286 THE GHOUNDSWELL. 



thing that you raise, for his own benefit and prosperity, keeps wnis- 

 periug, Do n t interfere with vested rights. &quot; 



THE BESOLUTIONS. 



A resolution was offered and passed, condemning the back- 

 pay steal, and censuring the President for signing the bill. 

 The committee appointed to draft resolutions submitted the 

 following: 



Resolved, By the Farmers of Illinois in Mass Meeting Assembled, That 

 all chartered monopolies, not regulated and controlled by law, have 

 proved in that respect detrimental to the public prosperity, corrupt 

 ing in their management, and dangerous to republican institutions. 



^Resolved, That the railways of the world, except in those coun 

 tries where they have been held under the strict regulation and 

 supervision of the government, have proved themselves arbitrary, 

 extortionate, and as opposed to free institutions and free commerce 

 between States as were the feudal barons of the middle ages. 



Resolved, That we hold, declare, and resolve that this despotism, 

 which defies our laws, plunders our shippers, impoverishes ou* 

 people, and corrupts our government, shall be subdued and made to 

 subserve the public interest at whatever cost. 



Resolved, That we believe the State did not and could not confer 

 any of its sovereign power upon any corporation, and that now is 

 the most favorable time to settle the question, so that it may never 

 be hereafter misunderstood that a State can not create a corporation 

 it can not thereafter control. 



Resolved, That in view of the present extortions, we look with 

 alarm upon the future of an interest which can combine in the hands 

 of a few men a capital of nearly $250,000,000, and we believe it 

 essential to the prosperity of all classes that this contest continue 

 until these corporations acknowledge the supremacy of law. 



Resolved, That we regard it as the undoubted power, and the im 

 perative duty of the legislature, to pass laws fixing reasonable maxi 

 mum rates for freight and passengers, without classification of roads, 

 and that we urge upon our General Assembly the passage of such 



VS 



Resolved, That the existing statute, providing for a classification of 



