The anti-monopolist., 1875-07-26

amendment to the constitution to get rid
OF the conspirators who were plundering
the State. But surely Judge Emmett
could rot be blamed for obeying and
sustaining the law as long as it existed.
Mr.. Young could have done no less if
he had been on the Supreme bench at
the time, bound by an oath to support
the constitution and laws of the State.
The tact is that the fight made by
Judge Emmett in the late convention
against the nomination of Judge Giliil-
an was in the interest OF the people as
against the railroads. A very impor-
tant decision has been made lately BY
the Supreme Court in which they held
that il a few hundred adventurers gath
er into a territory and confer corruptly
or recklessy, franchises upon cor
poration, no power rests in the people
of the State, though it might last a
thousand years and contain hundred
million people, to undo their work !!
Judge Emmett presented, we under
stand, to the committee on platform the
following resolutions which should hare
been adopted. We hope the Owatonna
Convention will adopt them:
That the people Of the State Of Minnesota
first exercised their powers OF sovereignty
when they fralied and adopted the consttu-
ton, under which the State was admitted into
the Union. That the Constitutional Convcn.
ton had absolute control over all previons
territorial legislation, and over all charters and
vested rights dependent thereon. That all
suca laws charters and rights, owe their pre-
sent validity and continuance solely to such
recognition or re-enactment as were given by
the State constitution, and that the Constitu-
/ tional Convention recognized and continued IN
force such only as We're not inconsistent with
the constitution then framed.
| That, as under the constitution OF the State,
and at common law, ths sole question between
the railroad and the people OF the State, is one
| of equal and reasonable rates for transportation
of persons or property; we deem the assump-
ton that the railroad corporations may. at dis
cretion, force the people to pay such rates as
they may demand without regard to the reas-
onableness, or equality OF such charges, az
| equally inadmissable with the opposite claim
carry on sach terms as it may prescribe, how
ever ruinous to the capital invested. But we
deem it the imperative duty Of tha Legislature
to protect the people against extortion and un-
just discrimination II. favor lndiyidua or To-
calities, and to that end, that laws should bt
passed, making such extortion or discrimina-
ton criminal offence. That schedule o
rates, founded upon the best attainable infor-
nation should be established, which it should
| be, prinla fdcid. ext rtion to exceed: and that
penalties should be fixed to every violation
adequate to prevent any wanton disrr gard Of
the law
That the doctrine claimed to result from
recent decision Of our Supreme Curt, that
a territorial Legislature twhoSe existence and
sole power is derived from a mere act OF Con.
gress) may irrevocably bind the future sover-
eighty Of tho State ~ every charter and grant
of special privileges, which it may see pro
per to grant to its tavorites, and may establish
a rule of taxation, in favor Of individuals o.
corporations, which shall forever be heyonc
remedy by future Legislatures, or constitution
al conv, intionS, Is derogatory to the very i'll
dependence Of the State, as well as the best in
terests OF lis people and merits unqnalite,
condemnation
That the right of taxation is essential TO tn
existence and continuance Of every govern
ment That the people OF this State have ab
soute cont.ol over the subject regardless 3
previous territorial legislation, except in 50 r.
, as they have imposed restraints upon them
selves hy the State Constitution And We dc
rand that all property protected by the Stat
ana not exempted bv the Constitution, /
placed upon the tax list that the conStitutio III
rule Of 'sequalitv of taxation upon all propert
I. on a cash valuation" may be fully carried int
E effect.
That all charters, rights. franchises snd priv
: leges arising OFT OF or dependent upon terrific
rstt rtp4r H.. ayprrisai arlfeS
ID only in accordance with and in suhordlns
{ ton TO the Constitution OF the state.
: Are these the sentiments oi a slave 6
2 a tool Of the corporations Have the.
! not the ring Of the true metal in them
T We believe Mr.. Young to be ju
5 man We trust after reading the for'
: going resolutions he will hasten to co
5 rect the mistake he has made and wi
It use his influence to have the Owatonn
: Convention endorse Judge Emmett.
e As to the platform Of the Conven;io
# OF July 7th we think it could be in
e proved: and we hope the Owatonn
;. Convention will improve upon it.
, But above all let all the Opposite
n work together for practical reform.
If does not follow, if we help crowd
put out a fire. that we endorse theret
e the moral character or the political pri
If ciples Of every man in the crowd. L
@ Us put out the fire first, and we can di
5 cuss politics and religion afterward
# Let us reduce expenditures and taxatic
e and we can 90 10 pulling hair afte
i wards.