, 1865-02-04
TIE GREAT HORSE RAILROAD
SW!MlLE,

lkE GKEAE NURSE RAILROAD
Sw!MpLE.
Public Meeting Tonight.
The resolutions Of the Board OF 1radc,
which We publish in another colamn, oe-
nounclng the Horse Railroad s~1ndle' con-
firm our statements that the people Of Chi
caco arc unanimous aguinst this gigantic ont
race. II needs but the opportunity 10 meet
and protest, md the impression that such
meetings aud protestations are necessary, to
call forth the whole population of Chicago to
oppose the bill. It has simply no favor aud
no toleratlon whatever ut the hanas Of any
here, except those who are stockholders or
under their Immediate power and influence.
The indignation Of the people has been so
generally md yehcmcnt1y expressed, through
circumstances, by public meetings, In resolu-
lions and by committees, that NC 1lpd it difti-
cult to believe that further protest can be
necessary. We are 4 democratic people,
and arc accustomed to Gee our public
servants respect the voice Of their
constituents, not defy their indignation. Day
after day for weeks, through the press, by
resolutions, and rcmonstranccs, the manifold
frauds mud iniqulties Of this bill, have been
held up to public view, and the hostility Of
the people OF Chicago to Its passage express
cd. No apology, explanation, Or defense Of
the obnoxious features Of the bill has been
attempted. They arc tacitly conceded by lis
friends to be wholly indclcrsible. Egcn
when one Of the members voting for 1t at
tempted to address meeting Of the citizens
OF Chicago, hc offered nothing IN Justification
ofthe bill. Thepeople have been willing to hear
this gseat wrong defended, If defense we're
possible, but not word Of apology has been
offered and now, after ample time hasebeen
given for discussion, and no facts or arguments
produced to show that this bill is not con:eiy-
cd in fraud md brought forth in corruption,
the people are Of one heat and Of one mind.
They regard it rs an impudent, unmitigated.
unprecedented swindle, from beginning to
end. It dcfrauds the city Of It's vested corpo.
rate rights and property to the value of MIL
lions Of dollars. It crects political oil.
garcby to'rrle the city By bribery and corrup-
Icn In the future. It binds the city and its
population hand and foot, and delivers them
over to The raraclty Of these o1isarchs, who
cTcn now arc able to induce some OF
our public servants to insult and tam-
pic on the rights Of their constituents
1t places the future growth and prosperity OF
the city under the control and Limitation of
these olienrchs, BY giving them monopoly
Of all the principal streets Of the city without
rcscrving my right to compel them to lay
down tracks or put On cars, bet leaving the
accommodation Of the public to their private
vhim and caprice. It enables them practi-
ca1ly to double or treble their fares, while 1t
excludes all competition, thus forcing the
poor to crowd into the heart Of the city, or
to submit to whatever burdens the railroads
may impose upon them. It sells the birth
right Of the people, and sires them not even
tho mess Of pottagea as its price. Throughout
the bill there Is not line Of relief or bene.
tit to the city or the people in return
for the vast wealth 1t gives to the
stockholders OF the railroad companies. Like
The tracks before the lions den, all arc going
in, none coming ont. The petty devices
which have been resorted to by the lobby for
This bill, 60 as FAR to inl,eacl Its character as
the arguments against it. No just measure
would need c1pedients so unworthy One OF
these resorts was the preparation OF
horse 1a{lrond charter, in which
the names OF Acsars. 6cammon, Good
rich and Iarncd are inserted. We
have before us the admission, signed by the
person who thus used their names, that those
three names were inserted without the
knowledge or authority of those persons, and
that the latter were not aware Of the use OF
their names until February 1st, inst. Yet
this unauthorized use Of their names was
freely pleaded by the railroad lobbyists to
deceive members Of the Legislature into the
belief that Of the vast numbers opposed tothe
bil, at least those three were Influenced by
private and personal interests. This is au
false. The opposition to the railroad bill is
universal and disintercsted except In 50 {ar
as every citizen feels personal interest in
preventing q wholesale swind1e on the city
and the people.
We know that every influence known to
the lobby is being brought to bear to pass
This bill. The employees Of tbs Railroad
companies swarm around the capitol like
locusts. Hundreds Of thousands of dollars
are ut stake to their employers, and they
Hill stick at nothing But on behalf Of the
people Of Chicago, whose property it confs-
Gates to private use, whose soleuanE guaEan-
teed rights IT. tramp1cs under foot, whose
people It will Injnre and oppress, we invoke
the veto Of the Governor. We call upon him
TO protect us from IN injury which his sigma
lure would make irrctrlesab'e. We call up.
on him, and upon our representatives in the
Legislature, to submit this question to the
people Of i. Chicago. These wealthy
stockholders pretend that the op2o-
sitiou proceeds only from the
wealthy, and that the poor are with Them.
Let them show that they believe this, by sub
mittang the question to. the people, among
whom the wealthy are always in the minori-
ty. If they dnrc not, they admit that, the
yoor are not with them. The citizens have
spoken in public meeting md through Com
mittecs. They viii meet and speak again,
tonight, in our public llalls. Let all interest
cd in the rights and welfare Of tic people at
tend. The Board Of Trade las spoken. The
Mechanics Associations hare in part spoken.
The Trades Cnion has spoken All utter one
voice. voice Of earnest, emphatic, over
whclming dcnunclation ofthis unconscionablc
swindle. In no morc terribly earnest way
could the people speak than they hare done.
But lot them, If we interpret their views
Alright, come together again tonight, In still
more impressive and unanswersble strength,
and send forth their instructions In ouch
thunder tones that none shall fail to hear and
understand them.
NIB. mcCULI10CR eOR
OF THE TfkEIASDKY.
The fact that the time il drawing near when
Mr.. Fesscndcn will feel compelled, in accosd-
ance with his other engagements and his fre-
Quently expressed determination to Withdraw