| From the Nashville Patriot |
| |
| March 16, 1861 |
| |
| Pacific Railroad |
| Mr. V. K. Stevenson |
| Sir, |
| I have spent some time and
money about said road, and have a little interest in it, and look on it
as a great national road, which should be under the control of a man
worthy of confidence at home and has not too man irons in the fire. As
such, I will state some facts for you and others, at home and abroad, to
think about. |
| You said in 1858, the
directors of the N. W. Railroad {Nashville &
Northwestern RR} gave you $6,000 per year for a little part of
your time, to get them out of a difficulty they had got in, (you having
two other roads and your private matters on hand.) I told you I thought
the country and people could not build and support the road, for I had
been twice applied to, to be President of it. You said your statements
about it were made under oath, and was worthy of more respect than those
made by me, Mr. B. Douglas and others, and that you knew more about such
things. |
| In February 1859, on page 6 in
the report by the committee, you said there were 24 miles graded and
bridged from Nashville on the east end. I say there were not 8 miles
done then, and it was in February 1861 before 24 miles was completed --
two years later. You said, in said report on page 13, you had means to
build the road and leave a surplus of $1,437,270; if so, why not pay the
debts against the road and take in them second mortgage bonds, and quit
drawing State aid before the road is graded? |
| From various reports, the road
Commissioner has got himself in a bad condition about your road, as well
as some others, that may have to account for their acts next fall. You
said there were but three bridges over Harpeth river; I said seven; you
said I had three toll-gates to catch the old women's eggs and chickens;
I said but one; and when you correct these statements will give
you others. And as you took the liberty of speaking freely about the
people of Louisville, Clarksville and Memphis, while you were
contradicting and slandering me, Mr. Douglas and others, I want you to
go there with me, and let me tell them before your face what you said
about them. I will take good care of you, and hope you may live long to
think of what you have said and done; for hatching slander is like
hatching buzzards, which will return to drop their filth and litter, to
be felt, smelt, seen and tasted by those that hatched them. And if you
don't pay them debts, and take in them second mortgage bonds, and
explain what you did with that large surplus of $1,437,270, some of the
contractors or workmen may get hold of you; for men do not like to work
in mud and rain, at their expense, for you to spend time and money with
the Lords and Ladies in France and England, trying to get married at
their expense, to a rich woman, (from rumor.) I hope you will submit to
the truth as calmly as I did to your slander for two years, and think
about what you have brought on yourself and others, by slandering me and
others to get $6,000 for a little part of your time. |
| And I think you would do well
to close your contracts here, before you go to Texas or France again, to
get money, or to marry, for you can find debts to pay, work to do, and
women to marry, nearer home. You said Mr. Douglas' report was worse to
you than tartar. I think this is better. I gave the publishing house $25
to publish a book on lying for such men as you. Read it, for it is the
best of the three. |
| I went twice to Texas at my
own expense, and know a little about the road, and other things there,
as well as you, and I invite all persons to examine your reports and
work here, and then judge us by our words and acts. |
| And why do not the Directors
of the N. W. R. R. give the stock-holders a report once a year, as the
law directs, in the Acts of 1851 and 52, on pages 86, sec. 17? I suppose
Governor Harris could tell, as he is paid to see that the laws are
faithfully executed, and fully complied with before he gives out State
bonds; and he said it would be hard to say that State bond were not
bills of credit, and the law says State bonds shall not be sold for less
than their par value. |
| Though this is an age of
progression and secession, in which very little regard is paid to the
Constitution, laws or oaths, as if there were neither God, devil nor
country; though I think by next fall many will learn a lesson long to be
remembered, for the party lines are broken, and the people are looking
and thinking. As my health and education are bad, and I have other such
men as you to contend with in this and four other States, at my expense,
I hope you and others will forgive what you or they may think is amiss;
for I am ready and willing to explain or correct mistakes. For your
protection for the old woman's eggs and chickens. Yours with regret and
kindness, to clip the wings of your imagination, and get the people to
look and think. |
| S. W. Adkisson, A Mechanic |
| Chestnut Grove, Cheatham Co., Tenn., March
15th, 1861 |
| |
| N. B. If Mr. J. M. Newsom and
family will meet me at Hanner's Ford Meeting House, on Sunday, 17th
inst., at 10 o'clock in the morning, I will treat them friendly and
kindly, and give them and others some good advise, and help them to
complete the Road to Tennessee River. |
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