The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-12-28
CONVENTION AT MORRIS.

A mass convention of the people of Grun.
dy.and adjoining counties. on the line Of tho
Illinois and Michigan canal was held ct Nor
ris, on the Goth inst. 1t was largely stsend'
cd, and shors and pointed speeches were made
by large number of influential men.
Daring the proceedings letter from Hon.
E. B. Washburne, was read indorsing the OBJ
Jscts of the convention, and pledging himself
u DIDO his utmost soreieve the people of the state
!. from the monopoly under which they labor
u He gives some valuable suggestions, and
says:
'If the people of Illinois are willing TO be
4 bound hand foos by railroad and other monop-
{ roles in our state, and will not make an eff
fort to break the chains which have been pre-
'oparsd for them, they are unfit for self-goyern-
!, ment My own constituents are to-day suf-
afsring from expressions of railroad monopo-
giles to an extent hardly conceivable. do
NOT see why our Legislature cannot apply to
railroads In our state the principle which has
i been discussed in congress-, providing BY law
. that the amount over certain given rate for
sepassage and freight should be deemed and
taken tc be In the nature of tax, to be col
leoted and paid into the state treasury. With
iAuoh Legislation. it would be seen whether the
railroads would want to rob tho people still
further, when the surplus over given
tamouns would have to 60 into the Golfers Of
itthe treasury.
81 am glad to say that at the Last session
congress appropriated money to improve the
e'aplds OF the Mississippi snd also for the sur
. very OF that and other rivers in the wsst,-
Ill steps in the right direction, and if these
measures should be successfully carried out
Ihey Will tend to a partial relief of the people
II | ~ crushing the rapacity of the railroads.
But other and further remedies will be de-
handed, and it will be finally for the people
themselves to say whether they shall be
pad"
Hon. E. NJ. Hsines. of Chicago, felt that
/. ne protests of the people against railroad
snonopolies had failed to produce any effect
Upon them, and only by legislative enact
aenss could the necessary relief be obtained;
hattie people should insis. on their reprssen-
y atlvss doing their duty promptly and thorough
j Y,and that the legislature has full power to do
q. He says that there is no doubt but what
grand scheme is on foot 10 come before the
axt session of the Legislature aiming at the
i t'nsolidation of several lines of railroads
- Nat are now competing lines. Among the
- Der mentioned are the Rock Island and
fiInols Central railroads, by the charter of
n s,,e Illinois Central company. The time has
g rived when the lands are required to be
: issred for sale at public vendue,yes no steps
- ipvs yet been taken in that direction. He
;sbped that the meeting would give some OK.
hsssion on this subject. 1t 10 Important to
= x-psyers that this provision should De en-.
Tosd.
-EPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.
- Gen. Birney, from the committee on reso-
lions, then read the resolutions, which, af
=: amendment, were adopted, to stand as fol-
avs:
i tResolced, That we tender our thanks to congress
y the appropriation made at the last for the
1 provement of the navigation of the upper Mssis
2 .epi, and the survey of western rivers.
D NJ. That the Chicago ship canal bill passed by tho
:. of representatives creates a monopoly one
1 I the national highways of commerce; that
II ctfuy request the senate to rejectit in Of
- adoption, to itself the power regu-
T. 70 ts tolls, and provide for the enlargement of the
~ sGks on the
THAT respectfully position congress to remove
J., !. distractions TO navigation between Lakes Erie
= 4 Ontario on the principle of the ordinance of
: s8, which provides that the navigabe waters lead
= into the Mississippi and ST. Lawrence shall be
E.mon highways and forever free well to the in
R loitants of the United States those of the ter
II. rles and to the several states to be hereinafter
Emitted, without impost or duty.
~ IT, That we sternly opposed to the existing
II Z onal and state policies of placing the highways
ne country III the hands of monopolies.
q That we urge upon our legislature, at its com
/ II session, to provide by law maximum rate Of
1fges for passengers and freight on all existing
4 of railroads in the state, and to provide against
n trary discrimination in all such charges for or
i, INST different points the lines also, to
), ,'lde against tho consolidation of competing
r. also to fix the maximum rates of charges for
-ess companies, and all other public
iers in this state
That mo ndu oF 10
- its prosperity retarded by the extortons prac-
, +. u by railroad NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. whose
-, nous amount it is impossible to compute
T." That we call upon the legislature of the state
6Lrant no moro railroad charters without retaining
! control of the rates of fare and freight, but to
sSt such measures viii enforce the right of the
% tQle to the public highways fair terms
\ i4ng the measures that may be mentioned, are
[4ntire abolition of the corruptng free pass sys-
- e, the passage OF an act providing that all the
Eyes collected by railroad corporations fair
Simum charge, shall be deemed, and shall be tax
= VI be in the nature of tax the franchise of
re- Acorporatons, to be collected and paid the
fury. The construction of steamboat canal
fecting lake Michigan with the Illinois river ;
u improvement of the navigation of the Illinois
Il Rock River and the construction of steam
Il ,7cana from the Illinois river, at Henne-
, Il 10 the Mississippi river, at or near Rock Is
f + That committee of three be appointed to
N ssent the views of this convention to the legsla
1T fof the state, and that similar conventions are
f.ftay requested to send committees of their
Il ~ IN Springfield for the purpose.
81 That a state anti monopoly convention, to be
~ ,sed of delegates from county and town conYen-
q I, Lis hereby called to meet at Springfield,
!. 1esday, the 10Th day of January, proximo, for
s8 III frpose Of consultation, and of forming eff
IF Organization Of the anti-monopolists of Hi
go -. ANOTHER REPORT.
Ii he committee alss reported the following
ii fnble and resolution, which were adopt
sas
9 ssEREAs, The interests ef Illinois have outgrown
AZ Constitution of iS4S in many particulars among
Asny' are the restricted legislation and inadequate
TsB.I the members of the legislature, forcing all
ssH. sisistion OF great state of 100000 people
,tH.sh biennial session of AZ days. totally pre-
,e.. .hg that care necessary for wise prudent and
ahS. gislaton, and laying Legislators open 10
>, ave and damaging charge OF bribery and cor
ia and
II EEREAs, In the language of the CONSTITUTION all
So Il is inherent in the people, and all rights are
Il Il Ted on their authority and instituted for rAar
iat safety and happiness /; therefore,
IL Dored, That call upon representatives to