Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-24
THE RAILROAD QUESTION


. ~, hGtori In the Reformer Of July II 1884, Lew.
~ orout mad long article against the bonding Of
towns Tor building railroads on principle. He ssys
every man has the right to bold and nae his own az
ne pleases, but admits that every one rnus bear br
snsre LOT tne support Of government and the
protection OF society, and that they may contribute in
certain ways and to certain extent 10 the pubc
good Now that is just this law andif railroads are
ior the public good, he has given his case ayay lie
nowhere says they are not good he doesn't eav tbev
nave injured Brateboro done harm anvil here else
His only objection lie the tax He saws n governmeni
undertakes by statutory law to seize and use the prom
erty OF an individual for purposes not necessary TO
us own existence the most sacred right Of individual
property has been yiolated that tax is right ex-
eep where the plea of NECESSITY" can be made good
Now comes the question, What necessary And are
we to be confined 10 what is strictly necessaryY N
Mr.. Circuit should tell the red man of tbe foSest no
needed schools to teach his children TO read and write
and should explain to him all the advantages Of an
suucationi the red man might say that they would
have to make tax which not necessary Ills fatb-
ers had lived there for 200 years aud prospered With
out If Mr. GrOut should suggest that they needed
common roads, so they could ride, and drive their
horses, and draw their freight better he would eay
NO, we should have to make tax, and It is not
sdfgi our squaws can carry all we want on their
heads. II Mr. Grout were to ask Chlnaman n rail-
roads were necessary, be would say no; China had
been In existence thousands Of years and prospered
without them, and their "Jossn did not like them
Now, Mr.. Circuit could live the life OF a savage and
ENJOY his sacred rights Of individual property to his
hearts content or he could lead the life of the hea
then Chinee and hold his feeling of righteous oppose
uon to building railroads without any to disagree
win himi but for an American citizen of the 10Th
century, after seeing all the improvements Of the age
due to railroads reaching from ocean to ocean and
from the lakes to the gulf passing through all the
states and connecting all the principal cities and
towns Of the Union, aud forming link with foreign
countries, to say that railroads unnecessary aud
That It is unconstitutional for towns cities to take
stock in building them Is strange sight, when so
many states have passed laws to that effect and most
towns aud cities have ayailed themselves Of the prv-
ege and when in fact the roads could not have been
built in any other way The subject has been before
the courts in many or all Of the states and in all Of
them the law has been sustained. The general gov
eminent has helped to build the Pacific aud many
other railroads by granting public lands and lending
money, and there is every sanction Of law and neces
sity for it and any who says It is unnecessary
and wrong to build railroads by towns taking stock
breakers. Mr. Grout does not tell Of single state
that, once having the law, has repealed it, Of sin
gle court that has decided 1t to be unconstitutional
but labors long and hard to prove that the law Is
wrong in principle. Among other things he cites one
question from our Saviour, "Is 1t not lawful for
to do what will with mine own7n Would not the
command, DO ye unto others as ye would that they
should do unto you, be APPROPRIATED He cites
the law OF 100 years ago for the support Of preaching
saying 1t was more plausible than this one, and yet
our fathers were quick to the injustice Of It and
repeal it. think they did right. The ministers Of
those days preached that "God from all eternity"
elected small part OF mankind, In number and by
name, to be saved but far the larger part to be damn
ed forever. Now, the preaching was not necessary
for the elect and OF no to the rest OF mankind
cept the ministers, and was wisely repealed. It, how
ever beais no analogy to this case, since railroads
beneht everybody. He speaks Of "down In the heart
of hearts" Where Is that7 From the way he uses
the term It must be where sehshness reigns supreme.
Al MS tak ABOUT akhg private properly lot private
ends 1.-THE sacred rights Of private property" that
'the law is opposed to the first principles or law and
Justice" and Of his righteous ndignAton,"is sound
ing brass.
Now, the question of building this road is not the
law Of 1t. That we have the law for 1t no denies
that the law is constitutional no one denies "whose
opinion lie worthy the notice Of candid earnest men,
The question is Is II best for Bratleboro and this
part Of the county to build the road? Bratleboro ia
the great business centre Of southern Vermont Ist
best for her to have better connection with this part
Of the county, with its thousands Of cattle, millions of
sugar trees apple trees by tens OF thousands horses
and sheep by the thousands, and millions millions
Of timber, to come In close connection with the
largest tract Of timber 10 the state aud New Engaud7
We would like to to Brattleboro for probate aud
other couTt business to pD tcal conventions Of both
parties, to rel gOns associations Of all societies, aud
to Sunday school associations, where the youug folks
would form acquaiutlnces that would last through
life. II Brdit, born does not help cannot have the
road. and we shall have to seek outlet down the
Deerield river from necessity. Shall have toe
road or not? GEORGE PORTER
Jack sOuyilln. Vt