The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-06-12
A Brief sketch Of the Marvellous
Operations OF n Railroad
Corporation.

lature since the Inauguration of the era
of corruption under the regime OF the
Carpet-baggers.
In a message from the Executive Office, |
Nav 18th. 1870, Governor Alcorn, in
half dozen different specifications, charged
and proved that the New Orleans, Jack
son and Great Northern Railroad Com
pany, was "a defaulter."
He showed that it had been faithless
to It's pledges to the State which had
granted it large indulgences, and had
failed to redeem solemn pledges, not
withstanding its ability to do so. He es-
peciallv cited the failure Of its company
to extend the road to Aberdeen within
the time prescribed by It's charter, and
its neglect to return to the State the
Chickasaw School Fund Gov. Alcorn
charged that it g had broken faith with
g the State in every instance of their
g mutual contracts"
To save the State from further harm
and to punish the corporation for its
perfdy, he earnestly advised the Legis-
lature to pass law enforcing the for
fixture Of the charter of the company
and the seizure Of its property. And yet
after this unchallenged and fearful ar
raignment, what have we seen come to
pass? The public will be amazed to
know that the corporation thus ar
raigned, not only has made no reparation
for any of the manifold wrongs of which
it was guilty, nor afforded indemnity for
any of its violations of solemn obliga-
tions-but has actually gone on acquir-
ing new powers and charging its privi-
Ieges. 1t has not built the road to
Aberdeen, though it promised to do so
in ten years from the date of its charter.
1t has not even built the road to Kosci-
usko, Notwithstanding its oft repeated
pledges. 1t has not returned the Trust
Funds it borrowed on the faith of these
promises. But it has succeeded by art
fully manipulating the Legislature in
having law passed throwing on the
State the loss Of the interest on the ga
cred Funds which it has absorbed.
1t will battle credulity to know that
the very Legislature of 1870, which was
invoked to deal out wrath upon the head
Of this offending corporation, did actually
pass bill which was signed by the iden-
teal Executive who had arraigned it,
transferring to it g all the stock owned
q by the State in any and every Railroad
. company whose road is in whole or in
part within this State" Presto, change!
/ Here was transformation from intense
| hatred to burning love, as remarkable as
the conversion which was experienced by
the widowed Queen to the hideous
Huchback who had murdered her hus-
band. 1t commenced with revilings. 1t
ended with tender chances amor
Gus dalliance and marriage bed. The
corporation succeeded by a marvellous
process in obtaining this large grant and
further indulgence of five years for the
completion of the entire route from
| Canton to Aberdeen, and of two years
from Canton to koscusko from the LIST
of January, 1872. On this condition
the grant was made. One-half of this
time has passed, and yet not single
spade full of dirt has been thrown up
The people have been bountifully fed on
the east wind of fair promises, but they
have obtained nothing else. More than
twelve months after the time had elapsed
for the commencement of the work, the
agents and procurers Of the corporation
were hanging around the Hobbies, button
holding the members of the Legislature,
and perhaps resorting to other appliances
more disgraceful, begging a change of
charter so as to authorize the selection of
some other point than Canton from
which to continue the road. OF course
it succeeded, for in what undertaking
has it not succeeded in dealing with the
venal body on which it has operated |
But it did more than this. 1t not only
diverted the eyes of the Legislature from
its failure to commence the work on the |
first of January, 1872, from the point
indicated, and from its failure to complete |
within the time specifed-it not only
succeeded in obtaining liberal and extra
ordinary indulgences in the matter of
the Trust Funds-but it succeeded in |
passing a law authorizing its consolida- |
ton with the Mississippi Central Road, |
vastly charging its privileges and secur-
ing to the combination opportunities of |
unlimited monopoly for its own aggran-
dizement and to the detriment of the |
people of the State.
These undeniable facts, which are
known to every intelligent man in the
State, are cited to show the growth in |
Mississippi of the same dangerous and
corrupt influences that have aroused the |
people of the Western States to the |
highest pitch of Indignation. The work
Of arresting the evil here cannot be COM
menced too early. 1t is "a monster in
EQUITY with which they will have to
grapple.
The Vicksburg Times, which seems to
be going for the Bully Boy in real No
docJack style, inquiries if THE CLARIoN's
version of the Powers-Musgroye cores
!