Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-09

Editor Telegraph Please allow ms
space in your forthcoming issue, to dc
fend the interests of the Vicksburg
Shreveport & Pacific Railroad, which
have the honor tn represent.
The Monroe Bulletin in its issue OF
the I'D instant states editorially that
There is no question that under the
land grant was, Ipso facto, forfeited
but an act of Congress, so declaring it,
was necessary To make the grant void. d
! The article reproduced in the Bulle.
tin from the Farmerville Gazette, 70
which allusion is also made in the
editorial above mentioned, is an ar.
ralgnment Of Louisiana Congressman
Tor failure to do their duty-that is
iallure to use their utmost endeavors
To secure forfeiture Of this grant.
believe l may be allowed 10 assert
without fear Of contradiction, that a
proper sense of duty-whether in the
case Of o member of Congress or of any
other public officer-wouId require him
to exert his powers and Influence in
the cause Of justice, precedent to what
he or others might regard as the in
terests OF his constituents. Admit
ting, therefore. that the general vel.
fare Of North Louisiana would have
been best subserved by o declaration
OF forfeiture OF this grant by Congress,
II simply remains to be considered
whether exact justice would have been
meted out to the ", 8. 4 P. r. r. by
such congressional action.
by an act OF Congress, prior to the
war, q grant of lands was made to the
Vicksburg, Shreveport & Texas RaiI-
road, by the General Government, in
very specific terms, the consideration
being, primarily the building of the
railroad and secondarily it's competion
within specified time. This was il,
the nature Of contract and necessari-
ly binding on the General Govern
ment. At any rate II is very question
able II the enterprise would have been
undertaken but for this very import
ant consideration.
1t is true that the corporation failed
to comply with the letter of the re-
and it is solely on this
ground that the enemies of the road
pase their arguments in favor of
The v. s. & T. r. R. did not complv
with the time provision, for the simple
REASON that 1t was physical impos-
sibility to do SO, and involved a con.
ultlon OF anairs not contemplated or
provided for either by Congress or the
in question
The Railroad Company did eyery-
thing that could reasonably he ex.
pected OF them, up to the time the war
broke out, aud in the face of great |
iifhculties continued their work some
lime after the commencement of hos
iilties; but the rapid march of events.
and paralyzing every
branch VI industry, that did not direct.
conduce to a successful prosecution
y the war, not only caused n suspen.
non OF the work of completing Tins
inc OF road, but had a like eject mon
very other enterprise of q similar
haracter in the South.
In the name Of the Blind Goddess
an TINS be designated az a violation
Z pledges or q wiliful failure 10 COM
ny with expressed obligations. and
Ioui1 representative body--preeuma-
ny OF the most intelligent men i'm the
.nted States-be justified in go CON.
truing it,. " % 'o"
The war closed in 1866, leaving stin
year within which the letter OF the
rant might, if possible, have been :
arried out. Do the so-called advocates
the peoples rights claim that We
iouio anu could have finished it with. I
that time? If so they are willfullv
ma TO the history Of Reconstruction i
the State Of Louisiana, where not
ny every yestige of the peoples right
ere trampled under foot, but those of I
operations as we'll. 'e VI
Ihey will find upon investigation z
at the Railroad under consideration h
- sunJect Tor years and years to
igatlOn of the most harassiny lind
ot,baiP Property banded about like a 6
en- TO that Of he control Of ono set Of .
How was it possibfer.. y
affairs 60 expect anythiHgh a state W
nding TO It's development as coiTtepe "