The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-04-18

1
metal, lumber and agricultural products.
This provision, in itself is wise and just,
and commends itself to our Judgment as
protection to the people but when we
remember that the rates of toll herein
fixed are the maximum, and that every
railroad company in existence IN the
State is now charging higher rates of
toll than these, it becomes apparent that
| this is an unjust discrimination against
the new companies, and that some rule
should be adopted that will bear equally
upon the old companies, as we'll as the
new, and also save the people from on
erous charges.
In Offering the amendment to the
seventh section, authorizing connection
with railroads Of other States, and en-
powering the execution of contracts with
them, it seemed, to my mind, so plainly
necessary, SO vitality essential to the sue
cess OF the system, SO clearly conducive
to the interests Of the Commonwealth,
| hoped for its success, In this, as in
our other efforts, have been disappoint-
ed. To my immediate constituents this
is vital amendment. 1t is for them a
practical good, an indispensable element
in the healthy development of their in
exhausible resources. BY your decis-
ions they are remitted to the future, and
to that future, and to the tribunal of the
people, they confidently appeal
Other amendments less vital than
these have shared their fate. With
these amendments, the bill would have
been useful aud practical; without
them, it is the vehicle into which, even
tually, the machinery necessary to its
harmonious and beneficial working will
be put.
Senators take occasion to heap anathe.
mas upon the heads of the officers of one
of the great corporations of the Com
monwealth, and charges and assertions
are made that | regret to have heard
| cannot forget that I am, in common
charity, bound to accord to all men rec
titude of purpose. Whilst I am per-
forming my sworn duty of the Common
wealth | serve, | must not forget to al.
low the sworn officers Of that corporation
to perform theirs. IF their devotion to
its interests, to its prosperity and mag
nitude, if their strength of mind, con-
centration Of purpose and determined
energy enable them to advance its wei
fare to the detriment of the State, it
should not rebound to their disadvan-
tage, but should cause the blood to
mount in our cheeks, that we, the chos-
en- rulers of almost an empire, are found
unable to cope successfully with Great.
ure of our own creation. The. remedy
for this lies with the people Let them
select men who will obey their will. 1
cannot forget too, that Senators upon
this floor, whose integrity no man dare
impugn, have beef found steadily voting
against our amendments and for the bill
of the committee. This demonstrates
to the impartial mind that honest differ
ences Of opinion exist upon this subject.
Senators resident in the East regard
this subject from different stand. point
than those of US who reside in the West.
We can but speak our own senti-
ments, and endeavor truthfully to repre-
sent by our votes the sentiments of our
constituents, and in presenting this ques-
ton from our point of view, it of course
becomes us to do so earnestly and truth
fully.
To my own mind it becomes a ques.
ton upon which broad and comprehen.
sive views of our situation and policy
should prevail. In an issue so vital to
our future, we. should rise above locality
and local opinions, and losing sight of all
else, eudeavor to find those avenues that
will lead our Commonwealth and people
to a proud and elevated position.
We are Pennsyl7anians, and we are
citizens of the United States, We owe
dutio, in both relations. AS Pennsyl-
vanians, it is our duty to throw wide
the door and invite capital to enter, to
create a system liberal and far. seeing,
by which the iron rail may be made to
track every stream, to climb every hill,
and penetrate every valley in all our
broad State, by which our vast riches of
iron, of lead, of coal and of timber, may
be dragged from their native places, and
made to pay tribute to our Golfers, and
by which the agricultural resources of
the Commonwealth may readily reach
their most natural markets.
As members of the great Republic, It
is duty to remember that our geo.
graphical position makes us the thor
oughfare Of nations that we dare not
take advantage of that position to the
detriment Of our sisters that the grand
highway from the commercial mart on
the Atlantic, by the commercial centre
of the West, to the commercial mart up
on the Pacific, lies through our borders,
and that the commerce of the world,
poured upon the shores of either sea, in
passing from one to the other, must and
will enrich all it touches. Shall we
close our doors, or shall we invite it to
enter? One policy drives wealth, trav-