Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-12
U NJ II = d y ~ NJIE
c. B. HURxTHAL, Sec'y.
Public Meeting Opposed to the Sale of the
Ohio Canals.

Public Meeting Opposed to the Sale of the
Ohio Canals.
A meeting of those opposed to the sale of
the Public Works was held at the Court House
+ Fl G0 Instant PfR'fqhq yg Sp Saa Satg5sE ggas % the Chair
and A Patrick appointed Secretary.
The Chairman, in brief but pointed speech,
atated the object of the meeting. He said he
believed it was the duty of every farmer, me-
chanic and merchant in this county to oppose
the sale of the Ohio Canal The transportation
of the State should not, he said, be permitted to
pass into the hands of i huge monopoly.
After the President concluded, a motion was
adopted, that the Chair select Committee of
five persons to prepare resolutions expressive of
the sense of the meeting.
Whereupon, the Chair appointed John Judy,
Benjamin L. Parsons, Jesse D. Elliott, Charles
H Mathews and Andrew Patrick said Com
mittee.
During the absence of the Committee, the
meeting was ably addressed by D. W. STAN
baugh, V. P Bonham, J. II Bamhill, and A.
W Patrick.
The Committee reported the following resO-
lutions, which were unanimously adopted
RcSOLued, That while we accord to Railroad
Companies the credit to which they are entitled
of improving districts of country cut off from
the means of transporting produce and import
ing merchandise, we do not approve of combi-
nations of chartered companies to regulate
freights at their own di:tation, and thereby, as
a united body, control the carrying trade, and
as a consequence, the prices of produce and
merchandise of the country.
ResoEUed, That the Ohio Canals were built at
an enormous expense by the people through
years of taxation-that they are the property of
the whole people Of the State regulated and
controlled through the votes of the people by
| their Representatives, whereas Railroads may
be held as private property by any of the titled
aristocracy of Europe who have no other lot or
part in Democratic Republican Government or
| the prosperity of our country than to draw
their profits from investments in mortgaged
bonds and stock for their own personal benefit
| ResolUed, That we approve of the policy pur-
sued by the Legislature of New York in favor
of their Canals as the peoples property against
chartered competition torender them worthless,
and secure a monopoly of the carrying trade at
| the public expense.
RESOLVED, That if anything were wanting to
alarm and call into action the united voice of
the people of Ohio in protecting their canals
from the control of chartered aristoeracy, it is
the movements of the great Rail Road Conven-
tion at Cleveland in November, in which It was
stated that about forty Companies were conven-
ed through their Agents representing four hun
dred millions of Rail Road property, and upon
this assumption divided Ohio and the adjoining
States into three grand divisions, with Com
missioner in each, with united power to uphold
and sustain certain prices of freight and passage,
a reduction of which by any single Rail Road
Company would be regarded as offence pun
isnable by the bylaws of this mammoth combi-
nation.
Resolred, That while we admit the utility of
Rail Roads and respect their privileges, when
not used as a means of oppression or fraud
either on public or private property, we regard
the Ohio Canals as a check on their monopOlies
as means of transportation which will tend
to restrain the extravagant prices of freight
equalize more generally the business Of the
eountry-dlffuse activity, industry and enter
prise among the poorer and middle classes of
our people, if the Legislature will adopt the
requisite measures for the improvement and pro-
lection of these important works
ReSOlUed, That we earnestly recommend to
our Senator and Representatives in the Legis
lature to oppose the sale of the Public Works
of Chic, believing such opposition to be the
unanimous wish of their Constituents, and for
the best interests of the State.
The following gentlemen were selected by the
Meeting as delegates to attend the State Conven-
ton to be held in Columbus on the 9th of Janu-
ary, ls59:-Col. r. H. Nugen, D. W. STAN
baugh, A. 7. Ready, ]. H Barnhill and David
Judy.
On motion, it was
ResOlred, That the proceedings of this meet
ing be published in all the county papers, and |
in the Cleveland Leader. Also, in the Column
bus Journal and Statesman.
IL DYE, President
A. PATRICK, Secretary.