| From the Nashville Union and American |
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| May 4, 1861 |
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Great Railroad Meeting |
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From the Montgomery Advertiser, April 29 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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The body then adjourned sine die, after a most
orderly, interesting and agreeable session, unmarred by a single
disagreeable incident. |
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