Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-08-07
For the Age.
RAII ROADS-FRAUD AND JUGGLING,

RAIL ROADS-FRAUD AND 'odGL'Nd'
Since the rail road mania has induced its sub
;ec,s TO bite and devour each other, and while
The conflict is raging between the rival corpora
tons, an excellent opportunity is afforded for the
people 10 investigate the subject and devise means
TO recover their lost rights,
In the extreme rage for these corporations the
interests, and rights, even, of the people were en-
rirely overlooked oy those members of the egisla-
ture whose pecunary interest, on the represent.
atoms and promises of the corporntOrs, supphnt-
ed their honest judgment and the obligations Of
their official oath, and these men by holding up
the terror Of party displeasure and party male
diction induced n majority into the same dsre-
gard for the constitution, the rights of the people,
and their oath of office. the result of which was
the birth OF four, deCormed and diseased Railroad
charters These charters were upon their face
uncontrolled and unlimited, and the corporators
and their tools were loud in their sell grolnlaons,
at having robbed the people of important rights
and appropriated them 10 themselves.
But not satisfied with the chlcanery and coer-
cion which had been praclIced npon the unsus-
pecng anG diident members, and being avari-
cious for more and greater exclusive privileges,
some corrupt and unprincipled wretch must be
found to incorporate in one of these charters while
it was between 'the porch and the ALTAR pro-
vision erempiing The whole concern from tara
tion. say was the work of some wretch
for such provision never did and never could
have received the sanction of the Legislature, mol
wilhstanding the influence and stimulus Of the
pulled the membels by the button. The provis-
ion above alluded to, in the central rail road char
ter ia grpss--a pal pablo fraud, forgery, and it
ia an imperative duty incumbent on the next
Legislature to ferret out the MISERABLE perpetra'
tor, and expose him to the punishment which is
his due.
While these charters were pending before the
LEGISLATURE the Democratic members from the
bcs, of motives urged that they should upon their
face bear marks Of Legislative control, not only
for the good of the public, but for the safety OF
the corporators. This however by dint of jug
glery and party discipline was cverruled, and the
corpora,ors made the rulers of the State
But political dishonesty as well as moral, some
tines works is own destruction. Having obtained
their charters, (no matter how and secured to
themselves, the rights of the people, and priveg.
es, which have been granted by no other State,
and which indeed no State has right 10 grant TO
corporations, they have waXed va liant and lev
eIed their missiles at one another. The specially
favored corporation uhe CENTRALLY through the jug
glery Of one Charles Paine, are endeavo'ing in ad-
dllion 10 what they have, by fraud, obtained
from the Legislature, 10 monopoIlze aud appoprI-
ate 10 their own use the privileges and profits OF
all the other corporations, not excepting even those
of New Hampshire.
The attempt of the ex-Gov. to transfer the CEN
trail company into the nav of the Cheshire one,
is a species of juggling peculiar TO monopolsts'
and doubtless profitable to him, for rumor vari-
ously states the reward of this iniquity, from
1000 TO $50, 200, there can be no doubt
that he is 10 be well paid. Now let US look at
this miserable, bold daring attemp, of this lora Of
.Norihfcld, to defeat the Concord and Lebanon
Company, and 10 strangle at its birth the Rutland
company. Notwithstanding the provision in the
central Charter, that il shull mol interfere Nth
any other road in the Vallcy Of the Connecticut,
ye, being a corporation with special privileges ii
has perfect right to disregard the terms of its
own charter, and destroy entirely its kindred, II
a route cannot be found over Barnard nils, this
PainefuN union with the Cheshire road must in
,erfcre directly with one other road and Indirect.
" with another, and thus is gotten up, collision
between these corporations, which can be settled
only by the interference of the Legislature. H.