In deference to the opinion of you gentlemen who are personally interested in the Transcontinental Railway, and in consideration of this enterprise in which you have invested time and money, I consented that the convicts remain on the Transcontinental Railway until after August 10th. You doubtless remember that you and General Davidson requested me at Asheville to allow these convicts to remain until the first of July and no longer, that you would then have completed your financial arrangements, or you would give them up. On the 10th of July the Council of State held a meeting, and at the earnest request of General Davidson an order was made to allow the convicts to remain until August 10th. General Davidson assured the Council of State that unless the finances of the road were arranged by that time, the convicts would be returned to the State's Prison, and that no further request would be made for them. He stated then that the state authorities had done all that could be asked. In accordance with this understanding with General Davidson by the Council of State, the convicts were ordered to be delivered to the Prison Authorities on August 11th or 12th. They have been delivered to the Prison authorities, and are now at work on the Hickory Nut Gap road.

I exceedingly regret if your plans have been interfered with in any way by the state authorities, but under the circumstances we could do nothing else than put these convicts at some profitable work.