The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-08-19
THE MORALITY OF PARTIES.

Ii is a common saying, that corporations nave no
souls and it is equally true, that the morality of IN
dividuals is not code which they acknowledge
They do in their collective capacity what they would
be ashamed to do individuals, and the public suf-
iers much more from these corporate delinquences
than it would from similar by individuals be-
cause there is often legal remedy in the latter
and always moral check on individuals, neither o
which can be found for an impersonal Corporation
Now, what stronger argument, than this single un-
disputed fact, can be found against corporations
admit all the utility which has been attributed to
them to be true yet what honest legislator can rec
oncc to his conscience, the balancing pecunary
benefit, which is always local, and often personal
against, moral evil which pervadcs and corrupt:
society at large, and entails errors of Legislation
which require endless series Of political tergver
satons to palliatc but never to cure.
What better mode have of Judging of the mo-
ray of parlics than by the nature of the acts which
characterize them ! If there be two POLITICAL par
ties one of which pursucs course of policy, which
carries into the Government system of pnrtiallty
and consequent injustice to all those who not ia
vored and they never can be the many ; and anoth
er party winch aims at keeping these causes of com
nln:.. .-L ..---.---L- e i:-,-i - .,,r. pi.f'y
tended 10 promote public and private morality b.
taking away the temptation to do wrong while III
former party, tended to promote public and prvat
dishonesty, by holding out encouragement to scisl
and unprncipled individuals, to apply under tn
specious prctexts of public good, for all sorts O
special privileges, which unjust as they arr
unconstitutional
The Democratic party has always been opposed
to special, and partial legislation especially tha
which vors classes of men, and tends to socia! anl
political inequality, although they have been some
times betrayed into measures leading that way; bu
from ignorance Of the democratic principles or in
fidelity to their trust, must presume. Fortunael,
we shall hereafter he less exaoscd TO such nberra
tons from principle, as the people become more en-
igltsned on their true interests which never ca,
be promoted by legislative frauds, or partialtes.
The federal party, under all its vrrious names
has been known to favor special, local and psrtia
legislation being well aware that this Is the onl,
way to build up that strong arstocratic Government
at which they have always aimed. There has beer
no alteration of federal principle with them the,
have pursued the tenor of their way, under al
their various DISCUSSES. A Wing is as much in ia
vor of Bank, and all other monopolies, as an Esse!
junto Federalists; and he will harmonze with
politician of any color, or religion, or irrelIgon
with, or without public or private honesty, provide,
he be trulely orthodox on the monopoly principle
for that is the keystone of the triumphnl arch O
aristocracy without this artful contrvanoc of ruak
ing fortunes by Legislation far the few: there would
of necessity, exist in society," that wholesome equal
uy, So essential TO good Government.
Now, am not much of politicians as to car
much for parties or candidates l want neithe
place, nor pension. But want peace and securit,
for my proper,he pd person and believe that bo,l
are safer under the Ieign of public and private NOR
ais, than under class of politicians, whose act
prove that they do not believe that public honesty
requisite for good Government, or any more o
private morality, than is discovered in long fac
at church, getting drunk on wine, gambling 70
/ thousands instead of cents; and carefully GOVERN,
other immoraitics with n thick veil of hush-mone,
Let the industrious honest, moral ycoman lool
TO the acts of their Representatives. and reflect
little on their evident tendency; they will then b
able to judge, in which scale lies honesty. / her
alude to public honesty, which is of vastly i'm
portancc to us the Constituents, than private honesty
although should have little faith in without tn
other; and none, except that the Democratic prn
ciple being itself founded in honesty, must ofte
carry, even the dshones, man in the right path,