The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-02-22
The Farmers Convention To-Day.

The Farmers Convention To-Day.
An earnest and active friend of the present
movement among the farmers hands us the
following, which he suggests as Greed to he
adopted by the Ant-Monopolists Association
to be organized at the Court House to-day:
This association has no objects in view
which contravene the principles embodied IN
the constitution Of the United States, or the
constitution of the several States of the Union.
On the contrary, its objects are to remove from
the legislative, judicial and executive branches
Of the general and state governments, the cor
ruption, venaity and abuse of power which
so seriously retard the welfare and prosperity
of the people.
We recognize the power of congress to raise,
by tax or lmpost, sufficient revenue to meet
the exigencies of the government. But we
hold that congress has no constitutional pow
er to impose prohibitory or protective duties,
as such duties do not operate to produce reve-
nue. for the support of the government, but to
create and enrich monopolies. The imposi-
ton OF such duties is plainly class legislation,
which is evidently unconstitutional.
We recognize in state legislatures the power
to disregard vested rights, when they stand in
the way of great public benefit. TWAS only
by the exercise of this power that railroad cor.
porations were enabled to condemn and take
the private property necessary for the con-
struction of their railroad. Hence We hold
that the legislature, through which railroad
corporations acquired vested rights in consider
alton OF public benefit, has the power in like
manner to take away the vested rights &C.
CURED through it, when the conduct of the
railroad corporators SO vested becomes pub
lie grievance.
The people being sovereign, there is no
power to which they can appeal for redress OF
grievances. The general and state govern
ments being composed OF the servants of the
people, the custom of petitloning those
bodies for redress Of grievances has .crea.ed,the
impression that the people are the servants Of
the government We therefore hold, that
when the people have reason to complain of
unjust legislation, it is their duty to approach
their government in their sovereign capacity,
and DEMAND their rights.
We hold that the judiciary Is made, by the
constitution OF the United States and the con-
stitutions of the several states, the guardian OF
the peoples rights. If, therefore, the rights
Of the people are infringed by congressional
or state legislation, the judiciary is directly
responsible; tor the legislative branch of the
government, unaided by the judiciary, is pow
crless for evil.
Whereas, the people in their political ca
paclty are sovereign;
And whereas, thegOvernment Of the United
States and of the several states OF the union is
conducted by individuals who are the paid
servants of the people;
And whereas, it is for reason of the corIup.
ton, venality and abuse of the power of our
paid servants that our rights ane compromised
and our welfare and prosperity retarded;
And whereas, it Is through party politics
and party machinery that vena|, corrupt and
incompetent men are chosen to conduct the
affairs Of Our government Therefore,
Resolved, that we do hereby pledge our.
selves one to another, that we will ignore par.
ty politics in the election of all our public Of.
ticers, and that we will vote for no candidate
| for public Office who is put in nomination
by the old political machinery, viz 4: caucuses
and conventions. L.