Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-05-28

it my solemn duty, after reasonable delay and
the accumulation of evidence, to follow my
proclamation with this plan and fuller state
ment OF the whole case in its present aspect !;
setting forth the nature and enormity OF this
conspiracy against the law, and the danger II
threatens to our free institutions and the i'm
peratiVe duty of every citizen to lend his AID
IN putting it down.
The law clearly defines the obligations OF
the railway corporations, and provides ample
remedies for its violation But the Legislature
anticipating no such extraordinary ana nag
rant violation and contempt OF It's statues, mas
made no provision to enable either the Eyecu-
tive or the Railroad Commissioners to meet
the emergency with extraordinary means it
simply provides that every inlraction should
be punished by the ordinary means OF prose-
cution to conviction and punishment by fine
and damages, every offender 1t naturally
assumed that the people who had SO repeat
edly made the charge Of eXtortion and opprtS
sion, only waited for an opportunity TO apply
the remedy for their grievances that they
were prepared for prompt discharge of the
patriotic duty of cooperating with the public
authorities for a vndication of the sovereignty
of the State, and for the enforcement of law
by themselves declared to be essential to the
general welfare And hence, although ample
facilities are afforded for the convenient trial of
offenders by giving to Justices of the Peace
concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Courts
yet as in other actions of a criminal nature
no prosecution CA. originate otherwise than IN
complaint made By the injured party or some
other person barring knowledge Of The o6ense.
With the usual cheerful obedience given to
the law, a few applications of this remedy
would induce a general acquiesence. But if
the aggregate wealth of great corporations is
to support an organized and general defiance
OF law, the oh'y means proViaea must oe
.,o,,. on,p,o'.u ~ "a 10 hsar,,, nn
nnara,;nn az snhordin,,e officials
| cannot doubt that this support and co.
operation will! be accorded, when the whole
case is fairly understood. The interests Mt
sake are TOO vast ana 700 Vai'u 10 ADMIT
Vi any o'he, colc.us'on. TOT ~ WIN '.icn nc
In G.i, .''"S .',,e pa,
in vonr Interest and in obedience to vonr own
expressed command, is disregarded and con
temned but that the very idea and principle
of law, and Just sense OF the duty OF obe-
dience to the constituted authorities would
oe cioudea ana lnapcri'cd oy aneSlec' prompt
" a'oe. icouh1 ""u pui'sii suei ari' .,,o
,he nepnfn ara deal;rr win a now.rtnl and
danrrrons combination. which holds itself
| above the law, and seeks to make its own
sanction superior to any sanction in the stat
ute,--that it is not the FORMS and TERMS of
THIS law upon when issue Is taken, out that
.iiesc co,polauohs ueny we rMNS,rLh wa.
f"r n,h ,i use and in MART With the aid IF
public Gifts. and chartered under a constitu
ton which expressly reserves to the people
right Of general control, can, for any purpose,
in any way be limited As to its tolls by regu
lations other than those OF us own cofpofa'ors'
Believing then that to the authority OF
'"e o'a.e ana TO .he support Vi puo''c ON
GERS w 'he'f ehor's 10 curo anu res'ra'"
'"e intervening powers VI ,ne e'ea. COT
pora'e pou'es "h'c" now oolu' oec' 'ne,n
20" WIZ or'he promptly anu "a''u''y a.,
INT a'u ana cooperation "h,cn ever! goon
e'''Aeh owes 10 'he STATE III any time VI
peril 10 her INSTITUTIONS her au'"or,'y Or
hef Jaws; ana oelnS oeepN sehs'o'e o'
the oo'iGauohs resting upon me, 10 aver,
u Poss'oic' 'ne oa"eer NO" Pe"o'"S e'.'
upon ana ehJoin every ci,'Heh on inns
0t"'e W oosef'e WIN scruPu'o"s care tue
| requirements Oh 'he law here'h re"rrea
w. !" every instance ana particular o'
business ueal,hSs WI" any ra,'ro@" con-
pan;os bsra;, n.m.d ~ nov 90 ,r.,e,ar
ne ,iabor ,.ro ,han H.. ~ nroscr;h.. ,o
sh;,no. u o;wa. nf cr.;,h, no
hinho- ,a,as H., cha l.w ,.os.,;lo. ~
-, ,,;,h ,a,as Oh. p.;,,ood Con,,n;sS;on
..0 h.u. sa.,a ,,,Ishod .nd ,h., ;c
a"a po ,,n H.. sh".,,a