Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-01-08
Governor Holden and the Railroads.

There seems to be Misrepresentation as to the
powers Of the Governor over the Railroads IN
which the State has an interest. The Governor
is limited by the Charter of the Corporations and
by the law. He appoints Directors and proxies,
and there his power ceases. 1t IS neither his
duty nor his right to interfere in the details OF
the running of the Roads. Whatever opinion he
may have on the subject, he has no authority to
regulate freights or to prescribe the terms on
which certain Railroad Companies shall operate
with or against each other.
little reflection will mako this plain to the
commonest understanding. Il is, therefore,
neither fair nor just to involve Gov. Holden in
controversies between corporations OF the kind
referred to.-Raleigh Standard.
The above is the theory upon which the
Legislature acted in giving these Railroad
appointments to tho Governor, but in
practice the above extract is silly balder
dash. Governor Holden is as much re-
sponsible for the conduct of his Railroad
appointees as for any others which he has
made. While all previous Governors APP
pointed Directors, doubtless with view to
the election of a preferred individual to
thu Presidency, they were made with con-
sideration for the welfare of tho road,
both in the character and capacity of the
appointees. Political considerations, in
deed, had their natural influence in the
selections, but were never permitted to
outweigh questions Of fitness and capacity.
It may be true that Governor Holden
does not interfere with the schedules and
tariffs of the North Carolina Railroad, but
he is responsible for them in having confer
red upon a man the office of President who is
entirely Incompetence discharge the duties
by reason of his education, experience
and association. It would be as ridiculous
asst would be false to say that the Gov
ernor is not Immediately responsible for
the election Of Smith to the Presidency of
that Railroad, for it was known as we'll
before the election as afterwards that he
was the Governors man. Men were ap-
pointed Directors with chat knowledge.
President Smith may be running his
road with a view to make ten thousand
Radical votes, as he has alleged was his
purpose, and in accordance with the orders
under which he acted, but we believe he
is sacrificing the welfare of the road, of
the State, and of the people. His determi-
nation to charge local rates upon all goods
passing over the eastern section of his
road, between Raleigh and Goldsboro', is
not only prejudicial to the interests of
Wilmington and Newborn, but injurious
to many business operations in the upper
portions Of the State. The same causes
which drive the people of the interior
from our markets exclude us from theirs
We feel the effect of this prescription
Desiring to patronize our own manufac-
turers we have purchased all of the paper
upon which the DAILY and WEEKLY jour
NAL is printed from mills in our own State,
while we could possibly have done better
in Northern markets. The increase of
rates of freight upon the North Carolina
Railroad, if persisted in, conepels US in self
defence to purchase elsewhere. The same
Is true OF other branches of industry
Our own people are thus robbed of the
fruits of their labor and enterprise by the
prejudice, malignity and ignorance of
Governor Holden's appointees.