Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-24

the rising smoke Of an exploded shell dis
closes the dead and dying at your verv feet.
and the trunniOns OF that migftv o,,n
turned upon a line with your position
what then? Danger then is at hand.
Also when heard of Tom Scott in PENN
sylyania l congratulated Tennessee that be
was not here, but it was a feeting sense Of
security, for the next hour learned that be
had turned his gun in this direction; more
than this that he had entered the borders of
our State and had become the owner Of one
or two railroads in East Tennessee; and
worse than this, that he was coquetting, with
the petitioner at our door, the Memphis and
Charleston railroad; but worst Of all, that
like a serpent he had actually stolen intOa
our Eden and become a member Of this
House, through his reputed Lieutenant, my
friend McGhec, for the county of Knox.
Let me stop to say here publicly, as l have
privately, that acquit the gentleman from
Knox Of this soft impeachment, don't be-
lieve that part of the story. Well we may
not have his agents with us to-day, but who
can tell how near that day is at hand?
Let us guard against the coming of that
evil hour. Let US enforce the policy of the
State by every possible means, and
when the railroads of the country
ask legislation at our hands, let
US remind them Of their duty
TO the State by making it in every law
condition precedent, that they shall not be
entitled to its benefits until their indebted
ness to the State is retired. When they
have thus disconnected themselves from the
State, the inducements to evil upon the one
hand, and the occasion Of the apprehension
Of danger upon the other are gone.
But Mr.. Speaker have already consum-
ed more of the public time than should,
and now conclude my remarks:
sympathiZe with the gentlemen who
support the measure, sympathize with the
great enterprise which is Immediately to re-
ceive its benefits if it becomes a law.
The Memphis and Charleston railroad, If
completed on the proposed line, in my
opinion, viii be one of, if not the most i'm
pOrtant line in the State 1t penetrates a
country hitherto UNEMPLOYED, and country
likely to remain unexplored for many years,
if this enterprise shall fail. But its success
is certain, and just as certain without the
passage of this bill as with il. / would not
stand in the way Of its success. Rather,
would lend it a helping hand. am in
favor of building up our country and devel-
oping its resources by proper and judi
cious encouragement Of this and all SINH
lar enterprises. A well regulated system
of internal improvements should be en-
couraged and protected; but this should
not by partial and imprudent legislation be
permitted to overshadOw all the other ends
for which government is established. A
splendid system Of railroads is thing GER
tainly to be desired; but corrupt public
morals and people in bondage, are things
certainly to be avoided.
| regret that have had to differ 80 wide
ly from those who have espoused the other
side of this measure, but my apprehensions
Of the evil which will follow upon the pass
age of the bill, leave me without excuse,
and though may have failed to convince
any one Of the correctness Of my views, |
am at least conscious of having discharged
my duty, and L have nothing else to do.