The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-07
CAPT. PATTON'S LETTER
SIYS BUNCOMBES PEOPLE RE
CEIVED CONSIDERATION.
A WORD FROM THE OTHER SIDE
The Constitution Provides Method Only by
Means of Which Such Bonds Are Auth
orized--Is it Reputation to Require
Adherence to That Method :?

There has been much unfavorable com
ment in the State press about the action
of the officers Of several counties who
have sought to relieve themselves of the
obligation of paying the bonds issued
to construct railroads, because the bills
| authorizing the issue of bonds. were not
passed in the manner prescribed
by the State Constitution. Wher-
| ever the bonds were issued in ac-
| cordance with an agreement which has
been performed by the railroad receiving
the bonds, the reputation by means OF
a technicality is as dishonest as if an
individual should swindle his fellow man
by means of technicality. An honest
| obligation is an honest obligation.
Wherever the people voted bonds, it is
their duty to pay them unless there
was fraud in the transaction.
In the matter of the suit brought to
invalidate the Buncombe County bonds,
| issued to build the Asheville and Spar
tanburg railroad, it seems clear that
/ there was no fraud practised and no
equitable ground for avoiding their pay
ment. Yesterdays Asheville Citizen,
under the heading 1.-THE Consideration, y
contained the following editorial:
1.-THE assertion having been made that
| the County received no consideration
| for the Spartanburg and Asheville bonds
issued in 1875, Capt. Il. w. Patton con
| tributes valuable information to the
contrary in Tuesday mornings Ga
zette. After stating that he least the
i only ballot that was cast in Asheville
| against the bonds" Cat. Patton adds:
my feeling being then as above
/ indicated, you may be sure l watch
ed all that followed. The subscrip-
i ton was honestly made to the Ashe-
/ vile and Spartanburg railroad and
| the proceeds of these bonds were ex-
| pended upon grading in our county.
/ In this way a large part of it was
used so ais to help the laborers Of
/ Buncombe. Not only SO, but these
bonds enabled us to get railroad
which otherwise we would not per-
haps have had yet, and certainly
1 would not have had many years ago,
| as soon as we did. To be sure the
ownership of the railroad went into
other hands, but this was only
| what every sensible voter knew
| would follow when he voted for it or
| against it, or voted not at ALL What
right have we now to say that we
| got no consideration?
but apart from all this, do not
| let anyone forget that all this oc-
| CARED % years ago, the bonds in
question matured in 20 years. Just
before their maturity new ones were
| issued legally, certainly they were
intended to be, sold for cash, now
who will pretend to say that the
holders Of these bonds gave no con-
| sideration for them?"
Capt Patton thinks that if the de-
cision Of the courts is adverse to the
| legality of the bonds, it will not be a
| misfortune that the matter was brought
| up, because, the people of Burcombe
county will vote to pay the bonds any
| way. But the trouble is, great harm
has already been done. The credit of
! the county has been attacked BY its own
/ officials, and the effect of that can but
| be in the nature of disaster"
The Gazette writes In like view. AT
| the meeting OF the Democratic Club in
| Ashevilfe, composed of representative
Democrats, Hon. Lacke Craig introduced
| the following resolutions which were
| unaHimouSly adopted:
| Whereas, The board of County Com
| missioness have recently brought a suit
| in the superior court for the purpose of
enjoinmg the HEment of the principal
| and interest of &he bonds of Buncombe
| Count, and.
| Whereas, This action OF the Commits
| sfoners Is a deliberate attempt based
upon technically to renudiate an Aon-
est debt, and,
Whereas, We treasure as priceless the
andaent honor and unsullied name of the
1 COUNTY of Buncombe,
therefore, be it rGsolpyed by the Zeb
Vance club Of Ashevills, That we de-
neunce and condemn the action Of the
commissioners and call upon all good
men to join with us to rebuke and re-
| pudiate the administration that wouK
Bring upon as Disgrace and i'reparable
| damage"