The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-04-23

MIR FhESIDENT:-O Sually nave no dIf-
| ficulty in making myself heard while
| making an extemporaneous speech, but
am not sure how shall succeed OF this
occasion. .@
!, 1t is Mr. President, with much misgiY-
ing and considerable reluctance that l
! now underta ke to submit few thoughts
on the questions presented to the Con-
ventionby the Article now under consid-
Grafton, but the relation l bear to por-
ton of the State and the peculiar circum-
stances surrounding that section, impel
me by sense of duty to ask the indul-
gence of the Convention while l pass
hastily as | can over some of the more
important considerations connected with
and growing out Of the consideration of
the 9th Section of this Article.
We have had no more important sub
| ject before this body since it convened
than the one involved in the considera-
ton of that Section. This may not be
true as to every portion of the State, but
is so regarded in a large section, that is
destined at no distant day to become, l
| think, one of the more important and
| populous portions, if anything like lib
eral policy shall be adopted by this Con-
vention on this subject now under con-
| slderation. And l cannot pass without
saying that my own county, jackson, oc-
cupies a commanding position in the CEN
ter of one of those important sections of
the State and is, if possible, more directly
interested in the question now under
consideration, than is any other county
| in the entire State, situated as she is in
the interior with no navigable stream
passing through or washing her borders,
and having no way of outlet for her trade
and productions only over the railroads ;
she, with all her interests, is entirely de-
! pendent upon that mode of ingress and
egress to enable her people TO develop
the almost inexhaustible stores of coal,
limestone and iron, known to be imbed-
ded in alternate veins in close proximity
under most of her soil, and that too of a
quality that has no superior any place in
the world, as chemical tests and actual
experiment has fully demonstrated and
proven.
take it to be, and shall now assume
that it is true, that the material pros
perity of any people or community adds
to and is conducive of their intellectual
attainments, moral culture and social
standing, and vastly increases their op-
portunity to do good to others, more
than any one thing they can possess or
enjoy.
The history of the past age but demon
any people only by giving them an equal
chance in the race of life, with all the
advantages that modern science modern
improvements and intelligent labor can
afford. Deny any people or community
OF these essentials and you will find them
cropping in the dark, and continue to
inger in all regards, far in the rear of
other peoples and communities who are
enjoying their benefits.
And now, Mr.. President, will say that
the chief cause of my fears in regard to
the final fate of this proposition to grant
the very limited power provided by the
9th Section, arises from the well known
feelings of hostility against railroad COM
panles that prevails in the land; a hos-
tllity that has grown up against them
because of the extortion or excessive
charges they have made for carrying local
trelghtsl and passengers, and the unjust
discrimination against localities; but it
must be remembered that many of the
railroads were organized under special
| charters, with certain charter rights
granted to them that enables them to do
| these acts of injustice and yet keep with
in the pale of the law, and in that re-
gard are beyond the control and power
of those they so discriminate against, and
from whom they extort those unjust
tariffs. These exceptional cases arise
from the fact that our State Legislature
at the time of granting these special char
ter powers, was like all the rest of the
law-making powers of the world, COM
paratively ignorant of the necessities of
the case and were embarking in an enter
prise not then well, nor yet fully under
stood; and which was then regarded by
many as mere experiment at best, and
no one atsthat day for moment dreamed
of the proportions this interest was at so
early day to assume in the country and
State. Therefore much of this seeming
abuse of confidence and exercise of power
is strictly legal and in compliance with
charter rights granted by the State, and
cannot now be changed without breach
of confidence and contract on the part OF
the State, an act that a great and power
full State like the State of Ohio ought and
will be slow to do. Then where such
evils exist what is the remedy? Is il
not that the State, by its sovereign
power, protect the rights and interests
OF that part of the people imposed upon
by unjust exactlons, tariffs and discrim
nations by such companies so chartered
and doing business? =? If this is the duty
of the State, further ask how it is to be
done? Surely no one here will claim
that we must break faith with the ole
companies in changing their charters, i
that can be done under the Constitution
and laws of the United States; but rather
that every power and inducement con
sistent with the public safety and inter
ests be given to such people to build new
and competing lines, under a genera
well guarded provision, and thereby ena
BILE them by open, honest competition
which is the life of trade, to break VI
these monopolies of the carrying busi
ness done by these old railroad compa
nies, and thereby compel them to &C
fairly, and deal honestly with each lc
cality and every citizen, or lose in actin
! otherwise, by causing their business t.
go to these new competing lines tina
must yet be built, and will in many case
be built, if this small power is granted t
the people to regulate their own locs
., affairs in their own way.
We should not then enter into tn
consideration of this subject with ou
minds made up by reasoning as som
seem to have done-thus-railroads al
unjust that now have the monopoly
the carrying business in Ohio, therefor
we will oppose the building of new roac
for fear they go and do likewise; but W
!. should rather endeavor to look the ma
ter straight in the face, in manly, fa
and business-like manner, and then
far as we can afford the relief that I'll
necessity and nature of the case demand
which, in my judgment is nothing lie