The Hickman courier., 1872-02-03
Senator Holt on the Cincinnati
Railroad RkIl

lie character of Senator O.. 4. G. Holt,
of the Third District, and his vote on
the Cincinnati Railroad bill is attracting
especial attention just at this time, from
the fact that he has heretofore acted aud
voted with the opponents of the measure.
This bill was discussed pending our last
political canvass, and we believe the
judgment of the people of this section
is adverse to the charter. We believe
Senator Holt to be true hearted gentle
man and public servant, aud therefore
take from the Frankfort Teomaa, the
following, as explanatory of his change.
Our Senators of last session voted
unanimously against the charter, and
considering the fact that Messrs. Holt
and Gilbert fail to endorse them, we may
anticipate some lively sparring the coming
Summer between the old and new Sena-
tors: y
"Mr. Holt next addressed the Set te-
in favor of the bill, and made, prob% (,
one of the ablest and most elo
speeches of the session; but
room only for a general -
remarks. He began by say = II S
had refraiued from speaking upV Il
time. either on his own amendmeh"'V or
on the bill itself in order to give every
Senator an opportunity to be heard.
lie had not been a Partizan of either
side Representing a part OF Western
Kentucky which had no direct interest
in the question, he had desired to occupy
the position of an umpire But he
regretted to have to say that both sides
had resorted to side issues, make weights,
examinations and recriminatlons, while
not one voice had been raised to defend
Western Kentucky from the charge OF
bribery aud corruption. Il was hardly
too much to say that the course things
had taken here was a disgrace to Ken
tucky. The members from the West,
however. needed no viudication. They
stood like the Macedonian phaIanx.
They could compare favorably with
either Louisville or Cincinnati. Since
his amendment had been adopted, he was
for the bill for, he believed that under
its operation, when the road was butt, 1t
wouId bring into the State Treasury
enough mon6y-at least S400, 600 year
to relieve the people at large from the
great burden of taxation. Besides,
there we're at least 100000 Of the people
of Kentucky vast majorIty-who
wanted us to pass this bill. tie had
never alluded 10 the politics OF either
Louisville or Cincinnati, and regretted
that grave aud reverend Senator'S had
done so. Yet he and his had suffered at
the hands of both cities. He had for
given: but how could he forget? In
another land. and beneath another sky,
lie had stood years ago among vast bat
tallions Of men in grey But they are
gone. They melted away in the fire and
storm of battle, oyerpowered by Dum
bers, and the remnant disbanded. Some
of them are here some are gone to their
homes above the stars our glorious
chieftain, the brightest and the best, has
departed and left a nation in tears. Some
Of them are in exile, and some, the
wisest and truest among living men, are,
to day, living among Us "disfranchised
traitors" But he looked forward TO a
brighter aud better day. He hoped and
believed that the passage or .4as arr
would assist IN acceleratiug the arrival
Of that better time Mr.. Holt then pro
ceedcd to discuss The bill in its legal
aspects, making his points with great
force and effect. One grand reason why
he should support the bill, was, that its
effect would be to improve the financial
condition of the State He then asked
if the appeals and supplications of ayas;
majority of the people of Kentucky
we're to be longer disregarded IN reference
to this bill? We could not, he thought
afford to deny them any longer. They
believe that they are ground down be.
meath the heel Of Louisville. Whether
/ it is so or not they believe it. How
! long will it be before they rise in bloody
( revolution Senators need not smile Al
/ this suggestion. There is danger con
nected with this subject if you longer
refuse to listen to the supplications of S.
many hundreds Of thousands of earnest
excited Kentuckians. The integrity @
the Democratic party of the State is
threatened Kentucky stands the las
barrier against the Radicalism of th'
North; and if you resist the appeals o
this people much longer they will accep
the boon from the hands of our politica
opponents iu Congress. He would no
DENY that there were objections to the
bill; but admit that the forfeiture claus
was a uullity, they, the people, were vii
ling to run the risk of being forced int
the Federal Courts. And, after all i
said and done, it is entirely true tha
Kentucky will have one hundred ant
thirty-eight Directors in that road 70
we fully reserve the right to lesislate
There / ever was charter better guard
cd, and it cannot be or become monop
oily so long as the Legislature of Ken
lucky remains to guard the sovereigut
of the State.