Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1876-09-09
CAMPAIGN ISLANDERS.
A Vermont Republican vinAtcatcs
NIr. Tilden's Record as a Rail.
-.5 road Attorney. Il
The following letter will amply explain itself:


The following letter will amply explain itself:
BURLrSGroN, VT, August Is, 1876.
Peter Butler, Esq, Boston: ''ti !
My DEAR SIR:-I have written this letter SIM
ply for the purpose Of presenting what regard
as ths Just views views SfGovsrnSI Tilden,s relations.
Y fou well know am y republican. Il have been
such since the formation of that party-since 1872
the present campaign adopt the views of the
Hon Carl Schurz in his recent letter, and intend
to vote in November for Hayes and Wheeler.
From 1855 to ls5s resided In New York CITY.
Vice president Of q western railroad, and held
stock or bonds Of three others duriag the period
when they We're all of them reformed and re-
organized under the advice and counsel of Mr..
Tilsicn. Thus became acquainted with him IN
personal and proisssion.l charsctss, and 70 get yet
an insight into what Mr.. Stoughton calls his
peculiar practice or wrecking railroads. ~
Tue financial crisis of 1851 Ia well remembered
for its great severity. There was general sus-
pension of specie payments by the banks, and
(or partly buiiD, mot for cash, but by sale of
stock and bonds at . discount, almost every one
OF them west OF the state of New York went to
protest., aud very many of them were. In fact,
reduced capital. ~ I. -l,.iii.-l alf ,iIs
ton OF insolvency, vital necessity is to find u
man of such legal attsinments, sound practical
wisdom and integrity OF character that the great
holders Will unite in accepting his counsels and
following his leadership i'll saving the common
property and putting 1t in sound financial con-
1t was the good fortune OF many of these cor
poratiOns that they secured Mr.. Tilden's servi-
Sss e., and were wise enough to follow his advice.
Three prominent ones-c0rporations in which l
was personally interested-werc the Chicago and
North thwestern. the ST. Louis, Alton and Terre
The first OF them now represents q capital of
about $55, ,OOO, 900, the second about Sll 600 Co.,
and am, TIN the Chicago and Alton eapital OF about
DD. fnNk 4 ,So sl..te,
in demand in New YORK at iOlI. kn Immense
addition to the value OF these corporate proper
not less than 1ve-IOld in either case, and their
successful career for the past twelve years is
well known to financial men all over the coun-
Try. The work which Mr.. Tilden did Tor these
great corporations was to lift them out of the
slough Of bankruptcy aud place their property,
greatly enhanced in value. IN possession OF their
stockhOiders aud upon n stable basis Of prosper
lty. And for many other corporations, as / am
informed. Mr.. Tilden did saving work Of like
kind.
Now, If it is charged that he grew rich out of
this business, he may well admit the fact anil
reply with truth that for every $4,000 he has
ed million in value to their property.
The charge that Mr.. Tilden and the four
other gentlemen who reorganized the Terre
iaute and Alton road have stolen $500, 900 or
more of ITS stock snd bonds fslls to the ground
before the clear and decisive answer of those
Of August g. This was what WI was expected X 1hy by
those who know them. Mr.. Tilden's functions
IN ihis business were mainly advisory; the
active management OF the new corporation fell
chiefly upon Mr.. Charles Butler, who was, for
many years, president of the road, and Mr..
Robert Bayard, both of New York city; gentle
men whose characters are above suspicion or
reprOach. Mr.. Charles Butler is one OF the no.
blest oi men. He would suffer his right hand
to be burned to cinder. before he would touch
stolen bond stock certificate tainted with
fraud. All III -I~I-''J -
AS to the consolidation of the Galena and
Chicago railroad into what Is now the Chicago
and Northwestern railroad, the facts in the
brief are these Parties in the interest of the
ter road bought . majority OF the Galena stock
prominent among them was the Hon. VIM. Il.
Ogden, Of New York, for many years president
Oh the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Com
pany This name alone is q sufficient guarantee
that there WAS no fraud swindle, actual or in
tended, upon anybody. Under the laws Of Illinois
consolidation OF the two properties wss- ei-
tected, and upon equitable tcrms. II there
were any parties who suffered loss they were the
persons who. ut great expense, contested the
validity OF the consolidation tor the purpose of
getting IN extra price for their own stock. They
failed utterly. however; the werk of consolida-
ton, under the guidance of Mr.. Tilden, had
been too thoroughly done to be disturbed.
II there are any other allegations afloat in
reference to fraud committed by Mr.. Tilden as
a railroad attorney you may rest assured that
they VIII not be based upon any evidence that
Is tanglble, and such allegations you may safely
set down as campaign lies.
With much esteem. am, very truly yours,
-' t j. w. HICKOK