Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-04
STATEsvILLE, N. c., Sept. 1, 1868.

STATEsv1LLE, N. c., Sept. 1, 1868.
Editors Jou7ral:- chief excitement
here the past week was the Stakeholder
meeting of the Western North Caroline
Railroad Company for the election of off
GERS, accept the amendment to the charter
&c. The elements portended q stormy
session and the result verified the prog
nostication. The Radical element, flushed
with the success which attended their
scheming in the case of the North Carolina
Central, that placed that important public
work entirely in their hands, fully calcu-
lated upon carrying everything before
them and get complete control of the
Western Road. But they had to encounter
men as wide awake as themselves. and a
little more, who, knowing their rights,
contended for them, and successfully. The
meeting was organized by calling Judge
Merrimon to the Chair, who is a private
stakeholder, and thereby a fair dispense
ton of justice in the presiding officer was
secured. The States proxy was held by
Gen. Littlefeld, and all of Holden's re.
Gently appointed Directors were present,
including his son -in-law, Calvin J. Cowles,
all under the lead of Tod r. Caldwell,
who, [ suppose, writes himself Lieutendn
Governor of North Carolina" The meet.
ing being organized, the first business that
came before it was the reports of its CHIEF
officers the past fiscal year, so to speak
which were Of the most satisfactory char.
acter, and show that the road has not only
been making money, but is being rapidly
extended through the mountains to the
Tennessee line, and that its final compile
ton, in competent hands, in the course OF
few years, will be a fixed fact. After the
reports were read. contest arose with re.
gard to the scale of voting by the State s
proxy, which was warm and bitter, and
elected great deal of discussion. The
Radicals, with Tod. r. Caldwell at their
head, contended that the State should cast
her full vote, $4,000; but there is q pro-
vision in the charter, or bylaws that at all
annual elections the State shall vote only
two-thirds of her private stock represented,
8, 146, against IL, 22O-this was announced
by the Chair. From his decision the
RAIDS took an appeal, and we're defeated
by O stock vote, which at once produced
CONSERVATION and aroused their indigna-
ton. The Lieutenant Governor clustered
and roared, and Calvin, sur named daddy
Cowles," threatened the vengeance of his
parie7t, the Governor. and his Legislature
upon the devoted heads of the private
stockholders, who dared to assert their
rights according to the provisions of the
charter. But the private stockholders,
with Governor Vance and others at
their head, stood firm and finally trump
ed upon principle and justice. Nearly the
whole of the first day was consumed in con-
tention and discussion upon this question,
and at times it would have puzzled any
one to know if it was Railroad or a politi-
cal meeting-the RAIDS oil the time getting
the worst of it. Finally the consideration
of the amended charter, which grants $12,-
100000 additional capital to the Road, S.
900, 900 of which is to be subscribed by the
State, came up, and, unexpectedly by the
RAIDS, it was rejected by the stockholders.
This served to increase their solicitude and
Indignation, especially among the Western
men, whom Holden had appointed Direc-
tors, some of whom had been very active
in getting the bill through the Legislature,
and exceedingly anxious for the Road to
reach their section. But for this opposi-
ton the stockholders had a purpose to
suhserve, to wit: the election of officers to
manage the Road and it's operation of un-
doubted qualifications and in whom they
have confidence. The matter was finally
adjusted by conference, the amendment
was accepted and the proper officers re-
elected, the Radicals being allowed to have
only the President, and the stockholders
the three other chief officers: The officers
are: DIR. T. T.. Mott, President; Col. s.
Med. Tate, Superintendent and Financial
Agent r. F. Simonton, ESQ.,, Treasurer
and Captain w. A. Gleason, Chief Engin-
Ger. The Directors elected by the stock
holders are: Col. s. Med. Tate, Gov. q.
B. Vance, DIR. J. @. Mcdowell and Hon. |
A. S. Merrimon.
To reach this result the whole of two |
days were consumed, which ended on the |
second day, with bitter alteration be-
tween the Governors son-in-law, Calvin, |
and Gen. Littlefeld, to the great amuse- |
ment of those present, in which Calvin |
got the worst of it. Gen. Littlefield, act |
ing in the spirit of gentleman, could but |
obey the decision of the Chair in voting for
the State, and had no power or disposition |
to do otherwise. Thus, he could not con-
troll the action of the meeting, as was de- |
sired for his party, and prevent the man
agement of the Road from continuing in |
the hands of Conservative men, who would |
hold the Offices. For this Calvin, who |
was exceedingly anxious to be made Presi-
dent, and secure the salary of $1,000, as
sailed General Littlefeld, in speech, with
a charge of having "sold out" to the
Democrats, which he reiterated a number
of times. When he closed the General
took the floor, and hurled the lie back into
his face with vehemence and shaking of |
Who aS bad Ustsrad s"0 s.ls sSe Piay sod