Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-11-09

Norwood, at Charleston and Sa'gan-
nah, vehemently protests it does
not ask and it must not be for
gotten that the proceeds of the sale
of these lands, thus absolutely
given away, would, under the pro-
visions of the Texas and Pacific
bill be paved into the Treasury of
the United States to secure the guar
anteed interest and the bonds them
selves.
Beside which some of these bills
are so artfully worded that plausi-
BILE argument may be made to jus
tify their appropriation of a money
subsidy to the Southern Pacific, in
addition to this land grant.
Second-The local lines (which it
subsidies are in no sense other than
local State roads, and, although inn
portant TO the States as connecting
and completing their system of
State roads, are not such works of
internal improvements as by their
character, extent or direct use to
the Government come within the
exercise of its powers.
Third-The security offered for
this subsidy, which, upon the most
reasonable computation and at the
least figure suggested, must amount
in the aggregate TO $40, 200, 900, and
which, when expended, will not
secure an independent and compe-
ting Southern connection, is utterly
insufficient, and there is no mort
gage whatever upon either of these
roads, or their property, and upon
cnnoQ IF fhnnn tho Nro,b o hIo oarxvfoos
to the Government in the way of
transportation would be positively
appreciable. In short there is not
an objection made TO the Texas and
Pacific bill which does not apply to
these bills with increased force /;
and there is not an advantage Sc
cured to the South and the whole
Republic by the Texas and Pacific
which these bills protect.
1 have thus attempted briefly to
reply to those objections which are
being sedulOusly and mischievOusIy
circulated for the purpose of defeat
ing the present bill, by dividing
and disturbing the Southern mind
in its hitherto almost unanimous
support of the measure. / have
said but little of the general advan-
tages of a Southern Pacific connec-
ton, because L do not believe a
| doubt exists upon it, and because it
would be almost impossible for me
adequately to express how the vast
| importance of this enterprise has
/ grown upon me, as in the discharge
of my duties l have travelled over
! its proposed line and realized in de-
80
But what ] do want to impress
upon you is this, that a Southern
| Pacific competition, to useful to you
and the country, must be
| AN INDEPENDENTAND COMPETING
CONNECTION,
one which shall be open to all who
! desire to use it, and upon which the
rates shall be under the direct SUI
pervisiOn and control of Congress !;
50 that the farmer, the merchant,
the manufacturer, the Government
itself shall be free from the extor-
ton and the power to extort of the
existing monopoly. Any cOnnec-
ton, even if such were built, which
is a mere branch of the existing
Central Pacific monopoly, subject
in the arrangement Of rates to its
interest, limited in its connections
to what IL permits, free as ii is from
the wholesome control of the Ma
tional Legislature, would be not
only delusiOn but an added danger.
1t would be simply the completion
of the most gigantic corporation
known to history since the days Of
the East India COmpany-mOre
powerful than even it was in the
time of its undisputed authority,
for the commerce of the country
will be the stock upon which they
declare their dividends, and the
great public highways of the nation
will be tOlled by their bylaws.
They might as well be permitted to
levy customs in your ports and
taxes upon your rivers. And you
know little of their spirit if you
think for a moment that to them
you will be anything but dependent
and subject tributaries.
JNO. C.. BROWN,
Vice President Texas and Pacific
Railway Co.
Pulaski, Tenn, Oct. "a, 1878.