The Greensborough patriot [March 25, 1859]

              Cfrf run atriat
.A. Family Newspaper-Devoted to Politics, Literature, -A-griou.ltu.re, Manufactures, Commerce, and Miscellaneous Reading.
VOLUME XX. GREENSBOROUGH, N. C, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 25, 1859. NUMBER 1038.
%uint%% ©arts.
r MGDCIECOCE, ATTORNKY AT LAW,
I '•' ,i ". N '■'■† ?«*• 17, 1858. 972 tf.
>MM 4. LONG, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
P1E9 .»• ORBENSBOEOOGH, N. C.
f . A. t, IIII-I..
lilt. *• »* LEXINGTON, N. C.
U-.iltTll &■ †«"I'LKV, COMMISSION AND
" . *.; Jing Merchants, K.iycttcville, X. 0.
I. r rBEEMAW, WITB ABBOTT, JONES &
i\ i" I- i »ntra ll"'1 •'"' l,l'rs of SaPle ani1 Fancy
I1 * |1 jj ,. |53 Market Street, Philadelphia.
ft "R*. C. «» *■ *• ■*• PA«SS I'Ol'ARTNERS
II . ,., ■•■•!'•<■ of MeJiciue, Ohstetrics and Surge-
I'ultogt^K-C.
I-rtt IIK>I.-PORTER&.«OKREI.L,
\K ; .. :- ■■> T .1. PATRICK, Wholesale and Re-f
Drneelittti, Greensborough, N. C.
'.,:>-- 1-.- sotf
,. \f»|.I\. Manufacturer and Wholesale
] Li Retail dealer in TIN and SHEET IRON
»r ,-.M.M\'. STOVES, be., High Point, N. C.
' - irv. !*■■'. -4 8m
9«fiti*j ©arts, Cfee ©mustougji ||atoi
27 r,m
. UKI:\CK HOUSE, 1/ I li^rh Point, N- C.
T. Laurence, Proprietor.
SM. COFFIN & COBLE, JAMESTOWN,
\ r ha»e associated themseWes together for the
ierf PRACTICING MEDICINE in all its various
.,.„_" «.., ial attention given to SURGERY. 01-
JIMES y|- ED\EV.141 CliaiiiberH-Nt,
New York, buys every kin'lof Merchandize on the
best terms, nn 1 forwards for '1 £ per cent, commission.
Dealer in Pianos, Parlor Organs, Organ Melcdeons,
Melodeons, Harps. Guitars, Stools, Covers, Music, etc.,
wholesale and retail. All Instruments warranted.
Agent for ■'Lindsay's Patent Pump," Garden En-gine,
etc. Circulars of Instruments and Pumps sent
free on application. Refers to John A. Gilmer, C. P
Mendenhall, D. L. Swain, and others. 950
RL. l><> \ M;I.i/-> Photographic Gal-
• lei'y is now opened, andCameotypes, Melatno-types,
and AMBROTYPES, which aannot be surpassed
for DURABILITY and BEAUTY are taken in Lockers,
Pins and Cases, to suit the tastes atid purses of all.—
Having permanently located in Greensborough, they
' confidently expect a liberal patronage.
&tf~ Call and examine Specimens, and learn the
Prices. Booms formerly occupied by A. Starrett. sec-ond
story of Garrett's brick building. Wist Market St.,
Greensborough, N. ('. March. lS-j*. 971 tf
G« i:»K(.i: II. KELLY, COMMISSION MER-f
chant, and Dealer in Family Groceries ami Pro-visions,
No. 11, North Water Street. WILMINGTON, N.
C. Will keep constantly on hand. Sugars, Cotfecs, Mo-lasses,
Cheese, Flour, Butter, Lard, Soap, Candles,
Crackers, Starch, Oils, Snuffs, &c.
Jleferencn:—O. G. Parsley, President of Commercial
Bank ; John McRae, President Bank of Wilmington,
Wilmington, N. C. A. M. Gorman, Rev. R. T. Heflin,
Raleigh. J. & F. Garret, David McKnight, Greensbo-rough,
N. C.
M. S. SHERWOOD. JAMES A. LOttC.
SHERWOOD & LONG,
EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS.
TERMS: $2.00 A YEAR, IV ADTAKCE.
Rates of Advertising.
ONE dollar per square for the first week, and twenty-five
cents fer every week thereafter. TWELVE LINKS OE
LRSS making a square. Deductions made in favor of
standing matter as follows:
8 MONTHS. 6 MONTHS. 1 TSAR.
One square, $3 60 $6 60 $8 00
Two squares 7 00 10 00 14 00
Three " 10 00 16 00 20 00
Jt
I ,• 1; R. 1»
jt
Peb. 1859. 24 tf.
K. JAMES K. HALL, HAVING REMOVED
,,,,,,. ugh, N. <"., otfers his Professional
;,.,..!. ,.. public. Office on West Market Street,
ehwi el- • ily occupied as a residence by Hon.
j •. \. 1. :-.-r February, 1858. 973 tf
i IW (III' iKT\ERSHIP.--J. A. LONG &
JlP 1'. ' »t»'»n-t- tireensborough, N. C, having
1 j.- 1 •••• - -Vl ■ i" the practice of the law, in the
|jrt»«fOuilfordcounty, wBl promptly attend to all
1 aw- e»trus«*d to their care. Jan. 1858. 967 tf
L'tllf W. PAYXE, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
M being permanently located in Greensborough, N.
[ »; iRead 'lie Courts of Randolph Davidson and
I -rLa'il promptly attend to the collection of all
4 .'|.»i"el:u his hands. Jan. 9, 1857. 915 tf
Il'tTMl* At .HEARS. GENERAL COMMIS-
%} -'.-i M-ndiants, ::i Burling Slip, New York.—
I ..'.>"•'■'.■•■ paid to the sale of Grain, Cotton and
JrS"Uthern products. 0jyLiberal advances made
. teigaawnts. 915 tf
Mtitllli: WORMS—GEORGE HEINRICH,
'■'. .:. tfacturer ofMonuments, Tombs, Head-stones,
I ; .. :.t reduced prices, OPPOSITE THE DEPOT,
t rteWMigh, N. C. ISsif" Orders from a distance
I Lf-.yfilled. 971 tf
II tNHLETOX SIIEPPERU, ATTORNEY
I AT LAW, formerly of Salem, N. <'., hut now of
11 M iiitI>II. Gt'oreia.
BU! pnetieo in the eounties of Wilkinson, Twiggs,
J.«r.;i'. Put'iski. lrwin. Wilcox. Tefair, Montgom-r
wJ Washington Jan. 21,1859. ly
i €A KM.—J. F. Jullee has purctiasecl
f\. this tall, a large and weB selected STOCK of
Chollillic, It...,Is. Slioos and Hats, which he
li.iwlit'HE.M' FOR CASH, or to punctual customers
W. j -h- rtcred
j ••.■!.■!• rl-. :-•• 8tf
j Iff SOTIfi:.—The undersigned has removed
i to Newbern, with the intention t> devote himself
:.y ••• the practice of the law. He will attend the
.::- It. -ill •! the surrounding counties, and will also
■:■•■• before the Supreme Court at Raleigh.
I in. 1.185». 6m D- K. McRAE. J
• .. «tl.r\. J. M. CI.ARK.
LLES &. « I. i It K. COMMISSION MI:R-f|\
• II \M>. WUlllillKtoil. \. ('. Prompt per-a
.'. attenti •:. given to consignments of Naval Stores,
C •••?! ->r otherCoontry Produce, for sale or shipment.
5 .--r- in Lime. Plaster, Cement, Hair, &c.
1 -t.uary L'". 1859. ly
i I*. SI'ERRV, of \oitli Carolina,
II • With WM. GRAYDON & CO.,
t irt^tn and Jobber <>t Dry Goods, 40 PARK
\CE,«nd41 BARCLAY STREET,
Wm. tiravdon.l M,.„e«v„r vY„o.r.,k, . « Geo. H. Seeley, ( Win. A. Scott.
'•v^mlwr. 1^."*. tf
ID r..»I.«M- I IV. II. KEYN..I.KS. | J. II. BOWLANO.
l)OWI.t\D K REYNOLDS, SUCCESSORS
.11 t* Anderson .v Reynolds, Grocers and CommiBsion
ehattta, ^ORFOLK, \'n. Jt^" Pay particular at-
1 •.:, to the sale of Flour, (Iraiu, Tobacco, etc.. avoid-nnneeessary
charges, and rendering prompt re-
•-. December, 1857. 903 tf
I
1\*>I. «■• HllthSI'l. COMMISSION MER-I
client and General Agent, Morehead City, N. C.
attend to buying, selling, receiving and forwarding
• it. I- of produce and merchandise.
■ -. . Qov. J. M. Morehead, Greensborough, N.
John II. Haughton, Esq., Newberne, N. C. Dr. F.
' Wilmington, N. C. II. A. London, Esq.. Pitts-
..•h. N.C. ^ June 1. 1858. 987 tf
IAI\«;T0\ JEWELRY STORE.
1 The subscriber has on hand the tine GOLD LE-
.'. '1 \T«'iiiis manufactured by Johnson of Liver-
Uaad Dizon of London. Also, the Silver Lever
•• and common Virge Watch, with a variety ot
■::.!:Y .5 all descriptions. All of which will be
'• ■ for cash. Watches of aU descriptions repaired.
. 1 GEORGE BILEY.
■ --./HV. ALEX. OLIUIAM.
^TOKELY & OLDIIAM, GROCERS AND
' ■ †uission Merchants, Wilmington, N. C. I.iher-ubanees
made on produce consigned to us, when
•■ 1
£ ' '■•.•* .•-<•,]. John McRae, President of the Bank
•'.'.-.•..•••li. O. G. Parsley, Esq., President of the
■••r :,; Bank. Aug. 28, 1857. 948 ly
■ V .... . WILL. L. SCOTT.
v«OTT ii. SCOTT, ATTORNEYS AND COUN-
•• - r-:,: Law. - - GREENSBOROUGH, N. C.,
*iUattend the Courts of GuUford, Alamance, Ran-
--.!•.%.;- n, Forsythand Rockingham. All claims
"'iMed]«, them for collection, will receive prompt
-"•■.-•■. Office on North Street, fourth door from
.-• v « (•. rner.
L&XKS^-A FLT.I. SIPPI.Y 1 V BLANK WAR-
.••. Deed . Deeds of Trust, Attachments, Decla-im
Ejectment, Administrator'g Notices, and
*Mf ether forms, will always be found at the Store of
lama, Dobpon & Grimes, in Lexington, who are our
fur the sale of the same; and who are also our
''•'' t-i r.-i ,v an I forward to us. all kinds of Job
•': - SHERWOOD ,-c LONG.
HJ.MI:MM.\IIIIX. LAND AGENT, WILL
• e»:.-.t •• 1, Dter Government Land, Locate Land
'-'•'-. nakeii •■ for capitalists at Western
It
'•-■—. I'J , and transact 0 general real estate bu-rn
Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Address,
'■''• i| '."«. Minn.--..ta.
'•••-••..»■- Hon. J M. Morehead, George C. Men-
"%, "''"• ''*'■■ "'alter Qwynn and Hon John A. Gilmer.
•'? D"., 1«.>. sss tf
\V ■■• HCB4S1 &. «0.. FACTORS AND
• »■ • t ; . ission Merchants, Agents for the sale and
» ».i».„t Cotton Flour, Grain, Salt, Groceries, &c,
"'•*,':l'- and Water Streets, Wilmington, N. C.
** . *""' '• ivanoes on Consignments.
."•'"'••' ■• — II. R. Savage, Cashier Rank of Cape
•-J: DGKOSSET .<: Brown, Wilmington, N. C. F. ft
i '•"••-. •-. . N C. C. Graham \. Co., Marion C.
•" '". Hunt, Adderton .v Co., Lexington, N. C.
C*n*L ti. I IIOIIAS has removed his HAll-
Si •- SHOP to the rooms recent'y occupied by
. * W •. • • Esq., two door* North of LINDSAY'S
'*. •_,!. 1 tuiiii,timely opposite the New Court House,
e ne WiU be pleased lo receive calls from his old
aJ» and the public generally. It is his intention
■Tan vi'-'- ;'y "" l'"nl a GOOD ASSORTMENT
•»AR.\ESS. and other articles in his line, which
• *•.. he pleased t„ sell on reasonable terms.
Jauuarjr 20. 1859. 19tf
CHARLES S. FEATHER,
WHOLESALE DEALER IN
ROOTS. SHOES A\D RROCAKS,
No. 49 North Third Street, above Market St.,
IMiiladelpbla,
Respectfully solicits the attention of Merchants to his
stock of City and Kastern Manufacture, adapted to the
trade of North Carolina.
BSf Particular attention paid to Orders.
Refers with permission to Messrs. J. R. & J, Sloan,
Greensborough, N. C. Oct. 8, 1858. ly
STEVEXSON & iton i;v.
(LATI: STKVKNSON, BOWES 4 NESMITT,)
nhok«;iic Dealers in Dry Goods,
BATS ASSOCIATED WITH TIIKM
Daniel M. &immevman,
formerly of L1NCOLNT0N, N. C, and romoved to the
large Store fVo. H9 Xorlli 3rd Street, below
Arch, where an increased stock will be kept, and
inducements offered . .,ual to any house in the trade-
Philadelphia, Jan. 20, 1859. 19 6m
JJI, ROTHROCK, D. D. S.. RESPKf'T-
• fully offer- his professional services to the citizens
of Greensborough. and all others who desire operations
performed on the TEETH in the latest and best style.
Persons unacquainted, can have any satisfactory refer-ence
as to character, skill, &c , &C.; and the advantage
of eight years constant practice in MEDICINE AND
DENTISTRY, with every new discovery that is valua-ble.
B&- He has furnished his OPERATING ROOMS
on Market Street, second story of Garrett's brick build-ing,
where he will always be found unless professionally
ubsent. April 29, 1858. 982 tf
DP. GREGG, DENTIST, (GRADUATE OF
• the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery) having
located himself permanently in this village, respectfully
tenders his professional services to its citizens and those
of the surrounding country. He deems it unnecessary
to publish long lists of testimonials, as he hopes to have
sufficient opportunity to evince personally to those
having disenscd dentures, whatever qualifications he
may have to practice in the varied departments of the
profession. ANY CALL WILL ItE PROMPTLY AT-TENDED
TO. Office on South Elm Street, next door
to the Patriot Office, Greensboro', N. C 759
OTTO HIRER, JEWELLER AND
WATCH-MAKER, West Market, GRKKXSIIOKO",
N. C, has on hand and is receiving a splendid and well
selected stock of line and fashionable Jewelry of every
descriptinn, among which may be found several magni-ficient
sets of coral Jewelry. •
He has also a stock of line Gold and Silver Watches.
All repairing done in the BEST MANNER and war-ranted.
All persons purchasing Jewelry, would do well
lo call on him before purchasing elsewhere, as he is
confident that he can sell as good bargains as can be
bought in this market.
August 1st. 1858. 990 tf.
CESIIIXGS & HAILEY,
iTBLISIIEUS AND WHOLSSAXB DEALERS IN
BOOKS AND STATIONERY,
So. 202 Baltimore Street, opposite Hanoverst.,
Raltimore, Maryland.
Offer a full assortment of SCHOOL, CLASSICAL.
LAW. MEDICAL and MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS.—
They are prepared to execute orders for LIBRARIES,
CoLLK.iKs and SCHOOLS on the most favorable terms.
Tlieir Stock of Stationery embraces all its
branches, and contains a varied assortment.
January 20, 1869. 19 5m*
Ii M.I;I:U 11 *t SMITH.
NO. -PS NORTH THIRD STREET,
Philadelphia.
Invite the attention of Hie trade of NORTH CAROLI-NA
to their large and taricd stock of
Rio Coflee,
Sugars, &.c,
which are offered at the
lowest licit rates,
and in lots to suit purchasers.
Their purchases being iuide
exclusively for cash,
enables them to offer
GOODS AT VERY LOW FIGURES.
January 1, 1859. ly
1.-0ALL. INS8! Hamilton & Graham,
1 IMPORTERS AND JOBBERS,
Are now prepared to orfer on the most favorable terms,
to WHOLESALE BUYERS, a large stock ot" For-eign
and Domestic Dry Goods, selected
with great care for the Fall S. Winter Trade,
which, lor variety, beauty, and its adaptation to the
NORTH CAROLINA,
VIRGINIA, AND
TENNESSEE TRADE,
will be found second to none. Buyers from all seel i >ns
are invited to a close and rigid examination ot our Stock,
prices, Ace. No. 60 SYCAMORE STREET,
September 10. Petersburg, Va.
.1. W. ll.mi.ElT, 11. n. S. J- y IIOWLFTT.
JW. HOWLETT & SOX, DENTISTS. RE-
■ spectfully offer their professional services to the
citizens of Greensborough and all others who may de-sire
operations performed on tlieir teeth in the most
approved, modern and scientific manner. They are
amply qualified to perform all and every operation per-taining
in any way to Dental Surgery, uusurppsscd for
ability or beauty.
The Senior of the firm has in his possession Diplomas
from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, Ameri-an
Society of Dental Surgeons, and Dr. S. 8. Fitch of
Philadelphia, and has been in the regular practice ot
the profession for over twenty years.
They have furnished their Operating rooms on West
treet, two doors above the I1IUTTA1N HOFSE. in a
..andsome and comfortable manner for the reception of
Ladies, where one of the firm may always be found.—
Ladies will be waited on at their residences if desired.
June 28, 1»5G. SS7
t« L. MEEXLEY. Practical Watch-
L MAKER AND JEWELER, (formerly ol T. B.
Humphreys & Son, Richmond. Va.) haslocated himself
in Greensborough, N, C, where he will devote his
careful attention to repairing all kinds ot fine Gold
and Silver Watches, in the neatest and
best Style the trade can afford. All work warrant-ed
tor tV*el*C months. All he solicits is a fair
trial. Work done on the most reasonable terms. All
work from the country strictly attended to. Store
next door to Cole & Aims.
13"*Terms exclusively Cash.
NOTICE.
Having retired fioni the Watch and Jewelry busi-ness
in Greensborough, N. C, on account of iM health.
I recommend to my customers, Mr. G. L. MF.ENLY,
of Richmond. Va„ who is a good workman, hoping he
may net the patronage of my friends and customers.
E. F. POWELL.
March 14, 18S9. 27 3m
MR. WORTH'S REPLY TO MR. FISHER.
To the Editor of the Raleigh Register:
I ask the privilege of replying, through
your columns, to the communication of Chas.
P. Fisher, President ot the North Carolina
Hail Itoad Company, in relation to the re-port
of a majority of the committee appoint-ed
to investigate the affairs of the said com-pany.
The report was signed by four of the five
members composing the committee,—two of
each party,—and for the facts set forth in
the report and the manner of stating them,
each of the four was equally responsible; but
Mr. P., in order to avail himself of the influ-ence
of the dominant party, singled me out
as the object of his wrath. I am willing to
be held responsible for everything contained
in the report, as 1 do not doubt each of the
other members are, •who signed it. As the
evident object of Mr. P. was to involve the
issues in smoke, b}r connecting them with
party, he could not assail the report without
attacking two of his own party as well as
two of the opposition—and therefore he ig-nores
the other members of the Committee,
under the pretext that they had not been
attentive to their duties and had signed the
report upon the faith of my representations.
This pretext is not founded in truth, and
ought to be, and doubtless is, more offensive
to the other members ol tho committee, than
it is to me. Mr. Ferebee was present at
excry meetiag of the Committee, excepting
the one on the 4th January, when only Dr.
Mills and myself were present, and when
none of the evidence was taken on which
the report is based—and tho other members
were generally present, and when any one
was absent, the evidence taken in his absence
was explained to him afterwards, this evi-dence
being almost exclusively taken from
the books and records ot the company, and
tho statements of the Treasurer and book-keeper,
and answers to letters addressed, by
order of the Committee, to Col. Gwynn and
others. The report was carefully read and
considered before it was signed. As my mo-tives
are questioned and I alone am attack-ed,
(except in one instance, where Dr. Mills'
statements are contradicted) it is proper
that 1 state the circumstances which induc-ed
me to offer the resolution under which the
Committee was raised.
I was appointed a member of the Commit-tee
on Finance. I sought to inform myself
how much revenue must be raised by taxa-tion.
This necessarily brought up the in-quiry
how much are we to expect from the
83,000,000 invested in the N. C. R. R.,—or
are wc to expect any thing? I procured
and read carefully the annual reports of the
President of the road, made since the com-pletion
of the Road. I found in them intern-al
evidence that no reliance was due to their Fi-nancial
statements. I had no stock in tho
road—had not been a member of the Legis-lature
since 1840—had no acquaintance with
Mr. Fisher, and no motive and no desire to
injure him, and knew nothing as to tho man-agement
of the road—except that during the
electioneering canvass I heard much com-plaint
among my constituents of Alamance,
of all parties, as to the management of the
road. 1 at once decided, without consulta-tion,
or conference with any person whatev-er,
that it was a duty I owed my constitu-ents,
to see, it I could, what was the financial
condition and prospect of tho road, and what
foundation there might be for the complaints
1 had heard as to its management; and 1
drew up and offered in the Senate, on the
29th November, the joint resolution which, as
amended to include others roads, passed both
Houses of the Assembly unanimously. It
never entered my bead that this committee
was appointed, a? Mr. P. would have it, to
examine and audit every voucher and inves-tigate
every transaction for tho past nino
years. The language of the resolution war-ranted
no such absurd interpretation. In
attempting to ridicule me lor attempting this
Herculean labor, which the terms of the res-olution
did not embrace, Mr. P. ridicules the
whole Assembly which unanimously adopted
my resolution. It was tho "general man-agement"
which I proposed to investigate,
and particularly those matters as to which
there was complaint. As to all those not
examined, the officers were entitled to the
presumption that their management had been
judicious, until the contrary appeared. I ex-pected,
and the Assembly could have expect-ed,
only such investigation as was practica-ble;
and the officers of tho Company, if they
felt conscious of having discharged their
duties properly, ought to have desired spe-cial
inquiry into those matters about which
there was general complaint. These were
tho views of every member of the committee
including Mr. Green, who declined to sign
the report of the majority, and filed a mi-nority
report, resting his objection on the
"round that the investigation was not suf-ficiently
comprehensive. I call attention to
his admissions in the House of Commons, in
reply to interrogatories propounded to him
by Mr. Ferebee, on the coming in of his mi-nority
report. Mr. Green then said ho did
not mean to say or imply that any thing in
the report of the majority was incorrect or
improperly set forth—that he was not at all
the meetings of the committee, though he
was at most of them—that he could not tes-tify
as to any facts except those investigated
when he was present—that those were strict-ly
true and correctly set out in tho majority
report, and he believed the others to bo so;
and ho believed the subjects which the corn-tee
attempted to examine received a fair and
impartial investigation. He further stated
that he himself called the attention of the
committee to, and asked the investigation of
some of tho subjects that were inquired into
and reported on by tho majority,—as for in-stance
the contracts for wood—how made—
when, by whom and the amount. He furth-er
admitted that it was expressly understood
by the committee, when they first entered
on this investigatisn, that they could not ex-amine
all the affairs of the Jtorth Carolitia
Rail Road Company, and would be necessar-ily
restricted to the loading and important
features of its management, and he further
admitted that the objection, on his part, to this
partial investigation had arisen since this inves-tigation
was dosed, by the vnanimous consent of
the committee.
These candid admissions were what was
to have been expected of tbe worthy gentle-man
who made them, being in strict accor-dance
with truth.
Being thus sustained by every member of
the committee, 1 should not feel called on
to reply, and would not reriv, to Mr. Fisher's
effusion, in which he rests ms defence on his
own unsupported assertions, apparently in
opposition to mine—but really in opposition
to every member of the commitcee—if it had
not been for the attempt of the Speaker of
tho Senate, and Messrs. Ashe, Lane, Brown,
Houston and others, to dignify this commu-nication
by printing it, without reading, by
order of the Senate.
It is not presumable that tho Speaker of-fered
this communication to the Senate, or
that Senators advocated the printing of it
without having read it. The report of a
committee may, with propriety, be printed
without reading—because tho House may
properly assume that a committee of its own
members will say nothing indecorous and
insulting to the body. No such presumption
exists as to outsiders. Whilst the right to
petition is secured by tho constitution to
the citizen—it is a right which must be ex-ercised
in terms respectful to the General
Assembly. Any member thernfore, who
would allow himself to present any commu-nicatian,
couched in disrespectful terms to
the body or any of its members, ought to
be censured : consequently, it becomes ne-cessary
that a member know what ho is pre-senting.
I take it for granted, therefore,
that the Speaker who ottered, and the Sen-ators
who advocated the printing ot Mr.
Fisher's communication, knew its contents,
(for it was presented in printed form) and
that they deemed it a document fit to be
received and printed. Such does not seem
to me to be its character; but there is no ac-counting
for tastes. Let me proceed to re-view
it—and let a just public judge.
A noteable feature which runs through
the whole communication is, that it is treat-ed
as my report, and the desperaging and of-fensive
remarks with which it abounds, are
directed at mo alone, which by necessary
implication, apply to the other members 01
the committee who signed it. It may be
that the dominant party in the Senate deem-ed
such expressions as these applied to me
alono, as not affecting the worthy gentlemen
of their own party, who, by signing tho re-port,
had concurred in all it contained, and
that as 1 belonged to the minority, 1 was
without the pale of the protection of the body
fowhich I was a member. Some of these
expressions are—
" The chairman talks about steps necessa-ry
to coerce tho attendance of the President
which he very well knows is nonsence, but
which ma}' do to impress some as to his con-sequence."
'• The next count in the chairman's bill of
indictment against me, is as to the wood con-tracts."
" He speaks with manifest ignorance and
prejudice."
'• But what does tho Chairman propose t
that the Gen'l Assembly shall pass an act
to regulate the of trains on the
North Carolina Railroad, and appoint him
for his learned chapter thereon, Superinten-dent
of transportation on the part of the
State." "Ho had my report, yet ho makes
the statement above, when ho either knew or
refused to know, which he pleases," &0.
" He knows these things, or he is wilfully
ignorant."
" The chairman shows his ignorance in
talking about measurements on a Railroad
by disinterested men."
" But not satisfied with this, in which he is
indulged as harmless flourishing in tho way
of brief authority, ho applies to the Senate
for still further power, this already potential
chairman."
I quote the foregoing expressions as show-ing
some of the ingredients in the dish which
seems to have been so well adapted to the
taste of tho gentleman who urged the print-ing
of tho document without reading. Gen-tlemen
of the minority, who exhibited their
indignation, and thereby arrested the read-ing
of this communication, are reproached
for their disorderly conduct. Could any
Senator, not having craven spirit, quietly
listen to tho reading of such a paper?
Whenthoreadingis arrested by the storm
of indignation which arose, the Hon. W. S.
Ashe, who had not introduced the communi-cation,
asks leave to withdraw it. What rea-son
does he assign for his motion? He said
that as his "purpose was effected, ho would
now withdraw tho communication." What
purpose ? 1 can imagine no purpose accom-plished,
unless it was to offer a Senatorial
insult to one of the members of tho Senate.
Ho is President of a Railroad in which the
State has stock. Have these Presidents of
Railroads become so great, that the repre-sentatives
of the people dare not look after
their money, invested in companies of which
they arc presidents. It would seem so. Mr.
Aslic says it is a bad precedent.
Mr. Fisher says that on the 4th of Janua-ry,
in his reply to my remark, that it was
our purpose to make a fair and impartial in-vestigation,
he said "if this is your sincere
purpose, although much injustice, and much
misapprehension might result from a discur-sive
and partial inquiry, and although ii, had
been my intention to require a regular and
complete inquiry,! will allow you to proceed
in anj- mode of just investigation ; here are
all the papers for your use, and the men to
explain them ; proceed as your please." No
such arrogant and offensive remarks was.
then made; implying a doubtas to oar sincer-,
ity; or assuming that the examination was.
merely permissive on his part, and to bo con-ducted
according to his notions of what was
proper. We regarded ourselves as in tho j
excise of ot a right, belonging to the people
Of the State, which right is fully recognised
in Mr. Fisher's letter of the 22nd of Decent-.
ber, 1*58. On the contrary, at that inter-;
view, his remarks were all courteous and be-coming.
He next asserts "fiom that night (4th Jan-uary)
to the close of this examination, when
the men and books were discharged, no sin-gle
question has at any time been asked of
me. He admits that he then told us he could
not possibly remain in personal attendance,
but if his attendance was at any time requir-ed,
it should be instantly given on his being
notified. He does net deny that ho kept
away, for a week,the book-keeper and with-out
any explanation. He does not deny
that he received my letter of tho I5th Janu-of
the committee to this effect? Was it jure my personal and political friend?
offensive that we wanted proof of their accu- j every member of tho committee testify
racy, after the enormous errors (admitted
errors) in former reports? or is it moro pro-bable
that they were withheld from a con-sciousness
that his figures were inaccurate?
As to the second inquiry, an exhibit of
debts contracted prior to the time whon ho
was mado President—July 13th, 1X55, and
which had been paid since December, 1850,
uary written to hint as chairman, every word the existence of which was not known to
of which was approved by every member of j him at tho latter date—according to his
the committee, in \« hichjhe was requested to | official report, it was tho payment of these
attend the committee on 19th January fol-1 debts which led to tho deplorable djcrepan-lowing.
Ho does not deny that he did not cies between his own reports. He could not
attend on tho day designated. Ho does not | be ignorant that many persons believed such
deny that he sent, without explanation, for debts were of inconsiderable account, if in
the journal of the Directors, which was in
my possession, to be sent .0 Salisbury. He
does not pretend that he ever answered my
letters of the 15th of January, which I had
addressed to him, as charman, -by order of
fact any such existed. I mean debts made
18 months before, and not yet, December,
1856, known to Mr. Fisher to exist. Ho had
been terribly iiarrassed with debts—paying
'' per cent, to raise money. Creditors were
the committee, but he sets out a letter writ- apt to find debtors, driven to such shifts.—
ten to Mr. Drake, which I never saw until I
saw it in his communication. Mr. Drake's
just sense of decorum fprovented him from
showing it tome. Every communication ho
sent me, as chairman, was annexed to the
report. He seems to have felt there was
some humility in his recognizing me as
chairman. He sets out what he call copies
of two letters—the one dated Jan. 31, 1859,
the other Feb. 2, 1858—in each of which he
professes to address mo as chairman. They
aro both false copies. Tho word "chairman"
is interpolated. I have the originals. Ho
knew I would not permit him to draw me
from the discharge of my official duty into a
personal controversy, and seeing no excuse
to offer to the public for ignoring my posi-tion
as chairman, he makes false copiesforthe
public. Seeing that Mr. Fisher was disposed
to take away all the evidence wo had, and
that he would not regard our summons as to
his personal attendance, nor deign an ex-planation
for disregarding it—towards the
last of the week, with the unanimous con-currence
of the committee, I offered a resolu-tion
in the Senate, asking for power to send
for persons and papers, and to examine wit-nesses
on oath. This resolution passed both
branches of the Assembly, and tho omission
to exercise the power as to the president of
Road is the only error into which I think the
committee fell.
I received Mr. Fisher's letter to me of the
26th January, set forth in his communica-tion.
A member of the committee had re-quested
me to convene tho committee on tho
day before, to enable Mr. F. to offer, as I un-derstood
him, an explanation as to his non-attendance,
withdrawal of his book-keeper,
Ac. 1 replied that this could bo better done
by writing—that such written explanation
could then accompany the report, and there
could then be no pretext to impute misrep-resentation
to me. To this letter, not ad-dressed
to me as chairman, in which ho de-clares
ho had no "explanation" to make, I
made no reply, but I convened the commit-tee,
submitted the letter to them and as"ked
for their instructions. A majority of tho
committee thought he should be required to
submit his explanation in writing. By a
misapprehension of ore of the committee, he
was introduced and made many remarks,
but was distinctly informed that no notice
whatever would be taken of anything ho said,
if he would not put it in writing—that any
written communication he might choose to
make should accompany our report. Ho
refused to make any written communication,
and yet indecorously attempts to set forth
that conversation, suppressing tho most ma-terial
portion of it.
Mr. P. dwells much on this dismissal of
tho book-keeper and treasurer on tho 22d
January, suppressing tho reservation that
they "have leave to remove to the respective
offices, all their books and papers (excepting
those in possession of the committee) subject
to any further cail for information which
the committee may make on them."
One ofthe most important inquiries which
we desired to make, was that which related
to tho financial condition of company, and
at one of the earliest meetings ofthe commit-tee
we had made an effort to obtain it. Mr.
Fisher had kept away his book-keeper and
books, so that we could not find out the lia-bilities
and resources of tho company and
on tho return of tho book-keeper, he stated
that tho forth-coming report of Mr. F. would
contain thisinformation. On tho appearance
of tho 20th January report, the resources
were set forth as amounting to 8218,248 75
and liabilities, 177,643 39
surplus on hand 841,200 35
Wc desired to sec tho details. We had a
few items. Wc wished to be sure there was
no error. His previous financial reports had
been grossly erroneous, and we wished to
see whether the exhibit would set forth the
items wc had obtained. I addressed tho
book keeper, on the 26th of January, asking
for a "detailed statement of the debts duo to
the North Carolina Railroad Company, spe-cifying
the name of the individual or. corpo-ratioii
Owing each debt; also a list of the
debts owing by the corporation, specifying
to whom and when each debt is duo, bring-ing
up this statement to tho same period to
which these accounts were brought in Mr.
Fisher's report to the Governor of the State,
of tho 20th January. No answer was re-ceived
from the book-keeper, but on the 31st
January, Mr. Fisher addressed me the letter
set forth in his communication, in which he
uses his favorite declaration, "you have nev-er
j'et proposed to mo one inquiry/or infor-mation
; although as in this case, asking
from subordinates of matters of which I
could best have informed you." I regarded
this as a personal communication, decidedly
offensive in tone, bin laid it before tho com-mittee,
a majority of whom thought the in
Whether he withheld the information,
because ho disdained a vindication at the
hands of the committee, or because ho knew
the facts would confirm the suspicion, 1 know
not: but lie was certainly asked important
questions and refused to answer them—his
own eommun cation furnishes the proof of
this.
As to Mr. Fisher's contradi'-tion of Dr.
Mills, it is sufficient for me to say in my vin-dication,
that Dr. Millssubscribed the report,
and I presume that worthy gentleman will
hardly deem it necessary to defend himself
against Mr. F's imputation upon the truth of
his statement which is fully proved by .Mr.
Fisher's letter of the 2nd Feb., which he
publishes.
In relation to the loan of 8350,000 he says
nothing worthy of note, except the remark
in his usual strain, that the chairman, as to
the sinking fund, "is again, mistaken, 4c."
Ho cites no authority for this assertion.—
When he would contradict a committee of
the Legislature, I submit whether it is alto-gether
modest for him to expect his wse dix-it
to outweigh theirs, especially after his jep-resentations
to tho Legislature of 1856—and
his assertion ".hat tho excessive purchases of
wood were made before his term of office. He
may profit by studying the moral of .-Ksop's
fable of tho shepherd boy, who cried wolf,
when there was no wolf about.
Mr. Fisher's commentary on so much of
tho majority report as relates to the con-tract
with John C. McRae & Co., may be dis-posed
of in a few words. He does not den}'
that by the terms of the contract, "the deci-sion
of the Chief Engineer was to be final
and conclusive as to every question which
could arise as to the execution of this con-tract.
Ho docs not pretend that Col. Gwynn
refused to perform his duty. Ho docs not
controvert the fact that tho work was badly
doue, and that the disastrous results followed
its imperfect execution set forth in the ma-jority
report He does not pretend that the
Directors were ignorant that Col. Gwynn
disapproved tho work, and that with full
knowledge or* this disapproval, they accepted
it and not only paid the contractors the full
amount which they would have been entitled
to receive if the work had been well done,
but a considerable extra allowance. He does
not deny the fact set forth in Col. Gwynn's
letter, that tho difficult}- with these contrac-tors
arose from their refusal to obey tho or-ders
of tho engineer—nor docs ho deny that
this settlement was taken out of the bands
of the Engineer, without any request on his
part, and that the committee was appointed
without consultation with him. What does
he say ? He says "I pledge myself to show
that he" (meaning the chairman ,1 "has mis-stated,
whether ignorantly or intentionally
let the facts show, every transaction and en ry
Statement which he make.-'," and then proceeds
with a page of pointless verbiage and offen-sive
allusuions to me, as contradistinguished
from the other members of tbe committee,
and showing no fact whatever, except by
his own assertions, and even these assertions
not contradicting the facts set forth in the
majority report.
He next proeoeds thus—
" The next count in the chairman's bill of
indictment against me, is as to the wood con-tracts."
Why does he call this my bill of indict-ment
! The fact was, as already shown by
what transpired in the House of Commons,
between Mr. Ferebee and Mr. Green, upon
the coming in of the minority report by the
latter, that Mr. Greene proposed this sub-ject
of investigation. Did Mr. Fisher call it
my bill of indictment because ho wished to
bring down on me the power of the domin-ant
party, without harming his own politi-cal
friends, who were a majority of the cum-mtttoe
? A sensible public will judge. 1
deem it here due to the committee to say
we unanimously regarded our duty as one
wholly disconnected with part}', and the in-vestigation
was conducted to ascertain truth
without inquiring what were to bo its effects
on any party, or any individual, and every
member of the committee concurred in the
propriety of investigating the subject pro-posed
by Mr. Greene, whence arose this
inquiry? In Mr. Fisher.s report to the Di-rectors
in July, 1857, having been then two
years President of the Road, he said there
was then on hand, wood ol the value of 847,
363.01, which ho represented as enough li.r
three or four years—and that "this large
surplusage of wood is on tho eastern end,
and was delivered under contracts made be-fore
my term of office" kc. The committee
presume 1 that he had hardly allowed other
purchases to bo made on the eastern end,
when such an excess of wood had been im-providently
or wantonly bought before his
term of office, and consequently we supposed
road
Let
At
this stage of the proceeding, no one could
suppose that Mr. Fisher would have made
the assertion in this deliberate manner, with- ■
out knowing that the facts would sustain h
assertion. We called for tho written con-,
tracts. It turned out that all tho contracts
for tho eastern end of tho road, which wc
could find, amounting to 851,265, were mud.
months after Mr. Fisher's term of office MM
menced—and .(// of this wood waspurchn*cdj
at 81.25 per cord. The two purchases mud. j
by tho proceeding administration for 250(
cords of wood, on the western end, wore at
81.50 per cord. In Mr. Fisher's commiiuicn
tion he does not question a fart stated m t/t
majority report as to wood. How could he
They wero taken from the contracts and hb
reports; but he changes the issue. Ho liu.
said the purchases were made before his tern.!
of office. The date of the contracts provecj
the contrary. In his "communication" h<|
seeks to throw the censure on the chief on
gineer,—says he "found many cases whcr.J
huge contracts had been promised but n<
written agreement made at tho time." Look
to the contracts, table No. 6, attached to ma-jority
roport, from which it will be seen thai
no largo written contract was mado before
January, K>6, some i'» months after Mr.
Fisher was made president. Let me com-mend
to Mr- Fisher thestudyofhisap^thcgui
—"A crooked pathway requires circumspect
walking."
As to his commentary on tho majority ie-tiort
as to right of way over Andrews' lot at|
talcigh, the report shows thatAndrewspar
chased the lot, including the right of dania
ges for way over it, after the road was Iocs
ted, !or 8250, and that Mr. Fisher has paid
him for right of way over this lot 8700 1 1
part. This was done in November and De-cember,
1866, and no deed has yet been ta-ken.
These arp the facts reported, and they
stand uncontradicted.
The report shows that on tho Nth Juiy,
1862, Gen. Trolingernndertook to do certt m
work at and near Haw River, without ckargt
to the company, from which ho probably < \.
pected in some way to derive benefit to ■ 1 i. 1
self, and that on the 10th April, 1867, upon
his application to the Hoard of Direct.11^-,
stating that this work had oost him 81,6^1,
and that ho hail expended 61,028 in convc '
log water to the place, building water s
tion, &c, tho Board paid him 2,000. T
report stated that wc learned that the wat r
is of little or no value to the company, bei
only two miles from Graham Station a
tour miles from the shops. This passage
misquotes, and then, in his usual strain
disrespect to me, (in this case going out __ if
the way to slur the Treasurer) he says tl :it
"this worthless water has, during the dry
summer, been our chief dependence for ihe
running of all our trains." H' this bo so it
did not come to our knowledge, and assu-ming
it be true, it coat the General, incl.id.ig
the water station, 81,02s. Was the whole
sum of 82,000 paid for it—or was partc it
a donation ?
As to the facts reported in relation to h*
running of the express train. Mr. Fislu
communication exhibits nothing worth}
1-
>f
• Ii
of
•
•HI
he
Ill
that after supplying the wants of the ra
for two years, "there remained still of this j enough were made ready for you. Per
notice, excepting certain remarks as lo lie
chairman, characteristic of Mr. Fisher's tsate
and sense of decorum in a docamontaddnpe*
ad to the Speaker of the Senate. Sudija-.
this, "the statement he," (the chairman i
'■gives, as that of the ma*ter mechanic, vra*
never given by him as its cost, but is 1 he
chairman's own account suuli "/' from * v»
eralquestioDS to the nmatermechanic.'' "'J he
chairman cannot comprehend, and this is 1 ot
his fault—how should he?—that two trains
on a road arc not obliged to cost tho douolo
of one train," fee. "His estimates and ..jiu-parisons,
as to the passenger traffic, an
the same manner erroneous."
He docs not venture to point out win 1
they arc erroneous. The accuracy of
figures and facts, are proved by bis own
ports. The conclusion deducible from tl
is irresistable—that that train lists ooet mack
more than it hits OOOM to, independent of
the great wear and tear to the road and
machinery. If the small increase of tiy ol,
during the panic year arose from this train,
whence arose the greater increase in freights!
In regard to tho majority reports as to the
shops, be qotes this pasaags: "Wedo
find that Colonel Gwynn, or any other u-
,'ineer, commended that the town \vl
must necessarily grow up around tho sh<
for the residence of tho officer-, fcfi., sin
be built by tho railroad company." On
he proceeds to remark Here is a very p
i--ne. Tho fact is stated in my rcpori
this "town" was built on plans on I .
proved, adopted and handed to me. I!.
tnv report.yet be nudtesthestatanssnl ab»>i e,
when lie cither knew or refused to know—
which he pleases—the facts that the plans
and otimates for every building ul the < ,m-pany
shops, except those lor the hotel tnd
master ofthe road, and for the store i
of Messrs. John M. Worth & Co., W.P j»ro>
pared under the eye of the chief engineer,
<'ol. Gwynn, and adopted." We called!for
these alleged plans. None such con'.l bo
I produced. We called for Col. Gwynn'al re-ports
as to the shops, and read all that mere
produced. So such plans were seen by US,
but Mr. Fisher had asserted there were tjacb
plans, Ice., and therefor* the chairman kne\ or
1 to know. Didn't" Mr. Fisher assert
that all that surplusage of wood was bought
befoTi kit term of office t Mr Fisher shi-uld
read and study that moral. But I BUppOM
ho will say, why didn't you ask met—I could
have best informed yoa. Because you « -uld
not come, when asked to come, and beej BSS
you would not answer questions when inter-rogated.
Had you appeared before 11.' ■ 'lu-mittee
when asked to appear, qu< -t ons
spa
We
ten
P*i
ild
iis
till
nit
ip.
sd
debts of the company contracted prior to: 1 need not point, out un WWOB
13th July, 1855, aiil which have been paid , such a purchase of wood. It w
sines 1st December. 1856, the existence of (that whoever made this purchas
which was not known to him at the latter public-ensure. Mr. Fisher, who
period.
He refused to furnish these lists. Ho re-fused
to appear again before the committee.
He dwells much on our not addressing one
inquiry to him. Hero were two very impor-tant
ones. The answer to tho former would
have tested the accuracy of his figures. If
they were accurato would he have deemed it
a disparagement to have had the certificate
extreme folly of
was obvious
iso deserved
had been
two years president, in a deliberate report to
the directors, which was adopted by them,
and thereby mado the report <>f the Presi-dent
and Directors to the Stockholders, had
asserted that these contracts were made be-fore
hit term of office," consequently this fault
attached to Gov. Morchcad's administration.
Did I seek to evade it on account of the ap-parent
probability that its result would in-arrogate
the sovereign control of every tiling
connected with the H. C R. I! ? We -up-posed
the Directors ordered the buiidii •:'
the town, and we could see no good n SS ti
for it. Mr. Fisher has not furnished any.
IIo says tho chairman "knows that iht day
work of Dudley & Ashloy, which he publishes
at length, was done under contract made by
Colonel Gwynn. Ho IbuNM that the dan and
"job" work of Jas. G. Moore, which hejpu"
lishes at length, was done under < 01
made by Col. Gwynn." I know no
thing. Col. Gwynn tendered his n
not
in !i
ti'JU