252 HE GROUNDSWELL. 



America a success. I see the necessity of a recognition of the truth 

 long ago enunciated by John Stuart Mill, that roads, canals, and rail 

 ways, as well as gas and water companies, are always in a great de 

 gree, practical monopolies, and a government which concedes such 

 monopoly to a private company, does much the same thing as if it 

 allowed an individual or an association to levy any tax they choose 

 for their own benefit on all the malt produced in the country, or on 

 all the cotton imported. 



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&quot; What is the most feasible manner of controlling the power we 

 have evoked, is the proper subject for the deliberation of this Con 

 vention. It may be direct regulation by act of our General Assem 



bly; it may be by the condemnation of the franchises that have 

 been abused, and perhaps forfeited ; it may be by enforcing the prin 

 ciple of our State Constitution, and making the railroads in the 

 State in fact what they are in theory public highways ; it may be 

 national legislation, under the constitutional power to regulate com 

 merce among the several States, or other power, if amendment be 

 necessary, so that the vast combinations of lines that already more 

 than half span the continent shall be made subject to one general 

 and equitable law of freight and passenger rates. It may be by 

 building or condemning national railways that shall traverse the 

 continent, north and south, east and west, and, running with fixed 

 rates, compel the private companies to reasonable rates. It may be 

 one or many. But that relief must be had is certain. 



&quot; If neither legislatures, nor courts, nor executives can furnish it, 

 the people themselves can. But I believe and maintain that there 

 is an adequate remedy in all, and that we only need to insist and 



