Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-04-29
PUBLIC MEETING
President.
MAI JOHN THOMPSON. Jr

JAMES MYERS, RERs JNO. LLOYD.
Secretaries G Mullin, II C. Devine,
John S. Rhey.
On motion, DIR. I'm. 4 Smith explained
tie object of the meeting, in brief and inter-
esting speech. The following named gentle
meu were then appointed to report resolu-
tions expressive of the sense of the meeting
DIR. ITns d. Smith, Capt. James Murray,
Isaac Exams, Hon. Philip Noon. W77liam
W.erry, Daniel O. Erdns, Thomas B. lNore
Esan Griffith, Rees John lloyd, .Junses Ny
ers, William Kittel, JOHN Williams and Hon
Richard Jones.
During the absence of the committee, tie
meeting as addressed by A. c. lHallin and
" ID. Magellan, Esq'rs.
The committee on Resolutions then made
the following report, which was unanimously
adopted.
WHEREAs, a Bill for the sale of the Main
line of the public improvements is now pend
ing in our Seate Legislature, which we believe
if suffered to become a law would be destruc-
tive to the best interests of the Common
wealth. and injurious to the people for whose
benefit it was originally constructed, and bav-
ing learned with alarm and regret that this
bill. SO hastily concocted, and without any
petitions from the people therefor, has Just
been passed by the House of Representatives,
we cannot, as citizens of Pennsylvania. feel
ing deeply for her welfare and the interests
of her people, permit SO infamous bill as the
one alluded to, to become law without ex-
pressing our strong disapprobation of it, aud
appealing TO the Senate, and the Executive,
to prevent the scheme from being consumma-
ted,
Therefore, Resozced,, That the citizens of
Cambria county, hastily assembled as they
have been, III mass meeting. and without re-
spect to party, hereby deliberately express
their decided disapprobation of the bill now
before the Legislature for the sale of the Main
line of Canal and Rail Road, and cannot too
strongly condemn the course of those Repre-
sentatives who have betrayed their constitu-
ents and the State, whose interests they were
elected 10 guard and watch over
Resojved, That we are opposed to hasty
legislation, and that the hurried manner in
which this bill has been forced through the
House of Re- resentatves, before its provis-
ions could be made known to the people and
IN which a tyrannical majority voted down all
amendments calculated to protect the inter
ests OF the Commonwealth, irresistably forces
US TO the conclusion that corrupt and mcrce-
nary influences are stronger with some men
than love of country.
ResoEted, That however much some of our
citizens may have desired the sale of the Main
Line with view of reducing the State debt,
they cannot regard the present bill as calcu-
lated to relieve them of their burtheEs, as no
,aIo tba Of ri, Z
of the State. and the Commonwea would
be deprived of her present revenues, which
must eventually lead to Increased taxation
Resoleed, That we are opposed to the sale
of the main line at this time, especially when
the Commonwealth is to derive no benefit from
it for period of hirty-taree gears, save
the bare payment of FIVE per cent interes:
on the purchase money and when no party but
the Pennsy ylvania Rail Road would be permit
ted to become the purchaser under the BILL
ResoIged That we are opposed to tho bill
also for the following reasons
lst 1t permits the main line from Holli-
daysburg to Pittsburg to be closed. which
cannot but be destructive to the interests of
the Western part of the State. and ruinous to
its citizens VINO have invested their capital in
coal salt, iron, lumber or agriculture, tao
trade ID witch Is increasing, aud is violation
Of the pighted faith OF the State to its citi-
zens
ID 1t proposes to cxonerate all the vast
teal and personal property of the Pennsylya-
MA Rail Road from taxation, and relieves it
from the payment of the three mill tax to the
Commonwealth, AMI is such legislation as is
unequal aud unjust, calculated only to build
Up mammoth corporation. already grown
lnsolent, to the great oppression of the honest
tax payers of the State.
Sd. 1t is calculated to place the whole car
rying trade between the East aud West in the
hands of company, and build up power In
our midst from which the through and local
trade must suffer such exactions as it may see
proper to impose.
4th. Should the main line be sold, the
Stae would not derive as much revenue from
the interest payable annually, as she now does
from the public works. tax on tonnage. aud
the tax on the stock of the Pennsylvania Rail
Road, and Harrisburg and Lancaster Rail
Road, whilst the first payment of the princi-
pal is not to be made until 1890.
Resoteed, That we return our thanks to
those members of the House who have stood
by the interests of the State in opposing this
gigantic scheme of fraud and corruption, aud
we call upon the conservative men in the Sen
ate. and in the last resort upon the Executive.
to arrest this bill before its evil effects are felt
by the people of Pennsylvania.
Resotred, That We cordially endorse the
course of our representatives, G NELSON
SMITH and WIN. G. REANER in opposing the
passage of this most unjust and iniquitous
measure that We also tender to the Hon
HENRY ID. FOSTER our sincere thanks for his
steadfast manly and able opposition to it, and
that we hereby call upon our Senator, Hon.