THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION. 227 



Do you say that you are out of debt, and can stop producing when 

 it does not pay ? 



I tell you, my friends, that the carrying interest, with its present 

 momentum unchecked, will soon acquire the power to tax your un- 

 incumbered possessions into leaseholds, and you and me into tenants 

 at will. 



I fancy I hear the response : &quot; These things are so, but what can 

 we do?&quot; 



Rather, my friends, what can we not do ? What power can with 

 stand the combined and concentrated force of the producing inter 

 est of this Republic? But what avails our strength if, like Polyphe 

 mus in the fable, we are unable to use it for want of eyesight ; or, 

 like a mighty army without discipline, every man fighting on his 

 own hook; or, worse, reposing in fancied security while Delilahs of 

 the enemy have well nigh shorn away the last lock of strength ? In 

 this respect we constitute a solitary exception, every other interest 

 having long since protected itself by union and organization. 



As a measure calculated to bring all interested, as it were, within 

 speaking distance, and as a stepping stone to an efficient organiza 

 tion, I propose that the farmers of the great North-west concentrate 

 their efforts, power, and means, as the great transportation companies 

 have done theirs, and accomplish something, instead of frittering away 

 their efforts in doing nothing. 



And, to this end, I suggest a convention of those opposed to the 

 present tendency to monopoly and extortionate charges by our 

 transportation companies, to meet at Bloomington, Illinois, on the 

 20th day of April next, for the purpose of discussion, and the ap 

 pointment of a committee to raise funds to be expended in the em 

 ployment of the highest order of legal talent, to put in form of re 

 port and argument an exposition of the rights, wrongs, interests, and 

 injuries (with their remedies) of the producing masses of the North 

 west, and lay it before the authorities of each State and of the gen 

 eral government. Congress is now in session, and the Constitu 

 tional Convention of this State will then again be convened. Farm 

 ers, now is the time for action ! 



The call was responded to, and, accordingly, on the day 

 designated a large number of the leading farmers from va 

 rious counties of Illinois, met at Bloomington, in mass 



