Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-03-01
MisesIlanesns.
59
CREDIT MOBILaEN OF AMERICA
ITS oRIsIN AED HISTORY.


We have several times been requested TO
publish the origin aud early history Of the
Credit Moblier, which has of late been
making sad havoc Of great mems names,
end have reirained because the different
statements heretofore made. all claiming
to be true, have all differed from each other
in important particulars. The following,
which We believe To be correct, was written
to the New York Herald By Benjamin Z.
Green, son of Geueral Duff Green, with
whom the Credit Mobilier originated
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. l, 1873.
To the Editor Of the Herald:
My attention has been called to the re-
port Of the remarks Of Messrs. Boyd and
smith, in the Pennsylvania Constitutional
Convention, in reference to the Credit Mo
bilier. The former said that the charter
had been granted by the Legislature OF
Pennsylvania for $50, 600, after $500, 900
had been offered to the Legislature of New
York and Slj0,000 to the Legislature OF
New jersey fer such charter, but with
out success. Mr.. Smith said the charter,
stock book and papers were stolen and
bodily carried to New York when the com
pany known as the Credit Mobilicr was or
ganized. Neither of these statements is
correct. The truth is as follows:
My father, General Duff Green, obtained
the charter of the Pennsylvania Fiscal
Agency from tho Legislature Of pcnpsyl-
vania at the session of 1853, and 1859. Not
dollar, not a cent, was paid, or offered
or promised to any member of the Legisla-
ture for the charter. His purpose was to
organize q company of American, Mexican
and European capitalists, including the
European holders of Mexican bonds, to
build the Sabine and Rio Grande railroad
in Texas, connecting with the New Orleans
and Opelousas railroad on the Sabine, and
to extend that road from the Rio Grande
TO the City of Mexico and the Pacific.
The then Governor, w. +. Packer, for
some time hesitated to approve the act of
incorporatiou--iirst because of the exten-
siye powers granted thereby, and second,
because he doubted my fathers ability to
accomplish what he proposed by it. In
the summer of 1859 my father went to Eu-
rope, with letters from President Buchan-
an, Senor Mata, then Mexican Minister at
Washington, and Senor Ledory Tejada,
now President of Mexico. lie soon re-
turned with written assurances from the
European holders of Mexican bonds, act.
ing through Il committee and other capi,
talists, stating that, if Governor Packer
would approve the charter, they would put
into the enterprise 500, 600, 900 of Mexican
bonds, and advance all the funds necessary
to build the road from the Sabine 10 the
City of Mexico and the Pacific. The doe
uments he brought with him from Europe
satisfied Governor Packer of the feasibility
OF his plans and of the great public benefit
TO the United States and to Mexico, where
upon the Governor approved the charter
on the lst of November, 1859.
On the 9TH of November, 1859, the com
pany was duly and regularly organized in
Philadelphia according to law, and the
whole stock (5O,UV0 shares) taken. The
first Board of Directors were Duh Grcen
David X. Porter, Jacob Zeigler, Samue
Il. Brooks and Oliver w. Barnes; Duff
Green, President; William Halstead, Trea-
! surer; Oliver w, Barses, Secretary.
The necessity of additional legislation by
the State of Texas, and for some satistac
tory arrangement with Scnor TeuteL o and
others, who held prior grant from Mex
! leo for a railroad from the Rio Graudc to
/ the Pacific, caused some delay. In the
fall Of 1850 my father went TO New Orlean.
TO meet commissioners from the Mexican
government, and 10 Texas on business o.
the road. Anticipating that he might
need them at New Orleans or.Austin, he
1 took with him all the original books and
| documents, which Mr. Smith enormously
supposes were afterwards ''stolen and car
ried bodily to New York." leaving with
1 Oliver w. Barnes, the Secretary of the
I Company, in Philadelphia, copies. These
originals still exist, and are safe in the
| possession OF their proper and lawful Gus
todians. In December, 1860, my father
having satisfactorily arranged the business
which had taken him to Louisiana anl
Texas, returned to Washington on his way
| to Europe, to consummate the abOve-men
toned agreement with the parties there
! On reaching Washington he found civil
war imminent. Mr.. lincoln and my
| cousin, indian Edwards, had married sis
! tiers, and my father held to Mr.. Lincoln
relations of intimate personal friendship
| For that reason he was selected by Presi
| dent Buchanan and Senator jeff Davis tC
bear from them to Mr. Lincoln an invita-
! tion to come to Washington at once, q!
! Mr.. Buchauau's guest, with assurances
that he would be received at the Whit,
/ House with all the respect aud honors du,
| him as President-elect, and that by acting
together they could pui a stop to the seces
sion movement and avoid civil war. Mr.
Lincoln seemed at first eager to accept thu
invitation, but afterwards declined, be
cause Senator Ben Wade, OF Ohio, opposed
il. The Herald of January {, 1861, con
tanned report Of an interview between {
reporter of that paper and my father oil
/ his return from his unsuccessful mission 4
Sprincheld,