NP, NUA 5/4/1861

From the Nashville Union and American 
 
May 4, 1861
 
Great Railroad Meeting
From the Montgomery Advertiser, April 29
   A convention of Railroad Presidents, called by the Post Master General, met in this city on Friday last 26th instant, and organized by constituting the Hon. Wm. C. Smedes of Mississippi, President of the Southern {(of Mississippi)} Railroad, President of the convention, and Messrs. D. H. Cram of this city, Superintendent of the Montgomery & West Point R. R. and L. J. Fleming, Esq. Superintendent of the Mobile & Ohio R. R., Secretaries.
   The convention received on Friday a communication from the War Department, and also one from the Post Office Department. The former communication related to the carrying of troops and munitions of war, and provisions for the Confederate States; and we understand that with a unanimity almost without parallel in the history of conventions representing capital alone, the views and wishes of the War Department were promptly met; and the different Companies represented agreed to carry over their respective lines the troops of the Government at the rate of two cents per mile each; and the munitions of war and provisions at one half the local rates charged for similar freights. These propositions were agreed to not only by the companies located in the Confederate States, but also by all the others represented in the Convention from Tennessee and North Carolina.
   The propositions submitted by the Postmaster General in a communication which elicited high commendation from various members of the Convention for its perspicuity and grasp of the whole subject, suggested numerous changes in the mail service and a new classification, and greatly diminished compensation. In all these particulars with commendable liberality and patriotism the Convention with great unanimity responded favorably. They agreed to discontinue the double daily mails; to submit to three classes of mail service, according to the proposition of the Postmaster General, the highest grade of which was to receive compensation not to exceed one hundred and fifty dollars per mile, the second grade one hundred, and the third grade fifty dollars per mile, with the single exception that night service, might receive increased compensation. The companies also agreed to receive the Bonds or Treasury warrants of the Confederate States in payment of mail service, to the extent that the revenues of the Department might make it necessary; and also in payment for the transportation of troops and munitions of war, &c.
   They further resolved that so long as they were not forbidden by the Confederate States, and the United States Government kept good faith with them, they would faithfully fulfill their present obligation to that Government; but, when required by the Confederate States, they stand ready instantly to transfer their service to the latter.
   The convention recommended the discontinuance of Sunday mails as soon as the exigencies of our public affairs would allow it, and they also determined in future contracts not to agree to deliver the mails beyond the precincts of their depots. This as far as we could learn was the substance of the action, of this body, which for worth, ability and capital represented was perhaps the most distinguished ever assembled in the South. Upwards of four thousand miles of railroad in active operation, and that cost over one hundred millions of dollars were represented in the convention by such men as Mr. Cuyler and Judge King, of Georgia, Mr. Pollard, of Alabama, and Maj. Chase, of Fla., Mr. Caldwell and Col. Perrin, or South Carolina, Mr. Ashe and Mr. Johnson, of North Carolina, Mr. Tate, of Tennessee, and some twenty or thirty others from all the Confederate States except Texas.
   Several pleasing and interesting incidents marked the progress of the convention. On Saturday they received the Postmaster-General in person while in session. He was addressed by the President on behalf of the Convention, and responded in a speech of great good sense and ability.
   The Convention also waited in a body upon the President of the Confederate States, at an hour fixed by the latter for their reception. The Convention was introduced to the President by Mr. Smedes in a short but very interesting and able speech, setting forth the very large amount of capital represented in the Convention their entire unanimity in heartily adopting the propositions made by the Postmaster General and the Secretary of War, and their desire to sustain his administration in every possible way.
   The President replied in a very eloquent and interesting strain. He spoke of the satisfaction it gave him to learn that the wealth and capital of the country, suddenly convoked from its most distant parts, had determined as one man to stand by and maintain his Government. It was but another exhibition that we were united at last to vindicate our rights and maintain our independence. The President spoke for about twenty minutes, and it was a source of universal regret to the Convention that they could not procure a copy of his remarks for publication. He said that the Confederate States sought and desired no war with the United States. That he infinitely preferred peaceful relations and treaties of peace and alliance between the two Republics; that there was no necessity for war, and on our part none for a war of aggression unless it was forced upon us; that we were armed and prepared, and determined to maintain our independence; that we neither wished nor was it our interest to injure our late friends, but if our independence were madly refused and our subjugation attempted, a war would be initiated that could have but one or two terminations, our glorious triumph or our annihilation, as reconstructed on the old order of things was impossible. We do not profess to give the President's words, but only the ideas, which produced a profound sensation among all the members of the Convention, who exhibited a settled determination to uphold the President in his declared purpose.
   Before adjourning, the President of the Convention, on motion, appointed Messrs. C. T. Pollard, R. R. Cuyler and Judge King a Central Committee with power to convoke at any time, when in their judgment it may be deemed expedient, a similar Convention.
   The body then adjourned sine die, after a most orderly, interesting and agreeable session, unmarred by a single disagreeable incident.

Home