The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-13
CONVENTION.
Remarks OF Mr. Hitshugh, OF Ka-
Bavha, in the Committee OF the
whole I'm Relation TO the Rights Of
CAR-AHAAfAAa.

naWha, In the Committee OF the
whole In Relsiion TO the Rignts Of
Corporations
In reply to the remarks OF Mr..
Ward, of Cabsll, complaining OF the
power and influence of railroads IN this
country, Mr.. Fiuhugh said in sub
stance
The gentleman from Cabell has very
well pointed out the enormous power
exercised By corporations in this
couotry, aud particularly BY railroads.
He refers to the controlling influence
which they exert over the action OF
Congress, and the State Legislatures
and also over the courts, and executive
authorities o. the country. All that ne
says is true. 1t is fact that the do
nestle policy of the country ls to al
alarming degree, under the influence OF
combinations, whether known as cor
porations or rings-that when 1t Is TO
their interest, they do often dictate the
legislation OF the State and the decls-
ions Of the courts. He has not exagger-
ated the evils OF which be complains,
but in his eagerness TO reach results,
and to find remedies, be seems to have
overlooked the cause aud source OF the
evil. His remedies do not go to the
seat OF the disease, and do not even
afford temporary relief. The report
OF the Committee on Corporations, Is
in my opinion equally delusion and
vain; it does not give u any, or al
least very inadequate, protection from
the power OF these mouoPolls, because
it overlooks the source from whence
the evils spring. The evil lies here 1t
all flows from the concentration otlarge
sums OF money aud the accumulation OF
large revenues, in the hands OF cor
poration. Money is power, and so long
as it is allowed TO accumulate aud 10 De
controlled by one mind, for single
purpose, it will naturally assert It's
power. 1t is in the enormous rev
enues which they have under their con-
troll, and the large sums OF money
that thev annually pay out, that the
power aud inhIence OF corpora
tioos is 10 be found. In their desire TO
curb the power Of corporations, add to
guard against the evils which threaten
us in the future, the committee have, |
think, tailed TO meet the question fully
and squarely. They have suggested
various remedies, which they seem to
think will accomplish some good. l
DO not agree with them, 10 that hope.
I do not thiuk that they have discovered
a single panacea for single evil. |
believe that the disease can only be
thoroughly cured bv a remedy worse
thaa the disease Itself, that Is, that the
State should recall the franchises
granted heretofore to all corporations,
and should refuse to allow any other
CORPORATION 10 be created in the future.
This. of course, would pe the death blow
70 all Development and improvement
in this State, for all time to come. Some
OF the suggestions Of the committee are
wise and Just, some Of them are
annoving, and some Of them, fear,
would have the tendency to prevent
enterprise and capital from seeking
investment in our State. But while
they NAV prevent foreign capital from
investing here, sni thus retard, il not
destroy, the development OF toe State,
these measures do not protect as from
the power OF corporations now existing.
Ga the contrary, Ee would become more
eFectualIy the slaves Of the two or three
wealthy aud powerful corporations that
have obtained a permanent settlement
10 the S,ate-the Baltimore and Ohio
"a lroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad. These corporations only
laugh at vour feeble attempts to curt
them. You might a well attempt TO
batter down Gibraltar with bird shot as
to as.ail these huge monoPolIes with
such petty restrictions. They rely
upon a power mightier than any you
can bring to hear upon them. The ten
dencv OF these measures will be to
prevent in the future the organ eaton
OF other corporations and leave US 81
the mercy OF those already in existence
And thus you will deprive Us Of al
competition, which look to a. our
safest aud surest protection in the future.
II our State and country is to escape
falling prey to the power Of corpora.
tons, it will be through tie rivalry and
jealousy OF competing enterprises. So
far, then, from throwing obstacles in
the way of new associations aud new
corporations, | am in favor OF giving
the most liberal encouragement TO their
formation.