The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-10-29

nouuced his intention. He saw that he
must control the New Orleans, jackson
81 Great Northern Railroad, connecting
at Canton, distance of 266 miles. Innu-
merable difficulties beset him. His life
was in danger. A Acrowd of hostile and
prominent malcontents leagued against
him; but through those and many other
propositions he won his triumphant
way, and to-day he owns largely and
controls an unbroken line from New Or
leans, once resonant with vituperation,
votes him unstinted and deserved praise,
and solicits the aid of his sagacity, pres
tige, wealth, and the vast powers of
combining and welding capital he pos
sesses, to still farther advance her in
terests by building other railroad connec-
tons.
But it is not only in the development
of the material resources of the country,
through the expenditure of the money, IN
rebuilding the roads. and affording en-
ployment to the needy; though pouring Il
tide of travel, investment seeking and
investment making in the lands of the
country, that Col. McComb cements the
sections His work is, in other ways, a
gospel of reconstruction beyond the elo-
quence of either tongues or books. tie
propitiates public sentiment, and endears
the supporters and participants of his
policy through their eXaltation in public
esteem, and by sharing honors and emol-
uments with them. Loving his whole
country, willing to forget the past, and,
a, the same time, watchful of the most
remunerative fields Of enterprise, and
prompt to occupy them, he pursues large
minded and large hearted policy.
The citizens of the country, his road
traverses, are the lawyers, presidents,
vice presidents, general managers, treas
urers, and the long line of numerous
subordinates of his railroads. Thus he
consolidates in his interests the most
trusty, efficient and influential men Of the
community. The community enjoys the
services of the best men. They are not
CALLED by the domination or exaltation to
places Of emolument and distinction of
strangers or "harpies," and they see their
best citizens enjoy the blessings, and suffer
none of the disadvantages Of foreign cap
ital.
What 80 healing to the estranged feel
ing hurt sensibilities and delicate suscep-
tibilities of sensitive people as such a
policy? What tie so strong as this to
bind the people together? Truly this is
policy! noble, enlarged, benefcent one.
1t suggests the fine remark Of Burke:
Never was there jar or discord between
genuine sentiment and sound policy"
1t makes one reverent of power and almost
seems to sanctify it, for, says Bacon,
''power to do good is the true and lawful
end of all aspiring"
[ cannot charactirize the many who con-
stitute the long and brilliant list Of those
who share the profits and the honors of
this policy, yet an affectiOnate admiration
constrains me to mention one of the
"brightest particular stars" in the con-
stellation which revolves around him.
Gen. f. G.. Walthall, Of Grenada, Miss,
seeking reputation cen at the lannon's
mouth" during the late war, he found
it-going out a private and returning a
major general. And now since ''the field
of honor" he has won more glorious
needs, on the higher fields Of peace. In
the consolidation of the Mississippi Cen
trail and New Orleans, Jackson & Great
Northern railroads into the New Orleans,
ST. Louis & Chicago railroad (the glorious
and fruitful conception of Col. McComb)
he has won great and enduring fame as a
lawyer.
From the almost inextricable tangle of
and enactment, and the mighty
maze" of detail, he has constructed most
noble and imposing fabric of legal archi-
lecture, pledge Of genius and guaran-
tee of lasting renown. Knightly, almost
martial, in bearing, chivalric; with the |
air and susceptibilities OF a soldier, he |
recalls the appellation OF the gallant Bay |
ard, sans peur sans reproehe (high thoughts
seated in heart of courtesy,) with face
all contemplation, full OF the"pale cast Of
thought" he has IAN eye like Mars to
threaten and command" affable, superbly |
genial, he is prompt, reliable
and capable.
A. J. NJ.