Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-29
The Illinois Farm ers' Convention.

The following are the resolutions passed
by the Convention at Bloomington, held for
the purpose Of considering the subject Of
excessive freight charges by railroads on
farming products:
WHEREAS, All free governments are in
sttuted for the purpose OF securing right
justice, and equality of privileges to the
people therefore,
Resolced, /. That all legislation char
tering railroad and other corporations,
which, by any fair construction, can be
used to Cypress any portion of the people
by unjust and extortionate charges, is to
that extent subversive to the end for which
the government was established, and is,
therefore, null and void, and should be so
declared by the courts.
2. That Railroad companies are, in their
nature, public corporations, subject to be
regulated and controlled by legislation, and
that this principle should be plainly so de-
clared in the organic law.
3. That the claim of vested rights set up
bv chartered companies, by which they as
sumo that the people have transferred to
| said companies any essential portion Of their
| sovereignty, is an assumption which cannot
be safely tolerated in a tree government.
4. That the practice of railway compa-
MES of delivering grain to warehouses own
ed or operated by private individuals, with
out the consent and against the protest of
the grain owners aud shippers, thereby
subjecting them to extortionate charges and
still more extor tionate frauds, is high
| handed violation of law and justice, calling
Tor united action on the part of all the peo-
| pie to repress and punish such unjustifable
acts.
S. That the tendency of railroad compa-
MES to form combinations and consoiida-
tions, and through them, by corrupt means,
to influence Legislators and courts to further
their selfish interests and establish more
firmly their power, is the most threatening
political evil Of the times, and should be mel
with instant and decided opposition, both
in primary assemblies and at the polls.
6. That water channels are the cheapest
of all known methods Of Transporting freight
and the surest and most comprehensiv.
means Of controlling railroad charges BY
+ competition, and we. therefore, urge upol
the constitutional convention the propriety
of placing no restriction upon the full de
velopment of the vast resources Of the Stat'
of Illinois.
This convention declares, First, That thu
present rates of taxation and transportation
are unreasonable and oppressive, and ough
to be reduced. Second, That our lega
rights to transpor,ion and market ought t,
be clearly set forth and defined. Third
That if there be any legal remedy under ex
listing laws for the wrongs we suffer, sucl
remedy ought to be ascertained and enfor
eed. Fourth, That if there be 70 sucl
remedy, measures should BIZ taken to secure
one by appropriate legislation. Fifth, Tha
statistics should be collected unpublished
Ito show the relation of northwestern prod
uets,to the rest of the country. Sixth, Tha
! nothing can be accomplished for the enforce
Ement Of our rights and the redress Of GU
wrongs without an efficient organization OF
the we'll known principles that giYe tn
great corporations such tremendous. powers
r Se4suth, That With honest pay for homes
flsboii aid compensation -.commeusurat'
with great SERVICE. We can secure the assist
lance and support of the highest order o
learning, ability and skill. Eig,h, Tha
this convention should appoint commits
sioner csagricultaral and carrying statistics