Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-08
DAVIDSON COUNTY COURT.
The Eogefield and Kentucky Rail-
road
Speeches by Gen. Nancy, Judge
WhitWOrth, Judge DemOss, Col.
OOlVar and others

WhifwOrth. Judge DemOss, Col
OOlYar and others
The eourt met at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning, Judge Turner in the chair.
On motion, the court moved to recon-
slider lis seton IN the road case Of Walton
and others, and that case was set for hear
ing. with other cases, on the last day of
the term.
The EdgeAeld and Kentucky railroad
question was then taken up,
Judge A. L. Demos offered tie Tesolu-
ton given below, which he said be had
drawn up after consultation with Judge
East and some other gentlemen, and after
q careful discussion of the whole MISTER.
Whereas. heretofore, the county of d.
wilson subscribed $500, 600 Of stock in the
Edeefeld snd Kentucky Railroad Com
pany, and issued its bonds therefor, q
large portion Of which are now unpaid;
and,
whereas, the State of Tennessee now
offers, by decree of the Chancery Court
at Nashville, to take 5000 600 in State
bonds for its lien upon sad road from the
stockholders thereof, and if this offer is
not accepted then the road will be sold at
public auction; ard,
Whereas, the States lien was and is
about 50 600 600, but the same may be
procured by the stockholders at the offer
aforesaid; and,
Whereas, the paitl-np stock in said road
is about S353, 900, ind the county of Ds-
wilson is anxious &c secure this interest in
and control of said road;
And nov, IL consideration Of the prem
Uses, the County Court If Davidson county,
40 a n1o-Aarlx- 1naa nbu
appropriate enough of the accumulated
stock in the Louisville aud Nashville Rail
rosd Company to secure its interest in and
control of said road, if the came should be
sufficient for the purpose; and if INSULT.
ciept, then enough out of the treasury Of
the county shall be paid TO make up the
deficit, as the payments may mature, and
this stock and bond may go into any new
organization tkst may be offered for the
con,rol of said road.
Judge Whitworth addressed the Court
at length upon the resolution. He said
that the county he'd nearly paid its deb;
once; that Is, its nominal amount If the
road remained as at present, and the
County Court did nothing, our peace AID
quiet would be promoted by declining to
have any thing more TO do with it. The
QUESTION Was NuGEHtE lLo luiCEcHt vi Tie
county in the ssEdgefeld and Kentucky
Railroad could be saved? The money paid
by the county in taxes had besn lost and
bad gone to the account Of profit and loss
The present stock In the Edgeheld snC
Kentucky Railroad could not be sold fol
enough money TO buy the paper upor
WITCH the stock was written.
Ja6ge Whitworth then spoke IF the i'm
poItant connections by way of the Evans
yiile, Hepdersonville and Nashville Bail
road with ST. Louis and other points. anC
said that these connections would make
stock in the Ejgefeld and Kentucky Rail
read very vaiusble, and he thought il
W MD be the most valuable Of any stock
held by Davidson county. And unless tn;
county bought up the Edgeheld and Ken
tucky Railroad some one else would buy
mp the road, aud possibly it might go int
tie hands Of parties who would be inimica
to the interests Of Davidson county.
In snswer to question by Squire Max
. ~, Judge WhitR orth said that, as the OLD
company CT stockholders IN the Edge6elC
AID Kentucky Rairosd had decided not t
purchase the States interest in the road
any number Of the stockholders coUlt
unite ard form new company and pur
chase the road. The County Court woulC
10 have, under Judge Demoss' resolution
to take any Dew stock; the same 0nount o
stock would be- owned by tho county a
heretofore. No one asked the county {,
take any new stock; the county was onl
ssked to secure the stock in the Edgefelt
aud Kentuoky, Railroad already taken b.
the county. No one asked the county TO pa
a single doll r fJr new stock. The Judg
sid he thought some additional provision
ought to be embodied in the resolution
and that Judge Demcss ooincided wit
him.
Judge Whitworth further said that b
thougat the Edgefeld and Kentucky Rail
roaj, if this stock was taken, would be
paying road, and the stock would pay froI
fifteen to twenty per cent.
Gen Marcy, President of the TeaneSse
and Pacific, then addressed the Court a
length. He said in substance that he We
earnestly convicted in favor of tbs propC
sition indicated by Judge Demoss' resolu
ti1n. MAJ ard boy, his life had been spen
here, aGd he did lot believe there had eve
been made, during bis residence, a propc
EsjiOn in which the citizens of Nsshvill
were mere INTERESTED than the one no
before the court
Squire Msxey-We have no autholit
under the constitution TO take any stock
the company.
Gen Maney-I hope 1 car make the a.
gUmeDt clear that you have authorit,
Those who are opposed to the propositio
admit hat it is vastly 10 the coUnty's il
terest to take stock in this road. and "
thsy stand mp here and say that they al
under disabilities.
The General further said that not on
had the Comfy Court the power to secui
the county'a interest without submittin
this question TO the people, but it was IL
solemn. bounden duty Of the Court to do s.
Whenever the well-beipg of a communi
could be promoted, and its prosperity el
HANGED by doiDga certain thirg, it was
clear iBfersnce that there was somewhe'
an organization and government tn
would permit the community to take tn
step. If he had the warrant of a Count
Courts sanction, he would fear no. oppC
sition that might be made. The membe
Of The Cont could not injure the welfal
Of Davidson county withoutiDjuring then
selves He would not ask the Court to
anything that was not right
Squire Elaxey frequently interrupted t
=
Among other things he asked him whethe
under the 29ih section Of the secoL d AZ
c'e of the Constitution, the propositiC
now before the court could be entertaine
Gen Nancy said it was not reasonsb
to conclude that the trainers Of that sectit
Of the Constitution intended TO disable {
unity in The legitimate protection Of ]
stock, which it already owned. If q
trainers Of the Constitution had propos
to do that, would they not have said, ~
shall sacrifice all the stock You have, al
let it 90" It was strsining the law to "a
''You shall not protect the stock you alrea
have. The county hsd $500, coo stock
the Edgeheld ard Kentucky railroad Su
poss en- execution was levied on i fol-
debt Of $500, would the county not Ia
the right to ask for $500 to prevent &
creditor from selling the road for II
small debt?
Squire Maxey-I don't believe it woul
Gen. Nancy ak the Court if the
was ever made any slch outraged Is p1
r9g,tion as that? l do think that 81
heresies ought not to be considered.
This matter is to be defeated upon suct
proposition as that, IN the name OF GE
what is your government and what IS
tine-honored and reyered County Co
wotth?
Squire Maxey-Would you do it fol
worthless coucerD?