Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-01
BROWNLOw AND LABORERs

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ants.
BROWNL0W AND LAB0RERs.
The laborers on the Northwestern rail-
road, concluding that Brownlows receiver
did not mean to pay them, applied to
Brownlow himself. But Brownlow de-
tends his receiver, and treats them as
rebels not entitled to justice. Rebels are
not entitled to day wages under Brown
lows government The following is the
correspondence:
KNOXVILLE. June 20, 1858.
Messrs. Tom Canning, A. S. Bouchard, and
others:
GENTLEMEN: Your note of the 18th
inst, by the hand of Mr.. Henry Alder
hold, in regard to the Northwestern
railroad, has been received. l had pre-
viously read your appeal to me through
the Nashville Press and Times, com.
planning of the bad faith Of Gen. Innes,
and of the improper use you believed
him to have made of the funds Of said
road.
1t is matter of regret that you had
not made'ih appeal to me before you or
Canized yourselves into mob to stop the
trains and destroy the business of the
road
Seven months ago, ] appointed Gen.
Iunes receiver on that road under the fol-
lowing circumstances
Gov. johnson had employed Gen. In.
mes to finish out that road for military
purposes, on account of his large expe-
rience and superior talent as railroad
man. For similar reasons the stock
holders of the Tennessee and Pacific
railroad, with almost absolute unanimiIy,
elected him President of that road
President Burns, of the Nashville and
Chattanooga road, urged upon me the
appointment of Innes in the event that
should appoint receiver, fully ndorsing
his ability, experience and integrity.
The clerk in the Controllers Office
assures me that Ianes makes his monthly
reports regularly, in which he accounts
for all receipts and disbursements. These
reports are open to the inspection Of all
who are interested. 1t is one thing to
charge man with swindling, and an.
other and different thing to sustain these
charges with proof
The truth is, gentlemen, this whole war
on the Northwestern road, is but part
aud parcel of the rebel warfare against
the State government of Tennessee. That
rebellious party has sought ever since the
organization Of the State government in
April, 1865, to get the control of all the
railroads Of the State, the entire Judiciary
of the State, and the various county and
other Offices. In order to do this they
have sued out writs of injunction, writs
of mandamus, and sought by every pos
sible means to obstruct the enforcement
of the laws, and 10 prevent the general
prosperity of the country. Had they n OF
commenced their war on the Northwes-
tern road as soon as Gen. Innes was COM
missioned, the bonds would have been
issued regularly and the contemplated
branch at the west end of the road would
now be almost completed; and hesitate
not to say that you would have received
your pay ere:this time.
am sorry to say, as it places you in
the attitude of CO. operating with these
bad men, that majority of you, as / am
informed, are not loyal voters under cur
laws, and portion of you boast Of having
served in the rebel army. Others ofyou,
as am informed, were in the late strike
upon the Louisville and GAINESVILLE road,
and hence you are placed 10 the awkward
attitude of itinerating from one road to
another to get up these strikes, and thus
set at defiance the law of the laud. But
no matter what your politics may be, you
are entitled to your pay, for II is q
| Divine maxim that "the laborer is
worthy Of his hire" Still, gentlemen,
with the lash of these rebel injunc-
tons suspended over my shoulders and
your threats 10 do violence to the trains
on the Nashville and Northwestern rail-
road staring me in the face, self-respeci
forbds that | should entertain PROPOSE
toss for a compromise from any source
whatever. II you think your strikes OF
organized resistance to the running oil
our trains will secure you the payment
Of your dues, you will Of course continue
hostilities; aud il the rebels of Nash.
vile Who encourage this warfare, and
those living on the long line Of this road
expect thereby to serve the interests o.
trade and travel and to expedite The car
rying Of the mails, they viii Of course
keep up this war upon the road.
Meanwhile ii is my purpose not to yield
an inch, but to 6ght it out on this line, i
| IL takes from nov to the assembling o.
the Legislature 10 November.
On the other band, if the employs
will cease their ontrages and go TO work
I will see that they are paid for theii
labor according 70 the contract, and !
the rebel leaders who have instigsted al
this mischief will Withdraw their mai
cious partisan suits / will see that th'
road is regularly run, and that the con
templaied Western branch Is at ono
completed.
II each and all Of these prefer 10 rlr
the road 10 ruin, as We are nov upon ID
down grade, propose 70 help them CON
pleie the work.
have the honor 10 be, etc,
W. q BRowxLov,
Governor Of Tennessee.