The Portland daily press., 1872-05-21
The Ogdensburg Investigation.

TO the Editor of the Press :seissS -,--
Feeling deep solicitude for the prosperity of
this city, have recently come to look with anx-
iety in regard to the probable fate of the effort
now being made to complete the Ogdensburg
Railroad Is its further prosecution to be ADAM
doned? Is the city to be driven by the croak-
ings of few men by their jealousies, or by their
interesrs in private schemes, to leave this work
half finished, and thereby lose the fruits of the
vast trade that would certainly come to us were
the road to be carried through? -r
Let us look for moment at the present at
tltude OF the question. The Directors of the
PORTLAND e. ogdensburg Railroad are the SER
wants OF the city; they were elected by the city;
they have iaborod assiduously to promote its
interests; they have received no compensation
for their services, and they ask none They
have paid largely of their own means towards
the building of the road When misrepresent
ed and slandered they called upon the City
Government to institute the closest investiga-
ton of their doings from first to last The city
government declining to make such investiga-
ton has in effect endorsed the integrity of their
conduct. They have desired that not only their
own acts, but also the plans, estimates, sur
veys, profiles and considerations upon which
they have been convinced as to their duty to
the city should be rigidly examined by any
committee the city government might see fit to
appoint. -5s
Now is it reasonable or just to suspect, insin-
uate or charge, unless prepared to follow up the
charges by proof that these men are dishonest,
that they are unsafe, that they have betrayed
or design hereafter to betray the interests of
their constituents? Investigate their doings,
and if these men are guilty expose them and
replace with better men. But do not listen to
the insinuations and suggestions of those who
pass stealthily from house to house and shop to
shop, disseminating scandal and dropping pois-
on into honest hearts, unless they are prepared
to maintain their allegations. Do not permit
those who invest mo money in manufactures or
trade, who sail no ships, who employ no labor,
whose funds are locked up in stocks or loaned
on mortgage, to prejudice your minds against
these officers and those other citizens of Port
land who are using their money for the benefit
OF the city, who subscribe to her great enter
prises, who open their own purses for the pro-
motion of her welfare who desire to see Der
flourish, who would increase her population,
enhance her prosperity, and who by policy
that would double the number of her people,
and the value of their estates, would thereby
reduce the burden or per centage of taxation
resting upon them. "a. -.ss -....-+s.
Mr.. Editor, we have now a right to assume,
until otherwise proved not only that the Di-
rectors have acted discreetly and faithfully, but
also that their opinions and estimates as to the
cost of completing the road, and their arrange
n 10, f,t,, b.:
are satisfactory because these things having
been challenged in the public prints by the enc
mics of the road, it became, the duty of the
city government if they credited the allegations.
as the organ of the people. to investigate the
question for the satisfaction of their constitu
ents. 1t is obvious that this was their impera
tive duty if they gave the slightest confidence
to the unfavOrable suspicious and charges that
had been made against the road and its mat
agement. As we are not permitted to suppose
that any member of the city government would
rest for moment without instituting most
searching investigation if he believed the re-
ports were true, we conclude that those who on
posed the investigation and the appointment of
committee to inquire into the controverted
facts in regard to grades, traffic. connections,
cost, &C., land which would be their necessary
duty if the city were in danger of being misled
to its great and serious loss,) were of opinion
that the reports and charges were without foun-
dation,-nay, SO baseless as not to justify an ex-
penditure of money to make their contradiction
more perfect.
This being the case ought we not in justice
to the city and to ourselves to look candidly and
dispassionately at this enterprise, which prom
scs such great results to our city in all its in
dustrial and commercial relations? Ought we
through prejudice or ignorance to suffer our
minds to be colored or warped so as to lead us
to act in such way as to bring injury and loss
upon the city? Oughtwe not when our minds are
sought to be biased or prejudiced by others, to
consider seriously the character of the objec-
tions which they bring forward and the infu-
ences and motives which may control those
who make them? PORTLAND
IL logging is justifiable punishment for any
offenders it would seem to be so for wretches
VINO KICK and maltreat their wives. A bill is to
be introduced into the British House of Com
mons "hich WIN make whipping regular part
OF the punishment inflicted upon all such ruff
fans; as also upon insulters and ass.ulters of
women and young girls, and those who NAL
treat children Hitherto the punishment in
f1icted upon criminals of this class in ENGLAND
has been disgracefully light brutality of every
description has fourshed; and the luxury IF
wife-beating has been free to every drnken
wretch in the United Kingdom.