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TRU ATLANTA WEEKLY SUN, FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 14, 1872.
THE ATLANTA SUN
►
®*J»r Campbell WallKec'i Volantary
“Opinion*” on the State Road Lease.
Editors Daily Sun: Maj. Wallace’s
ready compliance with the request of sev
eral legislators, seems to me to be as
much out of place as the questions which
not seem to have illuminated his path
way. Major, in what dark corner have
you been hiding for the last eighteen
months ?
But the Major’s "opinion” about the
State Road, given under different cir
cumstances, is on record, and is worth
reading. In his report to Gov. Jenkins
on the 16th October, 1866, when he was
Superintendent of the road, he uses the
following language:
were propounded. The whole corres
pondence is open and liable to such re- [ g “Much specnlstion is b«i*g indulged inby Intel
mark and criticism as to motives, as gen
tlemen who are disinterested, ought to
steer clear of.
If he had been authoritatively called
ligent citizen* of the State on the probtble influ-
"ence thefcbuilding of virion* railroads now being
“projected will have on the welfare of 'he State
“Road; and, as I think, very erroneous conclusions,
“in Borne instances, have been arrived at. Iam not
one of those who believe many new railroads will
i
Upon by a Legislative Committee, or a <<b e constructed in the South at. an early day.—
Court of Justice, he would have had no I “We have not the meant; and if we had, the good
discretion; but this voluntary expression
of an opinion on a question in which
two parties are rivals in interest—each
party contending for alleged rights—one
against alleged wrones; the immediate
spreading of that opinion widely before
the public, where, if it has any weight at
all, will be in favor of one of the parties
und against the other; and all connecting
facts, smack too much of taking sides
unfairly in a matter where an attitude of
fairness and impartiality ought strictly
to be preserved.
Maj. Wallace, in giving the opinion
asked for, says he would not take stock
in a lease of the rood for twenty years,
at more tnan $25,000 per month, nor
even at that, unless associated with oth
er reliable parties interested in and con-
troliug other roads connecting with it.
This is one part of his opinion.
He then refers to the fact that the
Selma Borne and Dalton Bailroad is
completed; that the South and North
Boad is finished to the Alabama and
Chattanooga Bailroad, and will very
soon connect with Nashville, Louisville,
Memphis aud the great West, and that
already much freight and travel are be
ing diverted from the State Boad; that
the Georgia Western is being built, which
will check monopoly and give Atlanta
cheap coal, etc. This is hnother part of
his opinion.
He then says he is decidedly of opin
ion that when the State is secured in tne
certain and prompt payment of $25,000
per month for twenty years, it will have
done the very best thing likely to be effect
ed with the Boad. He says “he lias not a
particle of faith in any State Govern
ment organization earning much more
than $300,000 per annum;” and further
expresses the opinion that “a State or
ganization or management could not and
would not counteract” the well known
combinations in railroads now forming.
This completes the points of his opin
ions, which are pertinent to this discus
sion.
And this last noticed point brings up
more forcibly the “PERVADING PUB-
POSE,” which this correspondence, it
seems to me, was intended to subserve,
that is, take sides in favor of the present
lessees; and I again* say, that if such
was not the design, the whole thing was
Unfortunate, and it does seem to me
that the Legislators who asked the ques
tions and Major Wallace who replied,
ought carefully to avoid the least ap
pearance of espousing the cause of either
party in this contest—especially in the
manner in which this correspondence is
given to the world.
To whom does Maj. Wallace allude
when he speaks of a "Slate organiza
tion or management ?” Does he mean
the management of the road by the State
government—-just as it was when Maj.
Wallace was Superintendent? If so, he
places himself in singular contrast with
his own previous views and record. He
reports the gross earnings of the road
from the 25th September, 1865, to 30th
September, 1866, at $1,315,756 40.
Daring that year, with all the heavy ex
penses for repaii s and the drawbacks in
cident to the times, the expenses were
$955,100 71, which would make the net
earnings for that year of his adminis
tration, $360,655 69. If this amount
could be earned in those days, could
not twice that amount be easily earned
now, and for many years to come ? He,
in that report, expressed the opinion
that not many new railroads (competing
lines) would “be constructed in the
South at any early day;” that the freeing
of four millions of negroes would throw
upon the State Boad “a travel and a
traffic that the most sanguine neyer an
ticipated,” coming from not less than
eight millions of restless Celtics and An
glo-Saxons which would be thrown
among us; and “no matter what roads
may be constructed” the State Road
"must continue to be, between the South
and the great Northwest, like the liga
ment that binds the Siamese twins,” &e.
This is one point in his previous opin
ions aud record. It seems that when the
road was a “State organization” under
his charge, he thought of, and was look
ing out for “combinations” and “West
ern connections;” and I believe he would
now, if the road were in the hands of
the State and he were Superintendent,
be equal to such emergencies as they
might arise—his present opinion to the
oontrary, notwithstanding.
But did Major Wallace refer to a com
pany of honorable and responsible gen
tlemen who were aU residents of Georgia,
who had made a bona fide bid of $9,500
per month more than the present lesees
are giving—who aro able and willing to
give that amount—who can secure the
otate in that amount for twenty years,
beyond any question or peradventure,
sai ,f 0 , ^ad not a “particle of
'State organ ization?” On this
point he is not explicit.
But if this does not refer to such men
of substantial worth, business qualifica-
tions, and high personal honor, as John
B. Hoyt, A. C. &B. F.Wvlv
g °’ *5°« re -’ & Marsh ’ lD “an
Swan * Co., and their partners, he ha“
singularly ignored the existence of such
acompany and the amount they have
offered and stand ready to give the State
lor the road, and to secure its laithful
If this last alternative be the
J*"* v°T - can fke opinions of such a
man De fair or worth a cent to any one ?
, „' v f P an fhe opinion of Major Wallace
be worth anything, when he very “deci-
£$ooo e i p S t r he + ° pinion thatwhe »
J?'°o t l 1 / 0r J went y years is se-
oored to the State Treasury, the State
Will have done die very best thing it is
> likely to do with the State Road,” in the
mb of the fact, well known to everybody
'^t |iim), that the State can get §34,500
■ .
mxnonth secured for the next twenty
ftMb by simply accepting it? I don’t
respect for such an opinion,
“opinion” “with all the
judgment of discreet monty-holdera irtU point out
to them better investments in the reconstruction
“of present lines, and in adding to onr agricultural
“and manufacturing interests. We have facilities
“for transportation already, beyond the legitimate
“prodinctaand commerce of our country.
So much for his opinion then. We
have the results before us. These com
peting lines are being built, and when
they are all completed, we shall still be
more likely to lack “facilities for trans
portation,” than to have an excess of it.
This is my opinion. I think it is worth
as much as his on this point.
But he now thinks these competing
lines are likely to injure the business of
the State Boad—so I infer from his let
ter. On this point, in that same report,
be said:
"Admitting that all other (railroad enterprises)
“ now being discussed snd projected, areconstruct-
“ ed in due time, they cannot injuriously affect the
“ welfare of the State Road. A rapid exchange of four
“ millions ol a now bile and nnpioductive race of la-
“ borers, for not less than double that number of the
" restless Celtic and >ng]o-Saxon is inevitable, and
" wiU throw upon the rails of the Western & Atlantic
" Railroad a travel and a traffic that the most san-
“ guine never anticipated; and no matter what roads
“ may be constructed, it must continue to be, be-
*■ tween the South and the great Northwest, like the
“ ligament that binds the Siamese twins. Confident
“ in the certainty of this future for the State Boad,
“ J6Sf I CAN SEE HOW EASILY THE STATE HAY
“ RELIEVE HERSELF, AT ONCE, OF ALL CON-
“ CERN FOR THE PAYMENT OF HER INDEBT-
“ EDNESS.-S*
“The amount oi the funded debt (of the State) to
“be provided lor, in case every dollar of the bonds
"now authorized by law to be issued are sold, will
•‘not reach six minions of dollars. * * * , From
“estimates made, I am sure, that with any
"proper restoration of the general prosperity of the
“country, the State Road—being relieved from all
“other responsibilities—can be made to pay the
“semi-annual interest on this debt, and ABSORB
“THE WHOLE OF THE PRINCIPAL LONG BE-
“FORE IT MATURES.
“ I give these ideas, having confidence in their fea-
** liM'ty—hoping that in the combined wisdom of
“ the leading minds of the State, a plan may be
“ matured by which the State Road may—as I be-
“ lieve it can—be made to relieve the people of the
“ State, not only from the payment of interest semi-
“ annually on her debt, but, at the same time, grad
ually LIQUIDATE HER ENTIRE INDEBTED-
" NESS, which should certainly be greatly prefera-
11 hie to such relief as may be temporarily had from
“ any payment into the State Treasury of surplus
** receipts to be annually frittered away.
“ The Western & Atlantic Railroad is a great
** work. Let us have some great object worthy of
“ accomplishment to work up to; and, with judici-
“ ous management, it cannot fail to be successful."
Here we have his “opinion” in 1866,
that the State Road could easily be made
to pay off the entire State debt—princi
pal and -interest—long before it became
due. The debt was then—say six mil
lions, The interest on that amount at
six per cent, would amount to $360,000
per annum—this much for interest alone,
which is $60,000 more than the present
lessees are paying for the road; and how
much more would have to be provided
from the net earnings of the road- to pay
off the principal of the public debt long
before it became due 1
Now he thinks the veUy best thing the
State is likely to do for twenty years is
to secure $300,000 a year for it! Verily!
I have been informed that Major Wal
lace has said that the road could be run
with 60 per cent, of its gross earnings;
that he managed it part of the time with
a slight fraction under that figure; and
that he believed, when it was in good
condition and properly managed, it could
be operated on 55 per cent, of its gross
receipts. If this estimate be correct
(and I have no donbt it is), the net
earnings of the road cannot, in any
reasonable event, be less than six hun
dred thousand dollars a year—twice
as much as the present lessees pay for it.
There can be no doubt of the fact that
the road will, without any special extra
good management, net over half a mil
lion of dollars every year. One of the
present lessees—one of the ablest of the
company—who understands what he
says,—I learn, has openly declared that
the profits of 1 the company would be
sure for not less than fifty thousand dol
lars a month
But I have been collating some facts as
to what the State Road has earned over
its working expenses in the past, and
from which we may make some calcula
tions in the future. To save space, I
shall quote only the net earnings—the
amounu received over working expenses
for the following years:
1853 $227,709 01
1854 33S,123 00
1855 429,047 23
1856 490,697 68
1857 464,981 40
1858 405,773 44
1859 454,541 53
1860 417,454 60
1861 547,041 76
1867..- 685,729 13
I have not given the net earnings for
the years during the war or immediately
following, nor under the administration
of Bullock, as these would be no fair cri
terion.
I think I have shown two things.
1. That Maj. Wallace’s present opin
ions are not worth much when tested by
his own previously recorded opinions,
and the facts of history as well as the
opinions of some eminent railroad men.
2. That the State ought to receive
largely over $25,000 per month for the
road; that the road be made to pay
in the neighborhood of $60,000 per
month; and that the State can, by simply
aoce Pfcipg it, get $34,500 per month well
secured for twenty years. 8. O. M.
Alumni Trustee*.
The following named gentlemen have
been elected Trustees of the University
of Geoigia, by the Alumni of that insti
tution. The election took place on
Wednesday: N. J. Hammond, Atlanta, 4
yeara; Pope Barrow, Oglethorpe, 3
This is one great /years; A. O. Bacon, Macon, 2 years; J.
‘ ody else, but it does IO. Rutherford. Bainbridge, 1 year
The Lease.
“Tax Payer,” quotes the sworn testi
mony to show that the Seago-Blodgett
Company proposed to bribe Bullock to
get the Lease, and throw it back on the
State if it did not pay.
Euitors Constitution: I have read the
memorial of the reconstructed Seago-
Blodgett Company to the General As
sembly, setting forth their claims to the
lease of the Western & Atlantic Railroad,
and it is worthy of remark that the pre
sent company is not the company that
made the bid to Governor Bullock, and
that it is a little late in the day for anew
company to form and come in and make
a bid for the road, after it has been leas
ed eighteen months. If the Legislature
should think it its duty to consider such
a bid, and turn over the road to
this new company, eighteen months
hence another company might
form and come and ask to take
charge of the road. I suppose the rep
resentatives of the people will pay no at
tention to any su"h child’s play. The
fact that the present company is made
np of different material, in a great de
gree, from the former one shows very
clearly that it is not the same. Indeed,
we have heard, from time to time, that
this company lias been frequently reor
ganizing and writing and telpgrapning
over the country to persons, trying to
get them to go in and take an interest,
but their case is such a forlorn hope that
very few have heeded their invitation. I
see that Mr. Dobbins has returned to
the company, and I suppose is still a
representative man there. They now
say that they have unanimously expelled
Blodgett. If Mr. Dobbins voted for the
expulsion he has changed his mind since
he testified before the lease committee.
Here is what he then said about Blod
gett. Pamphlet of evidence, page 216:
TESTIMONY OF MR, DOBBINS.
Question—“What was your motive for
getting Colonel Blodgett in your com
pany? How did he become connected
with it?”
Answer—“Well, sir, I can only state
my motive for it, and I think I under
stand the motive of the company pretty
well also. I had the idea that Colonel
Blodgett had a good deal of influence
with Governor Bullock, and that he
could enable us to have a lair showing at
a bid. That was my object. I only
speak for myself, but I think that was
probably the object of the company.”
Page 217.
Question—“You thought that by con
necting him with your company, he
would exert an influence with Governor
Bullock?”
Answer—“Yes, sir; and that we would
be able through him to control the lease.
That was my idea, aud I think it was the
idea of those who were connected 171th
the management of our company.”
Question—“Did Colonel Blodgett ap
ply to you to be admitted into your com
pany, or did you apply to him to come
into your company ?”
Answer—“We applied to him. He did
not apply to us, that I know of. I know
he didn't apply to me.” Page 226, re
ferring to Blodgett.
Question—“You think you would not
have invited him to join your company
if it had not been for his supposed great
influence with Gov. Bullock ?”
Answer—“I don’t think we should.”
Question—“Is Blodgett a * member of
your company now ?”
Answer—“I really do not know wheth
er he is or not. They made some move
to withdraw him, but I opposed, and I
don’t know whether he is withdrawn or
not, I don’t know whether he is a mem
ber of the company or not.”
Question—“ Did I understand you to
say that you opposed the motion to put
him out ?”
Answer—“ Yes, sir, I did oppose it,
for the reason that we had invited Mr.
Blodgett to join us, and we could not go
back on him. If he had come to us, it
would have been different, but we went
to him, and it would be doing him great
injustice, if we were to throw him over
board. We had got him to join us, and
he did not answer our purpose as well as
we had supposed he would, but that was
not his fault. He had not gone back on
us in any way, and I didn’t think we
ought to go back on him.”
According to Mr. Dobbins’ sworn state
ment, therefore, the Company seems to
have treated Mr. Blodgett very unkindly
in his unanimous expulsion. Possibly
there is a little injustice in this move,
which is doubtless one for policy. It
seems hard that they should expel Blod
gett unanimously and go back on him,
when he didn’t go back on them.
But if the present company is to be
considered the old company, and stand
upon its bid, then they must be respon
sible for the acts and conduct of the old
company. Much has been said by the
opponents of tne present lessees, about
fraud, an interest m Bullock, etc., etc.
Now, let us see what the sworn testimony
says about the conduct of this rival com
pany, in that particular. On page 98,
Wm. McNaught testiiying:
TESTIMONY OF WM. M’NAUGHT,
Question—“I understand you to say,
on Sunday, when the committee visited
Mr, Blodgett, they proposed that if Gov.
Bullock desired to have any interest in
this lease, he would have it?”
Answer—“Yes, sir, I think that was
intimated.”
Question by Judge Reese—“Do you
think it was proper that the man who
made the lease should have an interest
in it?”
Answer—“I don’t know. I did not
consider the matter much. I have just
stated it as it occurred.”
Mr. Dobbins swears as follows on this
point, page 217:
Question—“Was there anything said
amongst you at any time while you were
making up your company about an in
terest being taken by Gov. Bullock, or
for Gov. Bullock, or by some friend of
Gov. Bollock ?”
Answer—“There was some remark of
that kind made. I tnink Mr. Seago
made the remark, perhaps in the pres
ence of Mr. McNaught and myself, that
if Gov. Bullock had any lriend who
wanted to have an interest, we would let
him have some stock. That is my recol
lection. ”
Question by Judge Reese—“Was not
the remark this, Mr. Dobbins, that if
Gov. Bollock or any of his friends want
ed an interest, etc. ?”
Answer—“I don’t remember particu
larly about that.”
Question by Mr. Hudson—“Did you
think he would influenoe Governor Bol
lock ?”
Ans.—“Yes sir. I think ‘ that was
the idea, that perhaps it might nave soimo
influence. We had taken up the idea
that Governor Bollock was rather on the
market, and thought he might be in
fluenced in some such way. I do not
know whether it was a correct idea or i curity
not, but that was the impression which
was on my mind at the time.”
WHAT BLODGETT TESTIFIES.
On the same point, Foster Blodgett tes
tified as follows,'on page 227: “They,
referring to Seago, Dobbins and Mc-
Xaught, “wanted me to see Governor
Bullock, and find out whether he could
be induced to take an interest.” Again,
near the bottom of the page he says
“They asked me to see Governor Bul
lock and make the proposition that he
could have whatever interest he or his
friends might desire,” and on the next
page he says: “Then Mr. Seago pro
posed I should put down Governor Bul
lock’s name, or some name for him, to
an amount, he said, of as much as two
hundred thousand dollars worth of
stock.”
While the result of the investigation
has clearly failed to show that the pres
ent lessees gave Bullock any interest,
this evidence does show beyond question
that the Seago-Blodgett company now me
morializing the Legislature, did propose
to give him an interest, if he would give
them the lease. What say their new as
sociates? Do they indorse this? If they
take the benefits they must take the nur-
dens. If they insist on any points in
favor of those with whom they have be
come associated, and expect to profit by
them, they must be responsible for their
conduct in their effort to procure the
leaee by bribing Gov. Bullock.
This new rival company grows very
earnest in pressing upon the members
of the Legislature their higher bid. No
doubt they are willing to promise any
thing to get in possession of the road,
but whether they would perform the
promise afterwards, is quite another
question. Every intelligent railroad
man at all acquainted with the situation,
knows that it would be impossible for
them to pay the amount of their bid out
of the earnings of the road, and it is
hardly to be supposed they would want
to lavish a part of the large wealth that
they claim to have,upon the good people
of the State, by paying the deficiency
out of their private purse. It is reason
able to infer, then, that the new compa
ny still intend what the old one intend
ed when they put in the bid, that they
would get in possession and try it awhile
and after they have made what they can
on the lower years of the scaling bid,
when the time came to shoulder the bur
dens,they would petition the Legislature
for relief, or throw the road upon the
State. Let us see what the evidence is
upon this point. I recur again, first to
the evidence of Mr. Dobbins, page 222.
MR, DOBBINS AGAIN.
Question (by Governor Brown, who
was interrogating the witness)—“Did
you not state to me, at one time, when I
was telling you the reasons why I had
determined never to bid more than $25,-
000 a month, that if you had found you
could not pay the rental, that you in
tended to throw the road back upon the
State?”
Answer—“And I said we made two
bids—a direct bid and a scaling bid of
$26,000 for the first year, $31,000 for the
next four years, etc. I told you that if
our scaling bid was accepted, we had
calculated that we could very well afford
to run the road for the first five years,
aud after that time we might,if neces
sary, have a very good excuse for apply
ing to the Legislature to reduce the
rental or give up the road.”
BLODGETT RE-APFEARS.
Hear Mr. Blodgett, a member of the
company, upon the same subject, page
234:
Question (by Judge Reese) — “ Still
you were willing to give $35,000 for it?”
Answer—“Yes, sir, I was willing to
come into this company, for we ran no
risk. If we didn’t want to keep the
road, we could turn it back upon the
State. If we found it did’nt pay, we
could stop paying the rental, and the
State would take possession of the road.
In other words, if it paid we were to
keep it, and if it didn’t pay, we would
turn it over to the State. That was my
idea about it.”
And on page 236:
Qestion—“You thought you could
throw the road back upon the State
whenever it failed to pay ?”
Answer—“Yes, sir.”
Question—“That was your idea?”
Answer—“Yes, sir.”
Question—“And you made your bid
upon that idea?”
Answer—“Yes, sir; and I think the
lease bill will bear me out in my idea”
So it is very clear that the members of
this original company pnt in their large
bill with the intention of petitioning the
Legislature for relief, or of throwing it
bacK upon the State whenever they
reached the point where they had made
all they could out of it, and it failed to
pay. Doubtless they would have run it
down very low, pocketing the incomes,
and then, when it was necessary to make
large expenditures to repair it, they
would petition the Legislature, or thrust
it back upon the State. And if the pres
ent parties memorializing the Legisla
ture are the same company, they must
be held responsible for those sworn state
ments of the members of their company,
as to the intentions and motives which
prompted the bid.
of an houcrable man, that he would
award the lease to the company offering
the largest bid, provided the security
was all right. It depended upon the se-
BLODGETT DECEIVED.
Again: the evidence shows that Mr.
Blodgett served the Company well, and
if his partners in the Company had not
deceived him in referenae to the securi
ty, he would certainly have secured the
lease. On page 227, Blodgett says, un
der oath—“I told them, (his associates),
there was no donbt about our getting the
road, if the security was all right, and
they assured me that they had the Ma
con & Western Rood, the Central Road,
and the Southwestern Road for security.
I told them if that were thecase, it would
be all right. They were very anxious to
get the road, and so was L”|
Again: On page 230, he says—“I*-am
satisfied we would hi ve got tne lease, it
onr security had been good. I had the
Governor’s word that he wonld give it to
B he party making the highest bid, if the
ecuritv was peateet I had his word,
too, that he would have given it to us, it
onr security had stuck.”
Again, on page $86: Question (by
Mr. Hudson)— 4 * Did you ever work in
behalf of the present lessees, to procure
the lease ?”
Answer—“ I never did. Never.”
Question (by Mr. Hudson)—** Directly
or indirectly ? ’
Answer—“No, sir. I went and saw
Gov. Bulloek in behalf of the other eom-
peoy, end he assured me open the word
BLODGETT FAITHFUL.
So it seems that Blodgett did his work
well. He had seen the Governor, and
had the assurance that his company
should have the lease, if they could give
good security, but his associates had de
ceived him, as they had assured him that
they could give three railroads mention
ed, and it turned out they had no au
thority for such assurance. I must,
therefore, agree with Mr. Dobbins, that
they have gone back upon Blodgett, in
expelling him, when he had not gone
back upon them.
No doubt the members of the Legisla
ture will examine the evidence closely
and see whether this patriotic company,
which now sets up so earnest a claim to
the road, comes into the General Assem
bly with clean hands. If the sworn tes
timony is to be believed, they can hardly
claim that virtue.
Another little point to which I would
call attention is this: Blodgett, after
sweariug that they desired him to offer
Bullock an interest, or bribe him, re
fused to do so, as he states. He says,
on page 228: “I told them I would not
do any such thing.” He seems either to
have relied on his influence with Bul
lock, to accomplish his object without
the bribe, or else he assumed a little too
much of the virtuous to make the bid.
Possibly he did not not do bis work as
well as the comoany desired. If he had
proposed to give Bullock the $200,000
of the stock, probably he would have
got over his scruples about the security
and given them the lease anyhow. Can
it be that he was expelled because he
did not carry out the wishes of the mana
gers of the company in this respect? If
so,bad as Blodgett is said to be, Dobbins
seems to be right about it. They have
done him injustice. But it may be said
that this committee that made the propo
sition to bribe Bullock was not the com
pany. If they were not, they were a
committee acting for the company, and
as they made up the bid, and put it in
for the company, and the company seems
to claim the benefit of it, they must be
held bound by the conduct of the com
mittee in offering to bribe the Governor.
WHO WERE THE COMPANY.
Dobbins was asked under oath, page
224. “Who were the principal members
of the company, and who were the lead
ing men ?” He answered, “I think that
those who took the most active interest
in the matter, were Mr. Seago, myself,
Mr. Atkins, and perhaps Mr. Wallace,
and Mr. McNaught. They were the
most active members of our company
that I recollect of.”
Question—“What Wallace was that ?
Answer—“J. R. Wallace.”
So that it seems that a majority of the
leading managing members of the com
pany composed the committee who pro
posed to offer the bribe that even Blod
gett says he would not offer, but still it
seems he fixed the matter with Bullock,
if the security had stuck.”
As the new company desire the Legis
lature to 1 understand that they are offer
ing a great boon to the people, I have
thought it not improper that the con
duct of this company be looked into, and
see what prospect there is that they
would carry out their fair promises, and
whether they are entitled to popular
sympathy. It has appeared to me the
most just way of presenting the case was
to state the sworn testimony.
Their proposition is that the courts be
thrown open to them, and the Governor
made a party in their behalf, that
he may execute the decree of the
court if in their favor. To a lawyer,
and I see certain members o t the com
pany set down as lawyers, I would re
spectfully suggest that such a proceeding
would be somewhat novel. Lawyers
generally understand it, that Sheriffs or
Marshals execute the judgments and de
crees of the courts, and it is hardly nec
essary to make the Governor a party, in
order to execute the judgment or decree.
I suppose, however, that the true object
is to get the name of the Governor into
the law suit, and then insist that the
tax-payers foot the bill for lawyer’s fees,
which, would no doubt be a great con
venience to this patriotic company.
Tax-Payer.
twenty-five thousand dollars oer ,,
to parties who combine the abllitt i
will to work it with an eve sinoln ltyaQ d-
the profits to be derived* fronfuTljiK
cious management, and suitable
^^^ther interested parted
the lessees
connecting roads. If
not consider it worth more to them 8 tfi?
would not pay so much for it ^’n
opinion, these gentlemen comprehend
fully the value of their lease, and Sn
hold it, if possible, not only f or the fit}}
twenty years, but renew the* contract^
£r s P r i0U ° f thattime ’ if Pitied
While I give this opinion, I won i f1
not, as an individual, take stock in !
lease of the State Road for twenty year
at more than twenty-five thousand derf
lars per month rental; nor even that sum
unless associated with reliable parth^
interested in and controlling other road*
connecting as drainers and feeders tn
this intermediate link.
If you will take my reports made to
Governor Jenkins in 1866 and 1867 and
also the report on the “protection o’f the
State’s Interests in the Western and At
lantic Railroad,” made to your predeces
sors by Major Cooper, Col. Hulbert, ana
myself, you will find my views as to the
effect the building of several competing
lines will have on the business of the State
Road. O f these competitions there allud
ed to, the Selma, Rome and Dalton is now
m successful operation, the South and
North Alabama is open to the Alabama
& Chatimooga Railroad, ana will very
soon connect direct with Nashville
Louisville, Memphis and the Great West!
Already much freight and travel is bein"
diverted from the State Road. The road
also mentioned as the “Atlanta & Deca
tur,” now the Georgia “Western,” is
being built with its location more wester
ly and consequently less in competition
with the State Road, but more immedi
ately in the interest of the city of Atlan
ta, as when completed, it will operate as
a check to monoply, and a protection to
its patrons and tributaries, and give us
the cheapest and very best quality of
coal for manufacturing purposes.
With all the lights before me, and
what I believe to be working out for the
future in the railroad and commercial in
terests of our country, I am decidedly of
the opinion that when you have secured
to the State Treasury the certain and
prompt payment of twenty-five thousand
dollars each month for the next twenty
years, you will have done the very best
thing you are likely to do with the State
Road. I am sure more money than that
will be earned, and no sensible parties
would pay that much for it unless they
were confident of making a profit, over
and above that amount. And while I
do not doubt the lessees will realize
handsome profits, I have not a
particle of faith in any State
government organization, earning or
paying as much or more than three hun
dred thousand dollars per annum into the
State Treasury, and that only for a short
time, as well known combinations now
daily forming in railroad interests, all
over the United States, which a State or
ganization or management could not and
would not counteract by similar combi
nations, would of necessity curtail the
business of the State Road, if outside
the ring; and in a short time this great
State interest would be isolated and for
gotten, as a connecting link or part of a
great through line—a tax on the Treasu
ry, and in its management a thiDg to be
avoided instead of sought after by poli
ticians.
I have not answered your questions in
the order oi asking, but in a general
way, have given you what you seem
to desire—“my opinion touching a mat
ter of great public interest”—and have
endeavored to do so without regard to the
interests of the lessees, or any others,
except the “great public.”
I know but little about the law author
izing the lease of the road, nor anything
of imdroper means being resorted to for
the purpose of securing the passage of
that law. I know noth'ng personally of
the truth of the charges of “bribery and
corruption” in obtaining the lease from
Bullock. I know nothing of the legal
questions touching the lease now being
so ably discussed.
But ignoring all these things, and
looking singly to the financial interests
of the State, I have sought to give you
sound views, free from extraneous influ
ences, and have only to add: if men in
high places have ibeen guilty of high
crimes, enforce the law, and let the pun
ishment be equally high and exemplary.
The lime was when public wrong was
visited with public indignation and in
famy, and the ignorant, lazy, destitute
were commisserated when detected ap
peasing the hunger and clothing the
nakedness of their offspring by
theft, but now while the latter have meted
out to them the full benefit of the penal
code, the former esDecially, if a State
plunderer of millions, has thrown around
him the shield of a Radical President;
or is “spirited” beyond tne reach of jus
tice, by the connivance of a Democratic
Governor.
Truly and respectfully,
Campbell Wallace.
To Messrs. E. D. Graham, C. T. Goode,
J. A. Etheridge, D. C. Cody, L. J.
Glenn, John L Hall, members House
of Representatives Georgia Legisla
ture.
Major Campbell ’Wallace Thinks $25,-
OOO per Month a Fair. Rental for tile
State Road.
Atlanta, Ga., July 31, 1872.
Mr. Campbell Wallace, Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sib—Knowing your long expe
rience and great ability in railroading,
and the confidence which the people of
Georgia repose in you, we trust you will
pardon ns, as representatives of the peo
ple, for asking yonr opinion touching a
matter of great public interest. Then,
first, do you believe that $25,000 was a
fair rental for the Western and Atlantic
Railroad, in tho condition it was in on
the day of the lease?
Second. Is the road in danger of los
ing any considerable portion of its busi
ness by competing lines, which are now
being or which are likely to be construct
ed; if so, please state fully and particu
larly how such contemplated lines will
injure or decrease the business of the
road?
Third. Are the present lessees pursu
ing such a course as will secure western
connections, which will in any consider
able degree counteract the effect of the
projected competing lines?
Fourth. Aside from the legal questions
as to the sufficiency of the bonds of the
present lessees, and the alleged ques
tions of fraud, do you think the present
lease as good as can be made?
Hoping to hear from you at an early
day, and that you will answer fully the
questions propounded, we are very res
pectfully, eta.,
E. D. Gresham,
C. T. Goode,
J. A. Etheridge,
D. G. Cody,
L. J. Glenn,
John L Halt..
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 2, 1872.
Gentlemen—As representatives of a
portion of the people of Georgia, I ad
mit yonr right to call for the opinion of
aay citizen, if in your judgment that
opinion may aid you in serving the in
terests of yo«r constituents. I am per
sonally acquainted with bnt one of your
number; bat have a right to ccnolude
that the objeot of yonr inquiry is, not to
subserve any private interest, but that
you are seeding the public good.
I presume hardly any one will say the.
State Road is not worth more than*
->-0-4
Condition of LongfeUotr.
John Harper tells the Long Branch
correspondent of the Commercial Ad*er~
User that Longfellow is not permanently
injured. He is taking his daily gallops
now, and will be at the Long Branca
August meeting, but not to run. H 1 *
half-brother, Littleton, ■Will be in »h
four mile race, and Harper has a grea
deal oi confidence in him when matches
against King-fisher, Alvoy and “ c> *
urchist.
JEEtT* The meeting of True Democrats
at James’ Hall last night, was one of the
most earnest and enthusiastic that has /
ever been held in this city, and very few i
of any kind have ever been more largely
attended. It was refreshing to the heart
and soul of the lovers of truth to hear the
old-fashioned honest principles of the
party proclaimed in their purity, and see
the warmth with which they were re
ceived by the large Democratic audience
present. The fires of true principles still
burn brightly upon the altars of the
people’s hearts. The Democrats of F' J 1‘
ton county will not be led astray by 1
those who call upon them to support
Greeley and Radicalism.