Polk Family Papers Box 9 Document 96

New Orleans Mar 22. 1858 --

My dear Elliott.

You have by this time I suppose received the Charter as granted by the Legislature of Tennessee. It is all we could wish. Of perpetual duration & gives us permission to receive any thing without limit. May we find the hearts of the people prepared to give abundantly!

I found those Tennessee villagers who were disappointed in not getting the site had resolved to throw {illegible: obstructs?} in the way of our getting our Charter before the Legislature, & as I had as Chairman of the Comm. to secure the title to the lands to go to Tennessee & see to that {illegible}{illegible}, I concluded at the close of our meeting in March {illegible: 3?} to go at once. This I did. I went to Winchester & examined the Sewanee {illegible: region?} again after I found as I supposed that story of the {illegible} -- {illegible} -- what I anticipated -- about as formidable as the Red Indians, that{underlined} used{underlined} to{underlined} be{underlined} there{underlined}. But I suppose you have seen the report of the

meeting of the Franklin Cty people on that subject.

I went thence to Nashville & spent near a week there looking after the Charter & putting out the {illegible} of those discontents {their discontent?}. The Charter has been perfect & is all we could wish. But those fellows about McMinnville & Chattanooga die hard. They have been moving heaven & earth ever since to {illegible} distrust of the selection made & have met with many {illegible} {illegible} rebuked.

I have had to employ a good many hours since my return in keeping them from throwing dust {illegible} fully in the eyes of the {illegible: baby? easy?} & in different portions of the reputable public. Those Chattanooga people particularly took their defeat hardest & are the most coarse & reckless in their vituperation. They are a repulsive set of vulgarians & we are well rid of their proximity. {illegible: Whitesides?} is disgusted with them & has {illegible: removed?} to Nashville. They have let the ball of discontent {illegible: die?} {illegible: within?} & have been doing what they could to keep

it rolling. But it is a dead failure. The {illegible: talk?} is some of their fellows have no other idea of our measurement than that it a thing not of {illegible: while?} to{underlined} make{underlined} money{underlined}. And with them it is simply "{illegible} {illegible} {illegible} {illegible}."{all underlined}

They have {illegible} up some others of {illegible: them? who are opposed to a mountain location & may have fallen in with their hue & cry but it can amount to nothing. Among them is the {illegible} of the {illegible} {illegible} a North Carolina man living long enough in that state to think he must go for Alabama in all things against the world. I know him & have written him on the subject. Some things I said {illegible: while} I {illegible} you to see & as I have not time to write him I send you the copy of the letter I {illegible} to {illegible} -- if you can --. After you have read it will you please return it to me.

By the by, I see your man has broken ground in a Columbus {insert symbol}{illegible: Gov.?} paper The{underlined} {illegible underlined} with a {illegible} flash of "amazement & horror at the selection. The misfortune of his case is such his {illegible} are all wrong. Where is he? I suppose Hawks (William.) It has a very

Hawksy look about it. The fact is we must see to it that their fable conveys who behind the {illegible} are refuting us with their {illegible} so we after all see the {illegible: worst? world?} & then the failure of the enterprise by the {illegible} as to their location matter. They are arguing only from {illegible: hearsay?}, & do not comprehend the matter in {struckthrough illegible} its large & complex state. They have not risen to the {illegible: level?} of the idea of the thing & talk of it as if a village school.

I have just had a letter from Mr. Fogg about the terms preferred by Tracy the President of the Mining Co. as to the lands he is to grant us. They are such as satisfy Mr. Fogg & are such as satisfy me. You are on the Committee with us. I therefor send also a copy of the terms. Will you please let me hear from you without{underlined} delay{underlined} whether they are such as you will accept.

{struckthrough illegible} This must be done at once because Tracy leaves shortly for New York & now that the Charter is obtained we should

[Mar 22. 1858]

{illegible} of the site as soon as possible.

You see by this {illegible} {illegible: juris?} of Tracy we got 2,500. acres out & out immediately around Rowes Spring. The site we wish this with other lands lying near that spring & other springs near by which we have secured from other parties will give us about 4,000. acres entirely ours now. Then the additional 2500. which we hold &{underlined} control{underlined}, but if we sell any part of it then we share half the proceeds will give us control of say 6,500 acres. This with the other grants is a magnificant domain, to say nothing of transportation facilities coal &c, &c.

I shall signify my {illegible: more?} {illegible: assent?} & hope shortly to receive your reply.

Arrangements are being made to take all the Beersheba house up the mountain on the Sewanee R. Road this summer. The place to stop at is Cowan just beyond the Tunnel.