| From the Nashville Patriot |
| |
| May 5, 1861 |
| |
| From the ??. ??? {Mt.
Irwin?} Journal |
| The following correspondence
took place a few days since between Judge Milton Brown, President of the
Mobile & Ohio Railroad and Col. B. M. Prentiss, Commandant Illinois
Volunteers at this place: |
| |
| Cairo April 27th, 1861 |
| |
| Col. C. B. Prentiss, Com. Ill. V., at
Cairo: |
| |
|
Dear Sir, |
| Representing the Mobile & Ohio
Railroad Co., and in common with the Illinois Central Railroad, deeply
interest in the trade and travel between the North and South, and to
allay all possible misapprehension, I desire to propound respectfully
the following questions: |
| 1st. Can I safely say to
persons desiring to ship freight through, or by Cairo, that they will be
safe in doing so? |
| 2d. Will boxes shipped
through, or by Cairo, be subject to examination of the contents by being
opened? |
| 3. Can I say to all travelers
that they will in passing through Cairo, be protected in their persons
and property? |
| 4th. May I assure the public
that the steamers running between the Illinois Central and Mobile & Ohio
Railroads will not be interfered with, and will be protected is a
peaceful neutrality? |
| I have the honor to be, most
respectfully, yours, &c., |
| Milton Brown |
| Prest. M. & O. R. R. Co. |
| |
| To which Col. Prentiss replied as follows: |
| |
| Cairo, April 27th, 1861 |
| |
| Judge Milton Brown |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| I have the honor to reply to
your letter of this date, as follows: |
| To your first question I
answer -- Yes, Sir; provided said freight is not for arming or equipping
the enemies of the United States Government? |
| To your second question I
answer -- they will not, unless information has been previously received
that they contain arms and munitions of war destructive to the United
States Government! |
| To your third question I
answer -- Yes; provided, however, that said property be not munitions of
war, destined to the enemies of the United States Government. We should
be surprised to know that our civilized brethren, anywhere, have a doubt
that we would protect persons passing through here, except the active
enemies of the United States Government. |
| I am, very respectfully, &c., |
| B. M. Prentiss |
| Commandant |
|