Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-24
THE WISCONSIN RAILROAD
LAW.

The war between the State Of Wisconsin
and the railroads is not ended. There is
only possible truce until October, when
the United States supreme court is expected
70 settle the question. The question at is
sue is not that Of the justice or injustice Of
the obnoxious law, but whether or not the
law is constitutional. That question settled
in the affirmative, IL remains for the rail-
roads to present their case in the state
legislature. We cannot SEQ why the law
should be pronounced unconstitutional.
That "the creature is subject unto the crea-
tor" is rule laid down long time ago,
and We think it can be well applied here.
Of course the railroads receive a good deal
Of disiuterested (H) sympathy from Eastern
capitalists who hold their bonds, aud the
Boston Journal, one Of the most servie or.
gans Of the rich capitalists Of the East, as
well as Of the leaders Of the republican
party, with its characteristic ono-sidedness
says:
The position assumed, in tho opinion just
| rendered, that the roads are so far under
| the state control that their charters may be
altered or repealed without reference TO in
jury resulting to their property or iranchis-
Is, means simply that railroads have no
| rights which legislatures arc bound to re-
spect. 1t would put the Western States in
the curious attitude of inviting foreign capt.
tai TO assist in their development aud to con-
products. and then, after the rails are laid,
| and the capital is irredeemably invested,
bouncing upon the roads In the name OF the
people, and compelling them to do their bus
mess at ruinous rates, and without regard
either to their debts or dividends. This
may be good law but it is not equity. The
first effect of the enforcement Of such lcgis-
lation will DO the ruin of the roads upon
which the burden is laid.
If there is supreme power anywhere, land
if not anarchy must result,) under our gov
eminent, it is in the people as represented
by the legislative bodies chosen by them.
Laws having been passed by those bodies,
the courts have no course left but their en-
forcement. 1t is easy enough to talk
about railroads having rights which legis-
latures are bound to respect" but at the
same time let US remember that in America
the people, in their sovereign liberty, have
also rights which eterybOdy is bound to re-
spect. A government by aud Of the people
is not despotic government; it is for their
interest to give justice and equity to all,
and they will do it, but at the same time We
are glad to see large cor porations compelled
to bow to the authority Of the people. Ii
injustice has been done by the law, no more
ready and effective relief could be had thar
an appeal to the same power for redress.
But the railroads have chosen the beauti
ful uncertainty Of the courts rather than thu
certainty of popular legislation. They
: have met with one defeat, but the money
and influence at their back may bring then
a victory in the higher courts, though tn
prospect evidently seems to be rather uufa
t vorable to them. The New York Times, il
u a very just and impartial article on the sub
u ject, says: The unanimity and prompt
r ness with which the decision has been rem
u dered in this case, suggest the great prOba
bility Of its being sustained by the Suprem
: Court of the United States"
= II is claimed that these roads have bee
built on the supposition that they shout
have the right to fix their tariffs as the
please, and that therefore to prescribe lin
= its for them is unjust to those who hav
D been induced TO invest the money which ha
u done so much to develop the resources {
Q the state, but if capital has been attracte
q by such mistaken notions it is time that tn
&c hallucination be dispelOd, and the innocer
u capitalists given to understand that even ii
Il railroads Of the West are subject to highc
70 powers, and if they would escape from a
y restraint they must 60 outside Of Unc
l. Sans dominions. We do not share Il
e. anxieties Of those who predict the immed
n ate downfall of every enterprise if the 81
IL preme Court decides that the state has pow
70 er to legislate for corporations of its ow
creation. 1t is for the interest Of Wisco
'g sin to have railroads, and profitable one
70 and she stands in no danger Of destroyiI
Ut her own interests If the government of
al state, composed Of representatives fair
Cd chosen from the people, by the people,
u despotic, what of that government or tn
'e judicial system which shall refuse tho
nc people the sacred right Of self-governmeu
10 and compel them to support vulture of
" corporation, feeding uurestrained upon q
ID fat Of the land2 We do not believe such
decision will be rendered. 1t does not soul
10 keeping with the spirit Of American fro
oS dom. Next October will probably deci
Ce the question, aud We think we do not exa
gerate when We say that the action Of
ue Supreme Court will be watched with
'ns much interest as any national issue.
III concerns all classes, and interest is felt in
=, accordingly.
A correspondent of the CaLedO MAN spsI
Sc ing Of what this paper and the WOOdstO