Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-13

certainly need regulating, and the
power to regulate them already exists.
The power to regulate corporations of
ali kinds has always existed in the
States. We would much prefer to see
the States tackle this important ques-
ton. Their power to do 50 rs G0t doubt
ed by any one. Some Of them have al
ready inaugurated legislation on the
subject. Stealing and swindling and
extortion are punishable crimes in ali
the States without fresh legislation.
The application and enforcement Of ex-
listing laws, would perhaps be more eff
fectual than any speciallegislation. The
trouble Is that justice, with us, has come
to cost too much. Rich corporations
can buy their way with the money that
they wiring from rs, while We cannot
afford the luxury. Let our courts be
so managed that the poorestman whose
only COW is killed by reckless engin-
| Ger, viii stand on the same footing and
have IN equal chance with the power
ful railroad monopoly and its array of
hired attorneys. Here is the origin Of
this whole trouble. Men who do not
get their rights IN the courts, begin to
look elsewhere, and expect impossible
things from mere legislation. All the
legislation they get from Congress or
elsewhere viii be valueless until en-
forced by the courts. So they must
lock to the courts at last, at the end of
the vicious circle Had we not better 90
to the source of the evil at once, in
stead Of waiting on Congress to send
us there:
We fully appreciate the objection
that is made to mere State action.
The evil is pressing, and we are impa-
tent for deliverance. State action will
be too slow; it VIII be only partial; it
viii not be uniform. Different States
VIII differ in their legislation, and con-
fusion viii ensue. Granting, for argu-
ment sake, that these objections were
valid. we might urge that the perpetu-
alton of our free institutions ought to
counterbalance these temporary incon-
veniences. They would be but tempo
rary, because the practical common
sense Of the American people would
induce ali the States interested to
adopt the best policy devised. But
there areother objections equally strong
and valid against action by Congress.
The railroad system is By no means
perfected, or well begun, in some
Southern and few far
Western States. These States
ought 70 be at liberty to encourage
railroad enterprises by legislation more
favorable and higher rates than would
be tolerated or needed in Ohio or Mas
sacbusetts. Money commands a higher
interest in sparsely settled sections
where it is scarce, whether that money
come IN the shape Of a railroad or any
thing else. But national legislation
would have TO be Uniform-the same in
Texas where the people are willing to
pay for what they need badly, and in
Pennsylvania where they have already
all the roads they want. In State leg
islation, these varying circumstances
can be best appreciated and acted on.
1t would be folly for Congress to TN
dertake the work Of discrimination
needed in this matter, even if Congress
had the right to discriminate. Again,
some States seem satisfied with the sit
uation. We hear no grumblings from
New England. The railroads are more
justly conducted there, perhaps because
plenty Of money is at hand to build
rival lines. if any were extortionate.
At least the people there seem satisfied,
and why should we interfere through
Congress? The West and the South
want justice merely. They DO not pro-
pose visiting or New England that IN
tolerant spirit Of meddliDg which she
has so SIMULTANEOUSLY exercised to-
ward us. Action within the several
States is the safest remedy. If the
people cannot wait for that, We might
as well wipe out State lines, drop the
name Of Republic and adopt the
bureaucratic system Of Europe, by
which the flash of a pen can, without
the aid Of the people, blot out nation
al grievance in a moment. But let us
remember that the same power can in
fict other national grievances with the
same fatal facility, So long as our
people wish TO govern themselves, they
would do well to retain all the power
they can this side of Washington and
Congress. The railroad grievance, ike
all others from which the people are
suffering. can be remedied best by the
application Of Democratic principles.
APPRoPos of the County Asylum
developments at Nashville and Mem
his. the KH0rUiIIe Chronicle remarks:
I'VE are more and more convinced
every day We live, that there must be
some additional legislation on the sub
ject Of orr county Asylums for the
poor. Enlightened public sentiment
viii demand change. Universities
(ministers:) in the different churches In
the State, should speak in thunder
tones against the existence of semi
barbarism in q civilized State. The
press should speak cut as with one
voice, and plead for these unfortunates.'