New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-14
LEGISLATIVE ROBBERY.
To he E1,t,~ Of The y. Y Taune.

To he E1st~ Of The y. Y Tfoune.
SIR The history Of the United States probably furnshs
no other instance of such fragrant high banded iojasss
the recent repeal Of the charter Of the Franklin Canal CO
psny and the sezue OF IL raj road constructed at cot
sir hundred thousand doars by the State Of Pennsylvsnh
For such act of wholesale robbery Is difficult to ~
count upon any principles motives which usually info
ence the conduct of civilized and Law loving people
Tie Legislature and Governor may have been n,igsed
10 this by finding that the " TO the great Northern
of trade and travel between the EaRt and the West
of which the Governor speaks in his late annual message
could not be eecus used for the only purpose for which
ky is used, namely "o lock up 80 long q the
two companies that had constructed line Of railroads
the north west corner OF PenDsylyanla were et
possession of their chartered rights and believing me.
h moral community would be least
DESTROYING Company that had for three years been yned
by nearly the whole pres Of the State this Companyvu
selected for sacrifice When is recoected that the Gov
ernor in his dispatch to the Postmaster of Erie, saying the
he "sympahizes" with them In their anticipated lo~
Of gauge, also promises to take immediate mess
procure injunction against the Franklin Csns
Co. the regong solution Of the moving cause viii sP
pear probable IL seems then that an obsructioa
TO trade and travel along this must be preserved
at the expense Of palpable violation OF The coan
PROF erty 10 the amount Of 100000 =,
The extraordinary character of this act 10 rendered
more apparen, by the fact that the Commonwealth "a
appealed her Supreme Court TO decide whether ne
Franklin Canal Company had or had not, by msuse o.
abuse forfeited its privileges and that this suit nov
pending in that Court -.
Fe0ing perhsps that after all the attempts which hsvs
been made 10 prejudice the public mind against the ION
pany and to forestal the opinion Of the Courtne -
ION might not be In favor OF the S,ateor impatient ~
lay in Selling upon the spoils. the Legislature ca
upon TO assume TO itsef Judicial as well as !egsHuvsR
els and without giving TO the Company or It's s0eAno~
the poor privilege Of being heard even before Cn
mittee their charter is wresed from them and tnen P'Y
eTty confscated. 80, a.
Hy this proceeding not only the stockholders az
pryed of their dividends but the Company is deprived
he means of paving either principal or interest on It's on
standing bonds esned In accordance TO an express pro
ion of he charter and secured by mortgage on the ra
| road and its earnings ,,.:..s
VS., shont TO uerpetrse and Of the shock which the -
onld e 10 the moral of the whole nation, sougn
10 cover No the dark deformy of the deed BY long pre-
sbe equally untrue 10 facts and unsound a. to iege
nrosnles But into examination Of these fscs or o.
hs egal deductions from the facts assumed, do not
,s.ent propose TO enter is sufficient for purpose
tbst both are before court whose province is TO exam
inc and decide upon them. All attempts TO wres1 nem
from their hands and 70 combine IN body Q, men pen
the legislative and Judicial power i at war With me genn
of our Government Such combination CONSTITUTES 'no
essence OF tyranny
II acts Of this Kind be sustained Il viii be wen or
ose who have money TO invest 20 consider waetnef tEey
can safely invest either the bonds OF stocks peoo VI
psivate OF State whose Leglsture assures me POsy
20 declare them invalid Whenever suits e,nei INC 0NP1
ity the liberal policy Of the State 90 TO 90.
Much, however is TO be hoped from the ines
ard integrity Of the Supreme Court Of the ssA's W."