The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-26

i JULY 90 lCI
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 #
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 Gilill-
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 ii few hundred adventurers gath
er into 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 a hundred
million people, to undo their work !!
Judge Emmett presented. VIC 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 framed and adopted the constitu-
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
sucn 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, as
equally inadmissable with the opposite claim
that the Legislature may compel the roads tc
carry on sach terms as it may prescribe, how
ever ruinous to the capital invested. But we
deem it the imperative duty of thu Legislature
to protect the people against extortion and un-
just discrimination II: favor lndiyidua or To-
calities. and to that end, that laws should be
passed, making such extortion or discrmina-
L kso~1c ~s..&e,~ o4 N1~ak Ah~I -
rates, founded upon the best attainable infor-
nation should be established. which it should
be, prima .facia, ext rtion to exceed: and that
penalties should be fixed to every violation
adequate to prevent any wanton disregard Of
the law.
| That the doctrine claimed to result from 9
recent decision OF our Supreme Court, that
territorial Legislature lwhose existence and
sole power is derived from 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 favorites, and may establish
. rule Of taxation, in favor Of individuals o.
corporations, which shall forever be beyonc
remedy by future Legislatures, or constitution
al conventions, is derogatory to the very in
dependence Of the State, as well as the best in
terests of its people and merits unqualified
condemnation.
That the right Of taxation Is essential to tn
existence and continuance Of every govern
ment. That the people Of this State have alb
solute cont.ol over the subject regardless Q
previous territorial legislation, except in so IA
as they have imposed restraints upon them
selves BY the State Constitution. And We de
nand that all property protected BY the Stats
ana not exempted by the Constitution, b
placed upon the tax list that the constitutio M
rule Of 'sequality Of taxation upon all propert
on a cash valuation may be fully carried int
. effect.
That all charters, rights, franchises srd priv
: leges arising out OF or dependent upon terrific
rial legislation can now be exercised or EMO,
ed only In accordance with and in subordln:
ton to the Constitution Of the State.
: Are these the sentiments OF slave 6
tool of the corporations ? Have the.
not the ring Of the true metal in them
We believe Mr.. Young to be ju
5 man. We trust after reading the for,
: going resolutions he will hasten to co
$ rect the mistake he has made and wi
t use his influence to have the Owatonn
: Convention endorse Judge Emmett.
e A to the platform Of the Conven.io
f OF July 7th we think it could be in
e proved; and we hope the Owatonn
! Convention viii improve upon it.
: But above all let all the Opposite
a work together for practical reform.
f does not follow, if we help crowd
put out fire. that we endorse theret
e the moral character or the political pri
t ciples OF every man in the crowd. L
0 rs put out the fire first, and we can di
$ cuss politics and religion afterward
r Let rs reduce expenditures and taxatic
E and we can 60 10 pulling hair afie
wards.
e
LABOR WAGES.