Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-14
The Jersey wreckers and the Right Of
Transit.

a short time since eiSiNoh - ~
States, in transit through Philadelphia, was
depriyed by force Of certain property, accord
mo n his estimation, and left to the uncertain
remedy Of an action at law, to recover II.
More recently many citizens of other States
uassing through New Jersey, upon the cars OF
the Camden and Amboy Railroad were killed
and wounded by the careless management OF
the railroad. In view Of the constant liability
10 accident upon this great thoroughiare, pup
lie sentiment demanded the guarantee OF
double track but the sovereign railroad OIL new
Jersey respond that it has another use Tor It's
money. The Philadelphia News condemns,
with much earnestness, the abuse OF position
which dictates such language on the part OF
New Jersey. The News properly says
The inhospitable soil of her state New Jer-
seyl is unfortunately the only throughiare between
the two great cities of New York and Philadelphia,
and thus between two principal sections Oh the
Union OF this mere geographical TACT She mas
taken advantage, to relieve her own citizens from
VACATION. and 10 impose the burden OF her govern
Inent upon those strangers who are compelled 10
pass through her territory
"The people Of other States are too well nc
auantcd with the character OF New Jersey iegisia-
ton, not to gladly embrace any means that should
offer of never entering the State and leaving her
in the solitary enjoyment Of her railroads and her
august State privileges But az this is impossible,
and M they have suffered from the expressions OF
this barbarous member Of the confederacy, until
iorbearance has ceased to be virtue, they have
determined to resort to the only final remedy
against evils thus protected and walled m-.-puoic
opinion. II remains TO be seen whether the COM
binod arrogance Of an intermediate State and
gigantic monopoly railroad, subsistng upon the
sstorted contributions Of the people of other
States, can sustain themselves, in the midst OF our
enlightened and humane confederacy and age, in
the naughty and defiant attitude they bave ns-
sumed.n
The conduct Of New Jersey is illiberal and
crnel. One Of the smallest States in the con-
iederacy, she is protected by the power and
supported by the contributions Of other States
She is protected by the constitution in doing
80, and we cannot see that there is any means
" compelling her by law to do what she should
hasten to do for humanity. But let our friends
Of Philadelphia reason upon the great propo-
sition involved III this act of cold-blooded con-
tumacy. Let them reflect upon the wide
spread contempt for a State which sells the
jewel Of its sovereignty to money changers,
and takes share of their bsrbarous exactions;
which lives like tho wreckers Of Cornwall or
Key West upon the spells of misfortune;
which owes its independent existence to the
protection Of others, and robs its benefactors
= shoir lives and property as one Of the
iegiah--te perquisitcs of the form of gov
erhiheht lhto ~h;ah it has gained admittance
But let the News reiner.her, that tho great
city Of Philadelphia also owes much of its pros
perity TO the citizens of other States. That
they buy her goods, patronize her schools
and hotels, take her newspapers, and, if ne
cessary, would defend her rights. Let it
be remembered that, u nest Of inalevolent
and mischevous persons, abusing the hospita-
bleprotection which that great city affords, and
availing themselves Of the friendly relation
between the States, station themselves upon the
only thoroughfare" "between the two princi-
pal sections Of the Union" and, seizing upon
what the unwary traveller deems his property,
perpetrate upon him a piratical robbery, and
then, like the Jersey wreckers, take shelter
under the law. We ask our Pennsylvania
friends to look at these two cases They illus
trate perfectly the importance ofrendering not
only justice but comfy and kindness to the citi-
zens Of other States. They show another
thing, The reckless conduct Of the Jersey
railroad, and the lamentable degradation which
has merged the proud name of sovereign
State in the corporate interests Of moneyed
monopoly, has filled the Union with sympathy
for the sufferers, and disgust for the wreckers.
There is every disposition to rebuke the
outrage; and il the American people could pass
around the State, or even expel her from the
Union, there is every reason TO believe, in the
present state Of feeling that il would be done.
Ia it not then, natural that fifteen States, inter-
csted in more than fifteen hundred millions of
property, feel similar indignation at the fla
grant robbery committed upon such Of their
icllow-citizens as may venture within the linn
its Of any State where the trap Of Abolition is
set for the property Of the passengers And
if these States can avoid the thoroughfare
where this robbery is practised, will they not
10 so?
Comfy is the cement Of this Union In the
harmony of its people that Union viii be per-
petuated. Ir administered in the spirit Of ex-
action, retaliation, and robbery, there can be
no power TO keep ii together, for a compulsory
Union is contradiction in terms, and any at
tempt TO keep thirty-one States in the same
form Of government by employing the power
Il some to compel the weakness Of others,
would be TO adopt civil war as ono Of our per.
manent institutions
We can offer no advice in regard to the Jer-
sey wreckers except this Let the other States
buy up the stock Of the railroad, and the
wrccker State government viii pass as one Of
the appurtenances; they can then make such
general notifications as may be due to the
general safety Of life, limb and baggage. They
can even release the State government from its
bondage TO the company, present the charter
TO the people Of the United States, transfer
the wreckers to Key West or the Bahamas, or
the coast Of Darbary, or move them west Of