Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-05
ALABAMA AND CHATTANOOGA
RAILROAD.
Statement of Gen. w. H. wORord, the
II Agent for Georgia.
The Track to be Torn up and Bridges
Burned, tn order TO Hold the Road.

The Chattanooga Times of Oct. 4, con-
tains the following statement of Gen. W.
L. Woford, agent for the State Of Geogia
for the possession of the Alabama and
Chattanooga railroad:
81 heard that Receivers had been ap-
pointed, and before Judge HARRISON ar
rived wrote to Gov. Smith for iRstruc-
tons. He replied that | should hold the
road at all haz ards until further orders from
him. As you are aware, l was connected
with the road in two capacities: first, as
Agent of the State of Georgia, who had
seized the road under her statutory mort
gage, and secondly, as Receiver under an
order of the Superior Court of Dade coun-
t., on the application of the State OF Alaba-
ma, and by the consent of the attaching
creditors. My connection with the offices
here was under contract with Col. Gindrat,
the Receiver appointed by Judge Key.
"When Judge Harrslson arrived here,
went out to the depot and found him in
possession. Waving any questions OF OFF,
tial courtesy, informed him Of my In
structions from Gov. Smith, and assured
him that | was very anxious to have the
road in operation for the benefit OF the
people, and urged him TO 90 with me to
Atlanta that night monday, Sept. 30,) and
see Gov. Smith and make some arrange
ments.
"Judge Harralson replied that ne could
not 90, as he was compelled to go of at
once to hold bis courts, but that as soon as
Alr. Stanton came he would attend to the
matter.
"Mr. Stanton came that night, and 1 I'M
derstoOd that he was going to run a train
out. l told several people who asked me
about it, that the train would not be permit
ted to pass through Dads county. also
told Mr.. Whitney that / must have the
rolling stock turned over to me which
had been seized by the State at Trenton,
and he agreed to do this. also said
that was willing to cooperate with them
in any way so as to secure the running
of the road, by leasing the road in
Georgia, or by running my train In
Georgia to connect with theirs, and asked
them not to attempt to run their trains
through Georgia. When they insisted on
running their trains showed my orders and
asked them if they would send me to Tren-
ton. Mr.. Whitney agreed to do so, but the
train was so late in getting ready that get
a hack and went down there. l had tele-
craphed the Governor for additional instruc-
lions, and he replied at once for me to stop
all trains, and TO apply to the Sheriff OF
Dade for posse. When got to Trenton
showed the Sheriff my orders, and he sum-
moned posse and stopped the train next
morning.
1Whila was at Trenton Attorney Gen.
| eral Hammond came to Chattanooga and
| sent for me TO meet him. | did not like
! to leave, but finally did, and went with
him TO Atlanta. There saw Gov. Smith,
who repeated his instructions to hold on to
The road. l told him l wanted no conflict
with the Federal authorities. He said that
the conduct of the Receivers was the most
high-handed assumption OF power he ever
heard of. They had never even asked him
for possession, nor made any offer to settle,
but attempted to ride over the State when
she had possession under her statute, which
was recognized by the court of bankruptcy.
The State Of Georgia was lot party to
any law suit, and could not be made one
| without her consent. Gov. Smith told me
that he did not want any conflict and = ould
not have any, but that he considered me
prudent man, and would leave the matter
wholly in my hands with the instructions
to hold the road against all opposition and
allow no trains to run; If it was necessary
to do that, to tear up every rail within the
State OF Georgia, and burn every bridge!
"These are my instructions and am
compelled to carry them out. l want the
road TO run for the accommodation OF the
people, and am willing to LEASE the part oil
tin Georgia to the Receivers, OrI will put
on my train and run it to the State line IN
connection with their TRAINS"
These are almost Gen. Woford's exac
words, and our readers will see from them
that Gov. Smith is satisfied Of his own right:
and those of his State, and proposes Il
maintain them at all hazards. We learn from
other sources that Gov. Smith telegraphe'
to an attorney in this city that he intend:
to hold the road il 1t took every able bodice
man in the State of Georgia, between tn
ages of Is and 45.
Gen. Woford also said that the people OF
. Dade county were not to blame, as they
were only obsying the orders Of tie Gov
ernOr.
Gen. Wofford further stated that he had
been served with an injunction il bis ca
n2ei5y as Receiver for the Superior Court
of Dade, which he should obey, but nj
process could affect him as the representa-
tive of the State Of Georgia.
We hope for the best, however.