San Andreas independent., 1857-02-07
From the San Joaquin Republican.
Strangle the Monster.

The Steamboat Monopoly is one of those
chartered privileges upon the energies of
the people of this State which fetters its
prosperity and greatness more than all its
is-government-mor than its taxes and
all its asserted profigacy, added to all its
actual crimes Like foul and monstrous
cancer fixed upon the yitals of the human
system, it eats out our very life and cor
rodes us with extreme agony while it de-
stroys our existence. If a venal press
assert that this monster ought not to be
eradicated from our system, there is no
chartered monopoly but it may creditably
and patriotically maintain Let the Leg
islature undo what it has done : repeal the
special privilege conferred upon this mo-
nopoly to rob the people of their hard earn
ings, with no restraint upon the bloated
avarice other than its own grasping desires.
Mr.. Norman's bills do not 90 as we could
desire; but perhaps in this age of free
passage and free drinks, they possess all
that is practicable at once. We have no
doubt of it. Why is it that that daily
blight and never ceasing nightmare broods
over our exertions to relieve the labor of
the miner and farmer, and all the avoca-
tlons of life, from the body of death which
clings to their many efforts with such de-
pressing and whitening energy? 1t is be-
cause their sacks of grain, their barrels
OF flour, their sugar and coffee, their opn
bodies, are delivered over to the tender
mercies of a souless monopoly. This
monopoly never sleeps. 1t crushes by
steam. We want short session of the
Legislature; but we want the steamboat
monopoly chained during its sitting
When a lobby member whispers into the
ears of the representatives of the people
that this monopoly has no power to tram
pie upon the rights of the people, or that
if it has it is too considerate and maonan-
imous to exercise its fatal and destructive
potency-we desire such representative to
turn upon the monster and ask him, then,
why do you urge any objection to the limits
we propose to your ayarice? The response
will not be an answer, but an euasion. 1t
will be equivalent to declaration that
others may engage in the same pursuit
with the same chartered privileges. Now,
IN the first place, we implore Heaven to
deliver us from any more monopolies.-
And in the next place; we demand of
every apologist for this monopoly to ex-
plain why it is, that if it has not the pos
session of power which it knows it can
not be despoiled of, except by the Legisla-
lative authority which conferredit, why is
it, we say, that you object to any restraint
upon your exactions. If individual en-
terprlse can restrain you by competition,
why do you object to the peoples repre-
sentatives returning to them portion of
the rights which have been taken from
them and conferred upon you, as a special
privilege? What do you rant wih
monopoly aehich .you sag confcrs no priiv-
alege upon you? Why do you employ
lobby members to keep its fetters upon
the people? Why do you grant free
tickets to the members Of the Legislature
Are not your profits at least SO much too
great as the free passage amountsto? And
the presses you keep in your pay-from
whence come the profits with which you
reward them?
The monster must be strangled It's
power is disgrace to the free people who
submit to its grievious wrongs. No, it is
not a disgrace. 1t marks their lofty obe-
dience to law, the very proudest and truest
test of mans capacity for self-goyerment
But freemen who tolerate law which
robs and enslaves them, when they have
the power to repeal it, or restrain its de-
structive influences, lose their rank of no
bility as freemen, and begin their degra-
dation to slavery by assuming the livery of
their masters, and willingly sporting in
the garb of serfs.
Strangle the monster Degrade it from
It's special privileges Return these rights
and immunities back to the people from
whom they have been taken. Put this
monopoly upon an equality with the free
men of the State-sink it from its lofty
seat OF chartered power to that level and
let us see whether freemen can compete
with Its bloated strength If we put it
upon level with common people, do we
work it any wrong? 1t may, and will, be
degraded from its throne of special priv
lleges and chartered power; but what in
jury is done it, when we only lower it to a
level and equality with the people-with
common men? We appeal to the genius
OF common sense for an answer. We
want this monopoly reduced toan equality
with the people. We will then see whether
free people can compete with-and
whether 1t can compete with the people.
And If we cannot get.it put down on
common level with common people, then
let us come as near to it as human COM
petition will tolerate, by restraining its
power within certain reasonable limits, as
Mr.. Norman's bill proposes. We are not
impracticable; if we cannot get all the
right back from this monopoly, of which
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