The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-03-16
From the NsW- York Erening Post.
VESTED RIGHTS.

equal rights they Hattered themselves they might 81
down quietly under their own yine, and their owl
fg-tree, and enjoy the fruits of their labors.
They little dreamed that the condition on which
mankind enjoy their liberties is that of eternal Wig
lance that they must be day and night th'
watch. and if they sleep at ALL sleep under arms
There is power forever ON the alert to encroacl
on their rights-tlle power of ambition and ayarict
combined. When bahled under disguise it as
sumes another when oyerihrown under name
1t comes abroad under alias, like the rogue
ut the Quarter Sessions but 10 matter what shape
or form it assumes, it is ever the same-ever the
foe of the peoplc-the destroyer of equal rights.
Whether it sways by right Of birth, by exclusive
privileges, bestowed for life, enjoyed in perpeuty,
IS OF not the least consequence to thenpmmunty at
large, for the results are the same. .4kyheher we
call the privileged being Lord, Corporation,
lie represents that eternal enemy of the people, who
has in every age clovcn down their rights and mo-
nopolzed more than their proportion of the orJina-
ry means Of human happiness.
Despotism in every age assumes name,
and wears a different mask. As mankind gradual
iy become c0nversant with its mode and means of
oppression, they throw il Off and imagine themselves
free Bn. 1t returns again and again, like the dog
10 his yomt and seeks its ends by other means,
different in appearance but always the same A
mong ignorant barbarians it is superstition they
advance in knowledge and civilization, it assumes
the mask of birth and hereditary distinctions ; and
when these are are swept away, it comes again up.
on us IN the disguise of a concentrated money pow
er, gifted with Vested Rights, and all the privileges
of monopoly.
The good people of the United Sates seem to
think that desposm resides in the name, and not
in the thing. They believe it is because man is
called king, or "A lord, that he is their enemy
They are not yet sufficiently aware that king or IA
lord is no more than any other man. except in so
far as he is gifted with powers and privileges which
other men do not exercise or enjoy. They have
not yet with all the lessons they receive ey-
cry day, realized the important truth, that plain
utster, without either title hereditary rank may
become, by means of monopoly of certain pryi-
ieges, the nea representative of all the powers of
arisocracy. In short, they have yet sufficiently
learned that money is power, and that whenever il {
Is concentrated under government which furnish
es no connterpoise, in distinctions Of rank and her.
edtary titles, it necessarily becomes despotic
The present disguise of the everlasting enemy of q
human rights, in this country, monopoly, sheltor-
ing itself behind the entrenchment of Vested RIGHTS t
Gifted with privileges denied to individuals; with b
powers OF duration and accumulation which they b
are not permitted to exercise enjoy placed be-
yond the operation of the general laws of the land
ana bound together by the strong cord of a mutual II
inseparable interest, monopoly is gradually becon- G
Ing, II 1t has not already become the master of the
people Aided by the Unlimited means il possesses c
OF influencing the aboring classes through the me- W
dlum OF their wants and their fears of scducing CT
men OF political Influence by participation in its w
gains of corruptng legislators by bribcs and the tr
people by bonus, is gradually silently, yet ire Sc
sst'by extending influence, through every city,
town, village and neghborhood of this vast coned- II
Grafton of growing republics. g
Look nj state legislature. Is it possible TO 81
get it to attend to any thing but acts of incorpora-
ti"n Do not their proceedings, session after ses- d.
SION, exhibit one eternal round of acts conferng cx-
elusive privileges little knots of SPECTATORS call bt
Ell by courtesy "pubc spirited individuals" that is di
to say, individuals governed exclusively by their ga
own private interests! Is there among hundred I'll
acts half dozen that by any perversion be call gt
ed laws affecting the general welfare, except in the .
most mischieyous manner, by giving certain prip- L
cSe3 or advantages to section of the state a the
expense OF all the others One might be tempted by
20 believe, that men neither live, nor breathe nor &c
nave being, except through the miraculous aeen- do
y OF an act of incorporation. Look at the conduct de
,f the leaders of the democracy in this cy and h
throughout the state with few honorable exccp- p'
!ons The very loudest brawlers those who are
indebted to the democracy alone for wlteyer conse TN
luence they enjoy, and who have arisen to disnc by
non on the sole ground of advocating the rights of tut
ne peope-theso very men, the moment thcy attain css
the seat of egislation become the factors the la
agents, the tools and accompces of monopoly, and III
ell their constituents
Last, and most melancholy sight of all, look M
he People, the American People. They stand with
heir hands in their pockets, from which monopoly
las ched every dollar of their hard earnings and cor
" r'nea so'o oy their servants, not Tor thirty col
leces of silver but for handful of paper raos OK,
hey dare not even exact pledges from them they cut
are not instruct them to comply with their wishes stt
ut send their representatives unettered TO the halls ure
legislation to sell and buy exclusive privileges of
, be themselves bought and Sold What parayses doe
'em in this mannerl The influence of leaders A
"Nou y, "''n e'hoarhed up to The very chain in the
xgl, tIa fhn,
'o"JPy' WINE '"ey are deciaiming IN favor of itio
quail rights and the sovereignty of people, whose bea
'vereigny they are every day barterng awav fo, late
yer in the shape of Vested Righs.-Las,Iy, look won
poor Democratic Pennsylvania, delivered over. Gee,
ound hand and foot despot of 5 OOO. 900 of SLo
,ncentrated money power.-What n spectacle ner
hat sovereignty where the servant will ,,, -.