Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-27
distract ofths Proceedings Of The
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 81,

Mr.. klger called up the enS"osSeu
bill 10 incorporate the Agricultural So
eie,y of the Valley, with the rider Of
fercc by him on former day
Mr.. Garland moved the indefinite
postponemen; Of the bill, sc. He ex-
planned the ground Of his objections to
it. The principles of incorporation he
thought Objectionable, except only
where they are evidently beneficial to
the community. Acts Of incorpora-
ton give power; and ifyou incorporate
one class ofmen, you must incorporate
another; and these societies will in the
end gain power and exert it, both to
promote their private interests and po-
flitical predictions If corporations
should continue to increase, they will
ultimately become too powerful for the
| unincorporated interests oftAe country.
There was no doubl but that the friends
ofthe bill, and even the present me:.!.
bers OF the society were actuated by
the best intentions, and did not enter
tain an idea that the society would E.
ven become dangerous or prejudicial.
But looking to the future, no man could
tell what would happen; what rights
they nigh, claim to exercise; what mo-
nonolies they might not attempt. AL
most all usurpailons or iniTiH:S, mcnts
upon the interests Of society common
ced with small beginnings, and CONT
nued to grow with time; and he appre
hended the day was not very distant
when the influence Of corporations
would be sensibly felt in the Common
wealth. He wished their multiplied
ton arrested. At any rate the powers
granted to them ought TO be few and
well defined. The provision in the bill
comforting the power to collect the
subscription dues from the members OF
the society, on ten days notice, was a
summary proceeding unknown 10 the
laws of The land. ii had occurred that
during the late war company with a
similar act OF incorporation had exer-
eised the privilege of banking and had
actually issued money, &c.
Mr.. Johnson, in the course of the de-
bate, advocated the motion upon the
general grounds taken by Mr.. Garland.
Messrs Carter, Of 2. w. Powell,
May and Kiger addressed the House
in opposition TO the motion. The> in
sisted that the dangers apprehcnded
were imaginary; that the act Of moor
portion conferred no power to Ell. rage
in any other business but that conlcm-
plated by its letter and spirit This
business was beneficial to society by
circulating the lights Of experience,
and promoting the most noble and use
full employment Of man. ! he House
was in the Constant practice OF incor-
poratlng societies tor other purposes,
and why not for this? The bill con-
tanned provision reserving to the le-
gislsture the power TO annul the char
ter when it should see fit. Where,
then was the danger. The nature and
object of the society exposed it less
than almost any other to the tempta-
ton OF exceeding It's chartered powers
Mr.. May referred to the agricultural
society of Virginia which he believed
had been chartered by the legislature,
with. that illustrious citiz II, (now no
more) Col. John Taylor, of Caroline, at
its head. Of all the men perhaps that
ever lived, none had labored more or
more successfully in the cause of agri-
culture than he had. Were there ever
any fears entertained from the society
over which he presided!
The question being taken, the bill
was indefinitely postponed Ayes 81,
Noes rs.
Thursday Dec. o.. -Sundry Resolutions
were read from the c. of p. and Griev-
ances: The LIST reports favourably of
the petition Of sundry inhabitants of
the town Of Petersburg, who pray tina,
an act may pass authorising the estab-
lishn.ent of joint Stock Company to
carry on the manufacture of cotton in