The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-18

tempts have been made al Albany, through the
agency of clique OF stockholders TO procure the
interference of the legislature, not only with the
chartered rights of an incorporated company, but
also with the rights of the travelling public, and the
speedy transmission of the mail and private ex-
presses.
We have not seen the provisions of the law which
il is proposed TO enact but understand il is bill
of bylaws or regulations like the rules of cook
book, directing the Railroad Companies how to
manage and transact their business, and especially
how TO make their bargains. 1t is forbidden, even
by the Constitution OF the United States, 10 pass any
law interfering with the obligation of contracts
And it is equally contrary to sound legislation TO
pass laws interfering with the free rights of parties
to make contracts. And such contracts, too, as
they NAV choose TO make. Nor does it matter at
all who these parties are, whether they be the rail-
road companies with one another, or the rail
road companies with travellers. 1t is right and
expedient that both travellers and the railroad
companies should all be left to themselves to make
their own bargains without legislative interference
Let trade be free. Govern not too much. If ira
velers do not like the rules and regulations of the
railroad lines then let them take packet line upon
the canal. They have their choice at the outset
Legislative interference with the freedom to make
contracts, if not unconstitutional, is preposterous
and absurd, and contrary to sound democratic prin-
cipes.
According to the present arrangement from AL.
bany to Buffalo, by rail road it is twenty -four hours
The proposed interference would increase the time
several hours, and of course increase the expenses
both IN time and money, proportionaly ; and also
delay the reception of letters and expresses for the
same length of time.
II we are rightly informed the movement has its
origin among the owners of packet lines upon the
Erie Canal, for whose benefit and behoof the law
is desired. The following article from an ALBANY
paper contains some further views upon the same
subject:-
A few days ago select committee appointed by the
Speaker reported bill to the Legislature to provide lead
ing strings for the travelling public The people have
been decreed to be wise enough to select their own lie
gslators but seems to be the opinion of of these
very Legislators who claim to their position to the in
tegense OF the people, that their constituents not
competent to be trusted with their own money when
aourney bat require the supervision special egisa
ton and the advice OF at least two of that class Of solicit
tors called runners" The law which the committee
have reported should be entitled An act promote the
of runners and tavern keepers to
vent speedy and commodious travelling One section
provides that the railroad companies shall give free in.
gess and sgres and from their houses to at least
two agents or servants of every other railroad company
steamboat packet boat stage proprietor association
and baggage In order that this operation may
be to the highest degree there's another prov
sion requiring that 1t shall not be lawful for the of
cars road joining in any other road to be put under
till thirty minutes after the arrival OF the cars at the
termination of the other road.
The convenient of receiving fare at one place
for distance route Of railroads is be checked
BY legal enactment giving to the passengers the privi
ege oil repudang their bargains at every stopping place
and the railroad agents required repay the and
restore the baggage Of passengers on reaching the srm
nation OF any of the roads whenever they shall demand
H. Finally, and as sweeping clause il 10 declared
1T shall not be lawful for any railroad COMPANY to
contract with any other railroad company run or use
or to suffer to be run used any railroad other than
their own their passenger or motive or either
VI them to contract ngree with any er railroad
company to own, purchase hire, rum or to own
purchase hire passenger power
in common or n connexions but every railroad company
shall conne the ordinary OF their passenger cars and
motive power to the line Of its road and cry viola
ton OF the provisions this by railroad Gu npany
their servants agents shall subject the railroad com
panies offending and each and every of them to penalty
OF two hundred and fifty dollars to be recovered in an ac
ton Of debt in the OF the people oths State by any
person who will sue fer the same"
Let us suppose that this law is passed passenger
starting from Boston, journey to Rochester Buffalo
takes car on the Western railroad and reaches the
boundary of this State Here the strong of the law
realize the beauties of New York legislation The cars
are stopped for thirty minutes two steamboat, packet
boat line boat railroad runners are admitted to
the car house to advise and consult with him as to his
future course His baggage is changed to car; he
himself has to take up new quarters. and engine
gage is not stolen he pursues his route Albany Here
he not allowed pay his fare once the remainder
OF his Journey for the provisions of the law intended
to prevent such an accommodation. His baggage must
be changed at schenectady and every other stopping
place s on ne way ne must stop thirty minutes there to
often dishonest runners; he must wait thirty minutes
land sharks and the baggage thieves and
Keepers chance to proh by his position for ait shall be
adudged misdemeanor and shall be punishable suchr
to exclude these persons from the car house.
Such legisation, which looks upon the people in
IT
OF our institutions. On this many other subjects
we all feel in the language of the Globe, the world
is governed too much"
GRAnAM's MAGAZINE, tor April, Gust issued by
Israel POST 81 Bowery) is no whit inferior to any Of
It's predecessors. Every page sparkes with the
genius OF the first authors of the continent Coo
per, Pauldlng, Longfellow, Willis, Wilde, Mesdames
Smith, Ellet, Slgourney, Osgood, Sawyer, and some
dozen others, I'LL II to the brim with the nectar of
the immortas. We observe in certain journal
constant attempts TO depreciate periodical ltera-
ture and to elevate in the popular estimation that of
Great Britain; though as often as Graham ap.
pears the editor OF the journal aforesaid greedilv
seizes and publishes its crack articles in his own CO.
lumns. Now, putting out of the question the rabid
politics OF Blackwood, acknowledged by every body
to be the best OF the foreign monthies, we do not
believe one person In five thousand would pronounce
1t equal to acknowledgements the last three num-
bers-Does any one suppose Christopher North
would not welcome heartily such contributions for
"Old Ebony as AIston, Bryant, Cooper, Dana,
Longfellow and Pauldlng have made to Graham's
Magazinel Pshaw! it is really an insult to the
reader to ask so ridiculous question. We demand
pardon.
Cooper, in the number before us finishes his eau
photography OF Pocket Handkerchief" said to be
the best thing he has done in this decades the Ex-
Minister Pauldng gives notes of his grand tour with
the Sage of Underwood down the Mssissippi Mrs.
Seba Smith shows conclusively what we always
supposed to be true, that the Witch OF Ender, in
stead OF being bag was of the most beautiful
and loveable creatures of the world: Herbert pre-
sents splendid historical ballad founded on the well
known story of Jane McIlae: Longfellow has too
exqulsltely finished poems; Willis scripture piece
OF exceeding beauty: Mrs. Ellet, story of intense
men of merit give clever articles of various de-
scrptlons. The editorial reviews ETC. are written
with discrimination, ability, and Independence