The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-06-28
TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Speech of Hon. W. C. WhitthCrne

Mr.. WHITTHORNE. Mr.. Speaker,
but for the remarks recently made up
on this floor by the gentleman from
Alabama Mr.. Herbert upon the Tex
as Pacific Railroad, in which he re-
ferred to q prominent gentleman of
my State, and who is an hOnOred and
distinguished constituent of mine,
would not have sought the floor upon
this occasion. While it is true that
the reference is made in terms of per-
sOnal respect, yet the impression is
made that this eminent and patriotic
son of the South has lent the use of
his name aud talents tOalpersOnal prof.
ect which is at war with the best
interests not only of the South, but of
the entire country.
Now, sir, this impression is unjust;
and while upon the prOpriety, eXpe-
diency, and cOnstitutiOnality of this
| measure the best and most patriotic
| minds of the nation may differ, yet
for Governor John e.. Brown, of Ten
nessee, whom | have known from the
| days of our young manhood, and who
| is the gentleman referred to, l may be
| allowed to say that from most inti-
| mate personal knowledge of him, rum
| ming back for period of thirty years,
| having seen him in the various posi-
L
| confidence aud affection of the people
who knew him ald his daily life, that
both as a soldier and statesman he has
deservedly won the highest attainabie
rank-a Bayard as soldier, a patriot
as a statesman, and is incapable of an
act of infidelity to the section and
people with whom and whose fate he
has been and is now so closely identi-
fed.
When the recent civil conflict was
| over, he was hOnOred by his naive
State III being selected as its chief
magistrate. Hardly had he closed his
official term before he was urged to
| accept the position now held by him
as ViPe~president of the Texas Pacific
Railroad. With opportunities i'll his
| profession and otherwise honOrably
| and successfully to WOO wealth and
| fortune seldom opened to others; with
| the avenues of political advancement
| and promotion at his command, those
| who desired his aid in the prosecution
| of the Texas Pacific Railroad urged
| that in this way he could serve his
country and assist in reviving the fall
| en- fortunes of the South. All of his
| sympathies were with the people in
| whose cause he had sacrificed his pri-
vate fortunes and for which he bears
upon his person honorable scars.
| No, Mr.. Speaker, the impression
made, or sought to he made, that he
has lent himself 10 any project at war
with the best interests Of the south,
does Governor Brown great injustice,
| No again, sir; it may he that he is
| mistaken in his judgment, but Gov.
ernor Brown believes firmly and hon
estly that the immense railroad inter-
ests of the South, as well as its great
| industries and commercial interests,
together with the necessity for outlets,
Ofemigration to our young, poor, and
energetic population, demand that this
great national work shall be compile
ted. In this faith and belief a very
large majority of the people of the
South agree with him, and it is with
such belief and faith that he has lent
his time, talents, and energies to the
prosecution Of the great work so freely
criticised 10y the gentleman from Ala
| bama.
MIR. HERBERT, (interrupting.) Mr..
Speaker, | fully concur in all the gen.
tleman has said in relation to Cover
nor Brown. ] gay further that | fully
believe he and the other gentlemen
from the South whom ! pained In my
speech are as honest i'll advocating as
! / am in opposing this BILL If any
thing J have said can be construed,
| which do not think it can, into Te-
Election on their patriotism, ] desire
here publicly to diselaim any such
intention; nothing was farther from
my thoughts.
Mr.. WHITTHoRNE. 1t has not been
my purpose at any time to address the
House upon the subject of the Pacific
Railroad prior to the consideration Ot
the bill 10y the House, but l deem this
an appropriate occasion TO say that,
trained in the school of "the strict con-
, structionists," ] have never favored
special or class legislation or the grant
ing of aid by the Government, either
in money, land or credit, either to in
dividuals or corporations; and In the
departure from this rule by the States
and National Government, in my