Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-19
THE UNION AND AMERICAN.
THE TENNESSEE AND Pacific
RAILROAD
To the Editors of the uuion and American


THE TENNESSEE AND PACIFI,
RAILROAD.
To the Editors of the Union and American:
Imake an extract from the RspuJlica
Banner
"Smith county votes three hundre
thousand dollars Chief En-
gineer, two days later, says that the pro
position was undoubtedly carried and tina
the funds have been received"
| ask the attention of the Legislature I,
the charter of this road, and to the impo
sition on the property holders of Smith
. by the recent vote of $500, 600.
The charter of this road is Radical ant
fraudulent. The people will never make
the road through the State, under thai
charter as it now provides.
1t gives despotic power to the Directors
over the people along the proposed route.
1t promises places for g swarm of Radical
Directors, that their pockets may be
The Directors, by petition, may order
the County Court of any county along the
route to submit the question of subserip-
ton to the vote of the people.
The Directors name the time when, and
the amount the people must vote.
The negroes vote the stock, and the peo-
pie foot the bill.
The Directors have power to sell the
bonds at ruinous discount, and BANKRUPT
the counties which subscribe the bonds.
The charter was made when one-half
OF the property holders were not allowed
to vote; and the negroes and Radicals 1.-THE
qualified voters could vote any amount
OF subscription, and bind the DISTINGUISHED
property holders to pay it.
All these features still stand in the char
ter. It is true that most white men can
now vote, but the negroes do still vote the
subscription, as they think and as the
Banner says, they have Just done in
Smith, of which the Banner saws eve
are gratifed TO hear that Smith county has
done the fair thing" But, it is anything
but the fair thing 1t is unfsir and fraud
ulent, as a great majority of our people
know. There were $50 votes for subscrip-
ton, and 920 votes against subscription,
and about 600 persons did not vote at
all Those who voted for it were about
half of them negroes. Now can any man
honestly claim that Smith county has
voted $500, 600 ? VIII any one claim that
Smith has voted the subscription, when
not over one third voted for a. A clear
majority Of all the voters, must c0te for 70.
before the county is bound. A mere plu-
rality of those voting can not bind those
who do not vote. This is not a political
election, but The voting Of a Joint stock
company in which all the parties must
be heard and all ought to know
precisely the obligations and liabilities they
are about to take on themselves before they
vote, and then every one ought to vote Of
his own choice and consent. Then amaior-
ity Of the whole number of votes, may
bind the whole By 00ting for subscription.
But there must be a maj ority voting for it
leven If none vote against it, before any
one is bound. The list Of registered voters
Of this county will show that only about
one-third voted for the subscription.
1t Is fraud on the people, and therefore,
they are not bound and will not pay the
bonds if extorted. 1t is fraud, because
our people had no voice in fixing the sum
that was to be voted.
1t is a fraud, because but thirty days
notice we're given, and the people had not
time to discuss and understand all the liza
bilities.
1t is a fraud, because there was no regu-
lar and general speaking, to explain the
matter to the people. They were taken by
surprise and ensnared.
1t is a fraud, because one Radical Direc-
tor went privately among the negroes aud
induced them to vote for il.
1t is fraud, because many of our peo-
pie were not ready for the vote, and de-
sired that the vote should not be taken in
Smith till after the charter should be
amended and made fair. And they did not
want the vote to be taken while our county
is insolvent and the State credit is bad.
Il is a fraud, because our people would |
never have agreed to subscribe the enor- |
nous sum of three hundred thousand dol |
lars. Just half that sum swas the common |
expectation for the small county of Smith. |
1t Is a fraud, because even the sum Of |
three hundred thousand dollars in bonds, |
will not now sell for enough to build the |
road half through the county The inter- |
est on the bonds viii confiscate our lands, |
if we paw it, because we will have no road |
to make the interest.
The Directors ought not to have the |
power to sell our bonds at their discretion. |
We who have to pay them ought to be the |
Judges what we will take for them. A ma |
lority Of our people would never agree for /
the Directors to sell our bonds for forty, /
fifty, sixty, or even seventy five cents in the /
dollar; nor TO put them in pawn for the /
money, subject to be sacrificed.
am here speaking the sentiments of
great number of our people. And We hope
that the Legislature will look over the
whole charter Of the road and repeal all |
parts which are unfair. The road will never |
be made through the State unless the char
ter shall conform to the principles which |
govern all contracts. We all want the |
road. but 1t cannot be made by force or |
fraud. SMITH COUNTY.
Jan. ;. 1870.