The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-09-05

1 saAA pOAHt3 anu JueQ the evil Will De
swept away with relentless purpose
and q strong hand. In a country
and under Government like ours,
the people are patient of extortion
and wrong, only until it presses hard
| upon them; when once aroused, they
throw off their burdens with determ-
ination and vigor.
Railroads, and all other corpora
tions, are the creatures of legislation,
deriving their privileges from the
people, and responsible to the people
that the rights so acquired shall be
used for the accommodation and
benefit of the public. The contract
| implied in grant to and and accept
anee OF a charter by railroad cor
poratlon is,that in return for special
privileges it shall so use it's authori-
ty as to promote the comfort. con
venience and material prosperity of
the power that grants the charter,
namely, the people. If the railroad
company seeks 10 violate this agree
ment, 1t would be strange indeed if
there were no authority, anywhere,
to restrict and control it. That such
power exists have no manner of
doubt, Our trouble has been, and is
likely to De, not so much with local
roads, having their termini within
the limits OF single State, as with
the through trunk lines, extending
far across the country, and holding
charters from a number of State
Legislatures, What is everybody's
business is nobody's. As no one
State can control the whole line, no
one attempts to control any part; and
SO the railroads do as they please
without let or hindrance. In the
! first place. I have no doubt that Con
gress under the authority to regulate
commerce between the States, las
full and ample power to fix rates of
transportation, and to make such
other regulations as the courts of
justice would pronounce fair and
equitable, under the contract implied
by the charter. In my judgment,
therefore, the simplest and probably
the most satisfactory way to remedy
the evils complained of, would be to
have the whole matter disposed of
by Congressional enactment. Mr.
Shellabarger Of this State, introduced
such a measure into the last Con
gress, and when the Ohio Legislature
was asked to strengthen his hands
by resolutions favoring the bill, the
Democratic members put themselves
solidly against it.
"But it might happen that Con
gress would fail in this duty, under |
influences such as have been known
heretofore sometimes to effect Con |
gressmen, what then2 In such case
undoubtedly the State Legislatures |
which granted the charters, would |
have power to provide a remedy. 1t |
is eertainlya a matter within the pro
vince Of the people to elect such
members of the State Legislature
and Congress, as can be trusted to
their whole duty, and with intelli-
gence enough to know what that
duty is. II the people themselves
are careless or Indifferent as to the
character Of those they elect to rep
resent them, they have no right to
complain"
The excessive charges for shorter
distances and between points with
out competition, consequent upon
the cutting ofrates on hiough trans
portation are next noticed and de
clared to be an evil to be remedied.
The Governor then said: "But in
my Judgment there is a greater
wrong than this I mean the little
Credit Mobilier organizations, inside
the railroad corporations, composed
wholly or for the most part Of the
officers of the company, who, under
the name of the Fast Freight Line,
on other designation, contract with
themselves, realize enormous profits,
and enrich themselves at the expense
of the stockholders or the public, or
both. Such organizations ought, if
possible, to be prohibited by law,
and the officers of railroad compa-
nies should be prevented from spec
ulating out of the trust positions
they occupy, at the expense of the
people who are at their mercy"
The improvement of the rivers
and canals is next noticed, after
which the Governor declares: 'There
should be no lndiscriminate wild
crusade against railroads. They
should be encouraged, and allowed
fair compensation for their capital
invested, and the risk encountered.
They have been, and will continue
to be of incAlculable benefit to our
people. They should simply not be
permitted to abuse their privileges,
or to oppress those they were in
ended to assist"
THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.
The Governor, noticing the con
,ern of politicians over the organi
.ation of Farmers Clubs, could see
10 reason against such organizations
md did not believe that "they can
)e used by designing men for per
ional ends, or for any purpose other
han for their own and the public
,ood. Worthy and reputable public
nen need not fear their influence.
f only bad men are retired by their
.ction, no harm will be done. By
veil organized and proper assoeia-
ions, intelligent farmers can impart i9
'aluable information to their neigh Is
'ors. When any important interest n, n,
equires an advocate, the ablest rep
can be selected to pre- ne
ent the case. There is no reason -
Thy such organizations should de- S,
enerate into political machines, any e
lOre than in the case of lawyers, q
octors and clergymen. The far Il
lers and mechanics of0hio will soon 8,
ave their own college, open and
zee to all, where their sons can be ssp
ducated for lives of usefulness Fe
ither for the occupation of their ha
lthers, or for any other honorable s4
vocation in life. As the means of pr
multiply, we hope and n 4,
eiieve the standard Of intelligence Sc
i'll be elevated, and that prosperity B.
NJ hanniuass will ohOun1 IN MO | su