258 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



THE RESOLUTIONS. 

 The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows : 



WHEREAS, The Constitution of Illinois requires the Legislature 

 to pass laws to correct abuses and prevent unjust discrimination and 

 extortion by railroads ; and, 



WHEREAS, The Legislature has complied with this provision of the 

 Constitution; and, 



WHEREAS, The Bailroads in the State of Illinois stand in open 

 defiance of the laws, by charging rates greatly in excess of what the 

 laws allow, and by unjust discriminations and extortions; and, 



WHEREAS, These exactions and extortions bear most heavily upon 

 the producing classes ; therefore, be it 



Resolved, That this convention of farmers and producers insist upon 

 the enforcement of these laws. 



Resolved, That in obedience to the universal law that the creature 

 is not above the creator, we declare our unalterable conviction that 

 all corporations are subject to regulation by law. 



Resolved, That we call upon every department of the State govern* 

 men t the executive, legislative, and judicial in their joint and sev^ 

 eral capacities, to execute the Constitution and laws now in force ; 

 and if amendments or new laws are needed to enforce obedience, we 

 call for their speedy enactment. 



Resolved, That cheap transportation is of vital interest to the West, 

 and that every combination to increase the price above what is just 

 and legitimate is a conspiracy against the rights of the people, and a 

 robbery which we loudly protest against. 



Resolved, That in the efforts of our officers to execute the laws in 

 question, no narrow policy should be pursued by the Legislature, but 

 that the magnitude of the matter at stake demands that ample appro 

 priations be made, to enable those in charge of the object to act with 

 vigor and effect. 



Resolved, That the power of this, and all local organizations, should 

 be wielded at the ballot-box by the election to all offices, from high 

 est to lowest legislative, executive, and judicial of such, and only 

 such, persons as sympathize with us in this movement, and be 

 lieve, as we do, that there is a rightful remedy for this wrong, and 

 that it can and must be enforced ; and to this end we pledge our 

 votes at all elections where they will have a bearing against tbe 

 wrong in question, 



