Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-05-02
From the Detroit Morning Post


Right.-Gov. Mason day or two since
returned bill to the House with the follow.
ing message. His views were expressed
with that manly independence which has
ever characterized him on small:as well a.
great questions. The propriety of his OBJ.
jections, as set forth in this document, are
obvious. The passage of the bill would
establish a dangerous precedent. We
should expect to see petition Immediately
after, for law appropriating certain mon.
eys TO encourage the manufacture Of fed.
erasts.'
To the House of Representatives
] return without my approval, bill en-.
titled 'An act to encourage the manufac-
ture of glass within the State of Michigan
This bill, although purporting TO be an act
for the encouragement of domestic manu-.
features, yet when stripped of its disguise
is nothing more nor less than an act
for the relief Of Ebenezer Hall and Isaac
J. Grower, copartners in trade, engaged in
the manufacture Of glass. By what princi-
pie of justice can the relief asked by this
bill be granted Is this department Of
trade entitled TO greater projection than
another? The manufacture Of glass in the
United States has long ceased to be mys.
terry; it is perfectly understood, and has
become plain and simple in its operations.
Private enterprise in this, as in every branch
of industry, should be left to its own exer.
tons. We are no longer dependent on
foreign manufactures for the glass deman.
ded by our own country. American indns-
try has enabled us to rely on our own
manufactures, and if the investment of
capital for such purposes in this state is
found to be profitable, it will flow here with.
out legislative aid. Ifotherwise, the efforts
of the legislature 10 sustain the mauufac.
ture Of glass, when our own product can
be undersod by importations from other
states, are turtle.
lfyou loan the credit Of the state TO the
manufacturer of glass, by what right or rule
Of justice can you withhold it TO the manu-.
facturer Of flour, the manufacturer of shoes.
the manufacturer of paper, or all other
manufacturers All are equally entitled
TO the benefits and protection resulting
from an equal distribution ofpublic benefits,
w SduiIot say otHcTWISc WHcH TIC pTlu.
cipIes the bill now before you are once
established as the settled policy Of the state.
But warn the legislature against wan.
ton use oft the credit of the state. If you
have surplus in your treasury, "a fact l
have yet to learn,) relieve, by direct appro.
priation, the wants of individuals bu; re.
serve the credit and faith of your state for
high and great purposes OF general public
good it should not be prostituted, when
eve asked, for every purpose, however un.
reasonable or however unjust.
In the present application for relief l
would feel every desire to yield to the ur.
gent demands of the applicants, could do
so consistently with my sense Of public du.
ty but as this cannot BIZ done without tho
sacrifice Of principle, and without establish.
ing precedent fraught with danger to the
interest Of the people, the bill is returned
wthou. my signature to the House in which
/ originated. STEVENS II MASON.
April 2, 1888.