Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-05-16

cities. He thought something must be done
to take this out Of the hands Of few men.
II was matter that interested deeply the
whole country and should not be controlled
by very few, and the object Of this associ-
alton was to counterfeit this great evil. The
railroads have power 10 bride legislatures,
and will continue TO control their laws until
the people come together and assert their
rights. The rights Of railroad shareholders
are not to be infringed upon, but the para
mount rights Of the whole people to cheap
transportation must be asserted and secured.
NJ. ID. Wilbur, chairman Of the commit
tee on resolutions, made report. The reso-
lutions created considerable discussion, some
delegates objecting to the strong language
used toward railroad corporations. They
were, however, adopted, as follows:
Whereas, The productive industries of the
United States--plantation and farm, mine
aud factory, commercial and mercantile
are not only the sources of all our national
and individual wealth, but also the elements
on which our very national and individual
existence depend and whereas all products
are the fruits Of labor and capital and as
neither labor nor capital will continue active
ly employed without an equivalent mutually
just and whereas great national industries
are only sustained and prospered by the in
terchange Of the products of one section Of
the country for those Of another and where
as the existing rates Of transportation for
the varied products of the Union from one
part of the country to another and to foreign
countries, as well as the transit cost of the
commodities required in exchange, are in
many instances injurious and to certain in.
terests absolutely destructive, arising in part
from the insuficiency of avenues: and
whereas the great national want Of the ma
ton, to-day, is relief from the present rates
of transit on American products, therefore
Resolved, That it is the duty of the hour
and the mission OF this association to obtain
from Congress and the different state legis-
latures such legislation as may be necessary
to control AMI limit by law in proper consti-
tutional limits the rates and charges of ex-
isting lines Of transportation, to increase
where practicable, the capacity Of our pres
ent water ways, and establish new avenues
as our immensely increased internal COM
merce demands, so that the producer may be
justly rewarded for his honest toll, the con-
sumer have cheap products, and our almost
limitless surplus find foreign markets at
which to compete with the world
Resolved, That cheap transportation both
of persons and property, being most coudu-
Give to the free movement Of the people, and
the widest interchange aud consumption Of
the products of different parts of the Union,
is essential to the welfare and prosperity Of
tho country.
That constant and frequent association of
inhabitants Of remote parts of the United
States is not only desirable, but necessary for
the maintenance of the homogeneous and
harmonious population of our vast territory.
That the best interests of the different
parts of the country also demand the freest
possible interchange of the industrial prod
ucts of the varied climates and industries of
the United States, so that breadstuffs, textile
fabrics coal, lumber, iron and sugar, and the
various other products, local in their pro-
duction, but general in their consumption,
may reach the consumer at the least practi-
cable cost Of transportation, and that an ar
bitrary and unnecessary tax levied by the
transporter over and above q fair remunera-
ton on the investment is a burden upon the
producer and consumer, that il is the part of
wise craftsmanship to remove.
That certain leading railroad corporations
Of the country, although chartered to subserve
the public welfare and endowed with the
right of eminent domain, having proved
themselves practically monopoles and be-
L. II - III
lous capitalists, to be used to plumber the
public, enrich themselves and impoverish the
country through which they run.
That many of the railroad corporations
have not only disregarded the public cOnve.
nience and prosperity, but have oppressed the
citizen, bribed our legislators and defed our
executives aud judges, and stand, to-day, the
most menacing danger to American liberty
and republican government.
THAT the present system Of railway man.
4sement, having failed to meet the just ex-
pectations and demands OF a long-sufering
people, must be radically reformed and con.
troled by the strong hand of law, and rail.
way corporations compelled to perform their
proper functions as servants and not masters
Of the people.
That to this end we invoke the aid of all
fair.minded men in the states Of the Union
in excluding from the halls of legislation
from the executive and judiciary, all such
railway attorneys or, rather, hirelings, al
prostitute public office to the base uses Of
private gains.
That, leaving different sections and inter
ests that desire cheap transportation to work
out the problem in such manner as they deem
best, we earnestly invoke, after careful con
sidcraton, their energetic action and theil
resolute will in regulating and controlling
the rates OF transportation, and giving re
munerative wages to the producer and CHEAP
products to the consumer, untaxed by un
earned charges for their carriage.
That we invite the people OF the various
states to organize subsidiary associations
state, county, and town, to cooperate with thu
national association; that the power to &C
complish the purpose desired rests absolutel
with the suffering millions. Relief is within
their reach and control United action ant
the near future will give, as certain as it
true solution Of the problem Of cheap trans
portation.
The following committee was appointed t,
draft an address to the people Josiah Quin
cy, NJ d. Wilbur, IL. Ii. Day, II. IL. Fer
guson, IL. Bronson, j. A. Noonan and w
II. G. Price. The convention then adjourn
ed, to meet at Washington in January, 1874
Missouri is being annexed to the battle
ground of the farmers against tho monopo
lies. During the past six months meeting
have been held, and the interest has beef
rapidly but quietly extending, Nearly lSO
oranges of the Patrons of Husbandry hav