, 1865-02-10
Report Of the Citizens Committee
Their Visit to Springfield
What thew saw and Heard
There,
Stirring Addresses by Cox Van
Arruln, Writ Dexter, e. C.
T.arucel nEl others.
THE EEsOLUTIOyS--G AND
TRUE MEN WANTED
ARD BLAINE.
OMNIBUS LINES TO BE BUN.

reto. md nlko to take such other s.eps as might
eccm requisite 10 p:cvcat the monopoly from be-
ing carried out to tho great injury Of the city.
Tho Hall was well hllcd, and crtlsc uuaaimity o;
foellng on the subject prcvafled.
The meeting Wa. called to.ordcr by Hon. Grant
1ootrics, ca waose nomination II. q. Miller,
ESQ.,, was chosen Chairman, md II. C. Parsons
Src.cta.y OF the mcetIng
THO Chairman said that some two weeks e,nce, |
shc community was startled with the intelligence
1nat sc1nc Of the most valuable franchises |
were being given hway from thei city t3 |
% eentury, wihou. any q those restl1etoas which
ing Of citizens oai.,,,1," At once Convened;
On N the Govesno., and asl lin to Withhold |
lis signature from the iniquitons bill. The next |
I s y 10 ops 1 m 1aa
petition Was :aiscn to Springfield By Committee;
ihcy sIe nt.cnr4 t. y y ~ "a: nSois GorsIno
lie popsile II Tor this act s1ore- fAppl1use.l But
the Legislature bad p:ased II oyer the Governors
he Committee and 70 Iake counsel together as to
the tcst cs,ussc TOW tof be l:ursued. Franchises |
worth mll:ons Of dollars had been eiEcn oway to !
srs aay
.,Lligcd to incnr debt which our poster,fy mnst
paJ, and thc Lerisia1rlc had now given awsy the |
nassiy there WAS ono ri:Atguasantscd to rs by |
4Ae ofeanic law Of ocr 6tate-NAich could not be |
b. en Ths5 gs was 70
it could not be clalmed TIL then, but III the mean
WINE il aa,ssnn bsaooysd dans snsa f. rec i
It uwav. lie counselled them to uncea:ine
vigilance, that &&osr rights might not be tutaliy
taken awsy BY tiny set Of men whatever. He !
comnlttrc sent Springfield were ready to report
their ac.ion n tie matter; II go, 1t WIS then In
order.
tlen read the following report, being frequently
interrupted by the applause Of tie audicnce dur
ns y Tofed sen se Iii 81
1nul ,asaase. drew down hisscs In plenty on tho |
heads Of those gentlemen.
REPORT OF 1ItE CITIZENS COMMITTEE AGAINST TIE
horse NA.I2oAn.
Fellow citizens:
The undersigned, a Committee by your appoint
ncnt, to nc.r to the GovcrnYr yons psotestana
rernonslEance osninst the uorse Railroad Bill
having discharged their duty. would respectfully
report the circrmstar ccs attending tletr ni5slon
Immediately Upon arrival 81 Springfield IN inter.
sm vas n e.
The iii which then awaited ol1s his, signature to
become law. The C1nnfttec to1nd the Govern
or, whilst extending to them every consideration
proper to expect mud apparently des1Eons Of el1c.
3tiug nil the rraaons they ad to submit IN behalf
,,me ~ M calm % and unprecedented. Wiling to hear md
ea1es q Tic iii. IN shori. disposed 10 msrareiy
copsiGcr the merits and dement's Of the I'LL with
1hat disputsteaate and impartial Judgment so be-
coming ,hc Executive Of great STATE The ma~-
S 81 t. to
alike ., 1c visor and grasp fhis Intellect and o.
esa Of lit people. Although tbs special
asorince, of your Committee. as oasinally
Il e Il naesss nSssa Il Il to- b
and Of the overwhelming hostility toward It Of tho
citizens Of Chicago. o9r efforts In that direction
rcecntatves Of Couk county, who with one e1cep;
zion il each brench Of the General Assembly; had
In The Senate, md Mr. jackson IN The Nouse had
both voted as1inst The bill. and were still adSerae
ipc The views OF hc Committee respecting the bill,
conceded tts objectionable character and .Aefe-
after united With tls comIi,tse IN honsst e9t, =
an md cooE rctcd for the bill At dgst md very re-
sd he5 set &c s ias e:
co-ope1a.ion.. patton and nunt:ey adhered
Il !l.,, 'oem md o psrs'sted IL it, a5soeacs. Nj
Eastman US hcwesss The cn:mg12a @ 81 tas
his constituents, and the aTpeals and s-onmeuts .
flclr committee. The Committee feei constrained
Is. baEe betrayal By Ill, E.stm.n Of =:
Any ehhritahle view which the Committee were
TIC BIZ prlor to thci- <s.l 10 Springfield, was en-
s:rcly dispelird Dy his obd1rate aad unseasonlns
position thereafter. HE drst appearance bc:ort
The Committee in response to p1ltc -nvito.bi
to meet and confer with them. was accompanied
With the declaration on entering the room, thai
be I'D nst Seea 81 meeting M q he
are Cook comfy delegation, who had unanimou.
u resolved stand by their votes IN its support
M ra.riaee s"" The 's Interests Of his constituent;
thus i1s1nEy IT. osann q N linn aaynnSe ,a th
subject. %yna undoubtedly true. His contempt!
sf se ,Sass1 aSh1aas E sans snse sor
honor, Els a:ssin,ed ar oI Indifference. willis
his whole ceuntcnance and tretnalou$ voice :
trayed his consciousness q dep.senent, sutlle
Ter Is 10 entirely supersede his obligations to ,he
9n9ps 9n9 a % IL pisposioa vas !asss
mnhe 10 him sy unanimous vote to 10 the
city by Legal obliea,on 70 le entered into by the
ono million of dollars fur the franchise proposed
=. 10 he cGuctr, the rai!eoad company. ntirr thu
~ q tr 3 ts.s aIec;1T sGrr his III r.
ao Mt,ne s nd II Icxai 1Af fos osae
al as a Se eps ans
doIarf, not for The prese.t charter. hut only 70,
<hc cxtersiun after the Hinsiscn years nov, WI
which yrunll tnurc TO tho bcncEt CT the p:o; 1e
and get give arzy to wealthy corporation the
eac,c franchise, without any consideration
ss1 sss;aD fa'5sct:" itSc' No 1n::ilisas1' zasse,
ss 9oes esse e eo;5a re- ehona ayan
the flll, 70 Lac caCsc a1del f3h:a1:tang 1t tt
the vo:c Of The people, and Is he cairaei :hat The
an 81
rEn, there cou!d he no Wild objection TO sCct
submission. A reply WIS called To-: and the TO-
-'As member Of The Republican p:Eiy, sh32:t
he rpMfhnF 70 1.aye.a c1;use M g added: submitting
,e hIi to tie sn' J. II asedsss t to
ruer1.e attempts at se.fjustiacstiaa: IN all o
vhlc be- only decpcned thc shades Of his .l:yscde
hs en eaa III. at Hnss b. ss,d of aa
" the fultoges o: IN enlightened people has oec1
elevated " thc position u = State Senator, IN!
I.s conett,r.ency, and cause lis hest friends K
blcsl viii stsxae for him, As 2td Mr. Eastman 81
,Ss ose e e5 hs sa hs e. as aS
tsr Tim be- the @ shassses Q, ihn r. Y
fncT M better sl:n IL tl,at the vast majority OF II
poorer classes: the l2bo5iag men, who RI Il,
were atmost unanimous in zheir opposition to
bill t1,at gave 10 u wealthy corporation powc
= 1,ss seate1 & xs to na for af1 L
Improved modes Of }aso@oton in few yeass t.: T.
tara nrfht EpS to eErced one or two Cen&f Tt
labor7ng mems ASSOCIATION q 1,oD mrmbcra ht
nrrs organs for larEc numbers Of the Uorktngmt
tnsi coiicd loudly upon him In their columns, NJ
+hr chitofs Aad both personally and by tclcgzaE
!mnsored him 10 remember the poor aui rc.itt
iiit. Who kncw better than he that n;n:-s:slhs
al slosst, OF lis constituents were opposed to t!
TiIls And ret lie had the shameless ctifontesy
declare in the Scnnts, aye totnsohe hoa 70 N!tas ~
hIe icclarstlons4 thrt ls large na,of7ls q "a
ei1ths Of the ci'tzens o. sn1o ~; rcnt1s1 hsc
e1rn1,a o1naus thc coert House, wcrs II favor
1hc b{li The audiences attending gu
nnbl1c meetings lie shgmatizen as loassss
dest,tase deS ] oi aeccncy and Iu,a. Ions Commit
cannot withhold tie expression: ot 1neir ta. 11hs
1ion that by rc.Eon Of Ills tndcleustble neacns d
towards his constituents. his 1npTeecaeotSa, , !
isn't responses to their rcmonFtr1nec, h1s aesl
c1Iorts fo poison the minds Of the members
both bfanLhcs Of the Legislature, his Tepeat
. vote ia direct opposition to the hc;t infesesm
nti1c wau1 Of trusifulness IN his statements.
East1uan not only pro, cd ltE1scN utterly :
worthy Of The ciacial position he holes. but !
alfo forfeited ull claim TO the confidence ana
Some Of lie sch cmcs projected by The friends
the uo1xe Hallway bill to Ecakcn tae aeuo1
your committee, cessrvc to Laas among fetnsi
bic legislative czpedicnts. AoGf eommlnee M ~ ns
arsivns At Springfield they were Informed thu!
sSus caI7ci,tly reported that. under tho gI
q asxesas'nE %e,e DO peoples set ssshs rshsS
nnl,nnfhis naxao'A1 1u,aor wes eserywhers through,
&c csty Of spring6cld--1n the Legislative h:
~ ynur canEoittcc learned from Gov. Ugle
limtcN Your committce wcre utterly Ut a 1os1
3uow where tais invention originated. they II
itha1 no. particle o. fonudaa:on : ~ aaet AZ az