Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-02-14

than. another, thus DISCRIMINATING
against persons. When we plant
crop we can only guess what it viii
cost to send Il to market, for we are
the slaves of those whom we
created.
| need not here repeat what the dis
cussions of the last two years have de-
,yeloped concerning the rascalities of
watered stock, construction companies
buying legislators in State and nation
and Credit Mobilier. These have
been fully ventilated till we fully I'M
derstand.
What shall be the remedy? Here
lies the difficulty, for even in our own
ranks there is a babel of opinion.
Some advocate new routes east, subsi-
died by Government, either rail or
canal; others would have new roads
made by private enterprise and trust
to competition.
The first of these will require many
years before they can afford the relief
which we want now; and besides will
surely develop into Credit Mobiliers.
The second will only add one more
link to the chain which now binds us
hand and foot. see no solution of
this question but for Congress to avail
itself of its constitutional right to
regulate commerce between the States
and for the States themselves to regu-
late the tariffs within their own boun-
daries. That this right is vested in
the Government of the State and ma
ton seems wholly clear. When rail-
road is to be built the line of which
crosses my private property and | do
not wish to have this property mutila-
ted, frankly so inform the railroad.
Government now steps in and very
properly says: This railroad is for
the development of the State, and on
the ground that the public good de-
mands its construction you must sell
them your right of way and we will
allow you reasonable compensation
therefor" Now, it seems clear to me
that the same Government which can
take my land for the public good and
fix the price therefor, can say to this
railroad: 1.-THE public good demands
that you carry freights and persons at
reasonable rates, which you thence
forth must do, and we will decide what
those rates shall be"
AS well as any one fully appreciate
the difficulties which lie in the way of
a tariff fixed by law-I can easily see
where it may sometimes work hard
ships and even actual wrong But il
is amazing, it seems to me preposter-
Gus, that disinterested men are not as
competent as those interested to fix
rates which shall be just to the rail
roads and the people. Torely on COM
petition for relief will only bring re-
newed disappointment Our past his
tory shows that the rapid increase of
railroads has only resulted in more
gigantic combinations.
1t will doubtless be difficult to in
duce our National Legislature and
most of our State Legislatures to pass
any such law which will be efficient,
for there is no money in it.
The propositions which will be most
likely to meet with favor in these
august bodies will be the building of
new railroads or digging vast canals
which will allow them the opportunity
to spend S50,O0O,000 or Sl6O, 900, 600
which we will at last have the produ-
GERS privilege of paying When such
amounts as that are to be expended it
is easy to advance class of arguments
which usually carry conviction to leg
islators. Besides those artificial high
ways nature has placed most magnifi-
cent river right through the heart of
the agricultural region of our country
reaching from the wheat fields of Min
nesota to the sugar plantations of
Louisiana, which with a small expendi-
ture can be made capable of bearing
on its bosom the products of CONT
nent. Even now a single rapid, sand
bar and most heartless tow boat ring
are all that seriously impede its naviga
ton
Matters of such Importance as these
should receive at your hands most
patient investigation and careful con-
sideration.