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Florida Rail Road Office |
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Gainesville, June 4, 1863 |
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| His Excellency, John Milton |
| Gov. of the State of Florida |
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Sir, |
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Your communication of May 30th, post
marked June 2d was received this morning. |
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The considerations connected with the subject of your
letter are very grave. Excuse me if I prefer to preserve a tone in
my correspondence comporting with the serious issue of public
concernment it involves, and with its official character. |
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I am not aware of any authority vested in the Trustees of
the Internal Improvement Fund, any more than in this company, to
diminish or change the security of cestuis qui trusts, or to
deal with the Trust Fund, or the rights of the State or of the
creditors of the fund, any otherwise than other ordinary trustees
might under the direction and control of the Courts of the State. I
am also unaware of any power existing in this company, or in the
Executive branch of Government, to authorize or permit the
destruction of a public way. There are circumstances, truly, under
which extreme measures, in dealing with extreme and sudden
emergencies, would be promptly excused and tolerated by the public
as well as by individuals, whose particular interests might be
injuried. But, you will agree with me, it is not allowable in public
officers, either lightly to suppose emergencies, or needlessly to
create them, for the purpose of accomplishing a preconceived design
and desire. Especially should they guard themselves against being
made unconscious instrument of injustice, by employing the powers
their public trust confers, in promoting the ends of those who urge
their action. |
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No such proceedings as you letter describes occurred at
Gainesville. You have evidently been missinformed. The true version
of what transpired upon the occasion was communicated soon after its
occurrence to the President of the Pensacola & Georgia Rail Road
Company, in a letter which I supposed, from the circumstances of the
time, might have been seen by you. |
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The much illusion you make to the idea of patriotic
efforts and sacrifices, in which you intimate the Trustees of the
Internal Improvement Fund are disposed to unite with me, requires
some response. I humbly trust I may not be wanting at any time in
necessary and dutiful sacrifices and contributions to the great
cause in which all citizens are engaged, and will gallantly unite
with yourself and other Trustees in liberal and patriotic devotion
of our own means. But I have not the right to make myself free with
the property of others, nor to seek merit for a generous patriotism
at another's cost. |
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I have the honor to be, very respectfully, |
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D. L. Yulee |
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President Florida Rail Road Co. |
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