State Convention—Resolutions. 
363 
and runious, to a great extent, to all the industrial interests of the country. We 
therefore ask that the bill passed by Congress to resume specie payments in 1879, be 
immediately repealed, and that resumption be left to those economic laws of trade, 
which will work out the desired result without convulsion or material detriment to 
either debtor or creditor. 
Resolvsd , That a copy of this resolution be sent to each of our Senators and Rep¬ 
resentatives in Congress. 
Whereas, In the administration of government there should be a settled and 
permanent policy as to all great measures, and they should be wisely maintained 
and firmly enforced for periods sufficiently long to fully test their efficacy and bearing 
upon human society, unchanged by either caprice, folly, or as a temporary expedi¬ 
ent of the hour; and, 
Whereas, There is greater danger and lo§s to communities from weakness and 
vacillation in public measures than would probably arise from their rigid enforce¬ 
ment, even in cases where defects are palpable; and, 
Whereas, After two years of expensive litigation in the highest courts of the 
country, to vindicate the constitutional rights of the State to control its incorporated 
companies, it is unwise and wrong, in the moment of victory, to abandon the ground 
thus gained; to surrender the fruits of the struggle, and return to the same condition 
of indifference to extortion and abuse as at the outset, and that no cause or emer¬ 
gency has arisen to warrant any such betrayal of the rights and interests of the in¬ 
dustrial and labor classes of the State; therefore, 
Resolved , That we, as agriculturalists, do hereby protest against the repeal of the 
law known as the “ Potter-law, 7J but would recommend a modification of its provi¬ 
sions, if deemed unjust and oppressive to the railroads of the State. 
Resolved , That we recommend the continuance of a railroad commission, with 
full powers to ascertain the real investments of capital in the several roads; their ex¬ 
penses and earnings, that the legislature may know what constitute u fair and rea¬ 
sonable rates.” And we believe it to be the duty of the Attorney-General, to defend 
any complaint at the expense of the State, in any action brought by any citizen of 
the State for any violation of the provisions of said u Potter-law,” and that the cost 
thereof be paid from the publilc treasury: 
Resolved , That a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions, be forwarded by 
the secretary of this convention to the presidingAfficers of the Senate and Assembly, 
with a request that it be spread upon the journal of each house. 
Whereas, The Centennial authorities at Philadelphia have recommended es¬ 
pecial preparation for the celebration of the comiug fourth day of July in each 
organized county in the United States, and that a competent person be selected to 
prepare a historical address to be delivered on that occasion, to embrace the his¬ 
torical facts and data pertaining to the development of the county within the cen¬ 
tury; and, 
