Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-08
following are the resolutions as amended
and adopted:
Preamble and RESOLUTIONS.

preamble anu kSe3OluthOmS.
Whereas, The productive industries of
the United States, plantation and farm,
mine and factory, commercial and rneT.
camille, are not only the sources Of all our
national and individual wealth, but also the
elements on which our very national and
individual existence depends; and whereas
our national products are the fruits of labor
and capital, and as neither labor nor capt
tai will continue actively employed without
any equivalent measurably just; whereas the
great national industries are only sustained:
and prospered by the interchange of the
produces of one section of the counlry for
those of another; and, whereas, the ex-
isting rates of transportation for the various
products of them now from one part of the
country to another, and to foreign eoun-
tries, as well as the transit cost Of the con1-
modities irequired in exchange, are in
many instances injurious, and to certain
interests absolutely destructive, arising, in
part at least, from an insuficiency of ave
nues; and, whereas, the great Iational
want of the nation to-day is relief from the
present rates of transit upon our products
therefore,
Resolved, That it is the duty of the hour
tain from Congress and the different State
Legislatures such legislation as may be ne
cessary to control and limit by law, within
proper constitutional limits, the rates and
charges of existing lines of transportation,
increase where practicable the capacity of
our present wafer ways, and to add such
new avenues, both water and rail, as our
immensely of increasing internal commerce
demands, so that the producer may be
jointly rewarded for his honest toll, the con-
sumner have cheap products, and our almost
limitless surplus find fore On markets at
rates to compete with the world.
Resolved, That the cheap transportation,
both Of persons and property, being most
conducive to the free movement of the peo-
pie and the widest interchange and con-
sumption of the products OF the different
parts of the Union, is essential to the vel
fare and prosperity of the country.
Resolved, That the constant and frequent
association of the inhabitants of remote
parts of the United States is MT only de-
sirable but necessary for the maintenance
of Homogeneous and harmonious popula-
ton within the vast area of our territory.
Resolved, That the best interests of the
different parts of the country also demand
the freest possible interchange of the indus
trial products of the varied climates and In
dustries of the United States, so that bread
stuffs, textiles, fabrics, coal, lumber, iron,
sugar and the various other products, local
in their production but general in their con-
sumption, may all reach the consumer at
the lie st practicable cost for transportation,
and that an arbitrary and unnecessary tax
levied by the transporter over and above q
fair remuneration for his investment, is a
burden on the producer and consumer,
which it is the part of craftsmanship to re-
move.
Resolved, That certain leading railroad
corporations of the country, although char
tered to subserVe the public welfare, and
endowed with the right of eminent do
main solely for that reason, have proved
themselves practically monopolies and be-
come the tools of avaricious and unscru-
pulous capitalists, to be used to plumber the
public, enrich themselves, and impoverish
the country through which they run.
Resolved, That many railroad corpora
tons have not only disregarded the public
convenience and prosperity, but have OPP
pressed citizens, bribed our legislators and
defied our Executives and Judges, and
stand to-day the most menacing danger to
American liberty and republican govern
ment.
Resolved, That the present system Of
railway management having failed to meet
the just expectations and demands of a long
suffering peonle, must be radically reformed
and controlled by the strong hand Of the
law, both State and National, ard railway
corporations be compelled to perform their
proper functions as the servants and not the
masters of the peope.
Resolved, That to this end we invoke
the aid of all fair minded men in all the
States of the Union, in excluding from the
balls of legislation, from our Executive Of
fees, and from the bench, all such railway
officials, railway attorneys, or other hire
lings IS prostitute public Office to the base
uses of private gain.
Resolved, That, leaving the different sec
lions and interests that desire cheap trans
portation to work out the problem in such
a manner as they deem best, we earnestly
invoke their careful consideration, their en-
ergetic action and their resolute will in reg
ulating and controlling the rates of trans
portation and giving remUnerstive wages to
the producer and cheap products to the
consumer untaxed by unearned charges for
carriage.
Resolved, That we invite the people of
the various States to organize subsidiary as
sociations, State, county and town, to Co
operate with the National association; that
the power to accomplish the purposes de-
sired rests absolutely with the suffering
millions; relief is within their reach and
control united action and the near future
will give, as certain as its needs for all time
and the good of all, solution of the prob
lem of cheap transportation.
On motion the following committee were
appointed to draft an address to the peo-
pie: Hon. Josiah Quincy, of Boston; NJ. d.
Wildly, of Michigan; II. 81. Day, of New
Y ork city; E. II. Ferguson, of Troy, n. Y;
Henry Bronson, of Kansas; j. A. NoonaD, OF
Milwaukee, and W. 81. c. Price, of New
York.
The convention then adjourned to meet
in Washington Jan. /, 1874, at the call of
the Executive Committee.
Condensed kilograms.