminus, and wealth must be poured
into its lap. Extensive rs was the system
of railroads here now, il was nevertheless
incomplete, and must be made what the
interest Of the country demands. lie re-
membered the time when Louisville had
said "what shall be done|' Now, no city in
the West reached out her hand with more
capacity TO control than Louisville. He had
no complaint TO make Of louisville. She
was an example worthy Of imitation, and
we should borrow light from her. We
need only look at what had already been
done to know that we could, in few years,
accomplish the span Of this vast continent
from oceaR TO ocean. The time had gone
hy Cor dependence ON rivers. We must
plant ourselves on the highway of passage
where we can see people and people can
see us, IL we would progress There was
no intellect so superior that il could not
derive benefit from the most humble of or
carnations.
At the conclusion of Gen. Maney's re-
marks, live speech was made by III. N.
Frazier, Esq. Speaking upon a snbjeci
well known TO be Of such vital Interest be
declared would be lost words, lost ideas.
lost argument. All knew this enterprise
TO be a most imperative necessity. Strange
"a it might seem, the first road Nashville
had helped 10 build had damaged her
most, and the road she was 10 build last
was 10 do most toward her interests. Every
/ individual in Nashville WAS Interested ia
| the enterprise. Could We stand stlsi while
CITY only a hundred and eiehty-ive miles
above us was sucking away our very life.
| blood She wanted 10 make Nashville q
! little way-siaiion, mere switch. She bad
! already taken away the trade legitimately
| belonging TO IA, and was now trying 60 cut
| us of by making AlurireesborO the term
nus Of the Louisville and Nashville rail-
| road Al this would surely be accom-
| piished were not the subscription voted,
aud Nashville would eventually sink into
/ iilf lHfAEAiAls lAttN ~ y hA NAtAAEF i-fftiiN
| willie was great c0rmorant that wanted 90
swallow us, and waE strainiug every nerve
| to that end.
he assailed tie CT0akers in the moss de
/ risive terms declaring that the tax they
we're whining about would be only seven
cents upon hundred dollars Of taxable
pronerty. \ burden which under the cir
cumslanccs, there was ho mah who oohld
not bear. To-day was 10 decide whether
Nashville was 10 bay her goods AZ LOUIS
vile or become the great mart v hleh hei
people could make her by voting The sub
| scrptiOn.
Abe Smith and Nelson Walker mad
short and we'll put addresses, calling upof
those Of their color TO vote COR The sub
scriptlon as a measure of she utmost i'm
Portance to all. Several other speeohe
were made, and the meeting adjourned q