The Portland daily press., 1864-09-06
M. Sweat on Camden and Ambov,


Among the various gigantic intellectual ei
forts made by Mr.. Sweat in Congress, upon
which the Argus loves to diiate, no mention
has been made, that we recollect, of his loren.
sic display on the subject OF the Camden and
Amboy railroad monopoly. This ingenious
arrangement was devised many years ago by
some financial genius, for the purpose of pay
Ing the taxes OF New Jersey by levylng on cit
liens of other states who should travel between
New York and Philadelphia; and the object
of the design has been only TOO well carried
out. The corporation has grown rich and ar
rogant. 1t snaps its fingers at the dear public
and says pay US our price and submit to all
the conditions we choose TO impose, or let us
alone. Oar extortions may be onerous and in
yidious, but they are SANCTIONED by the etern
al, immutable doctrine OF state rights and you
cannot help yourselves" Since the rebellion
broke out, 1t has been perceived that the mill
tary power of the government TO hurry on re-
Inducements to Washington has been practi-
cally vested to great extent In this selfish,
narrow minded aud literally soulless corpora
ton. Ca the ground, therefore, Of military im-
portance, and also that the provision in the
constitution of the United States, that citizens
OF all the states shall have the privilege OF free
aud unrestricted intercourse with all the other
states is, at least, of equal dignity with the doc
lrine that the state OF New Jersey has right
to tax the travelling public OF other states for
her own exclusive benefit, bill has been pass
ed by Congress granting the right 10 construct
a route competing with the Camden aud AM
boy. against this measure Mr.. Sweat work
ed, spoke and voted; being pdire ! off with Mr.
! Blaine on the final vote.
Now what was his object la doing so? Was
4 it the watchfui regard which he processes for
! the interests OF his constituents? Not one Of
them is benefited by the monopoly, whereas
| thousands are injured. Was 1t his chronic ter
| ror lest the sacred doctrine OF state right:
! should be invaded? Here we fall into diff
Guilty which naturally arises when we endeav.
or to divine the motives OF men who speak one
4 way and vote directly the opposite In the
opening of his special argument on the bill
Mr.. Sweat expressly declares that his oppos
ton is not based on any of the grounds assum
ed by other opponents, and yet he goes on ar
guing precisely the same old Questions on pre-
cisely the same old grounds. In fact there /,
but one ground to be taken either by lawyer
or pn!tician-the legality Of the monopoly
and the sacredness of the abstract doctrine O
state rights. Mr.. Sweat stands here and no
where else. One may prove by all the rules o
logic that state rights are sacred. to whatever
results they may lead-but when these results
are pushed SO far as TO comprise secession an,
rebellion la politics, aud onerous and invidi
Gus taxes in commercial affairs, we may res
sonablg suppose that something is the matte
LIT not with logic, then with the doctrine.
The Camden and Amboy Railroad compa
by has retained its monopoly and defeate'
charters to rival roads for many years. 1t ha
vast wealth and derives enormous influence
both from its political aud commercial reia
tions. 1t has used every effort In courts, i
Congress and before the public, to Sustain it
self, aud has for long time stave,t Oh lnyesti
CATION. Mr.. Sweat has been strenuous, 81. -
porter of its pretensions, and we wish Il.
had taken occasions a little less offensive thar
those ofthis railroad bill and the coniiscatior
bill, to put on record the only two laboree
! speeches he made in defence OF his pet doctrine
and ia opposition to the interests OF the gener
al government, and the people Of the United
Staies-inhabitants of New Jersey aud th,
rebel states being duly excepted. The Can.
den and Amboy company will be very glad Il
see him reelected, aud II it uses any infuencI
at all will use it in his favor. But the peopl,
of this district will, we imagine. be as anxiou.
to use their ballots to secure their own rights
As they viii TO preserve the property OF rebels
or continue the oppressive exactions Of a 81
sanlic aud selfish monopoly.