Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-05-10

instrument is the national government, or its
executive officers, invested with power to in
termeddle with the pursuits of the people!
to destroy the state banks! close up our mar
kets paralyze our energies, and force US in
to new employments, and to new relatfons?-;
The assumptions of the federal head, call
! aloud for determined resistance, or we are
certainly swallowed up in the gigantic pow
er of federal and executive dominion.
camor too, has gone forth against all chartered
associations they have been pronounced monopo.
lies and the jea Ousy Of the poor, the preudices of
the weak, the pride Of the unfortunate and is to be-
| feared, sometimes the malice of the vicious have
been appealed to- in order to break down such enter.
prizes Gentlemen. it is written as with sunbeam,
that manufactures are most important in sustaining
ments OF capital, are essential in making them sue
cessful, Without these employments, we cannot
maintain our political importance or retain our sons
on their native soil. Yet what odium is excited a.
ganst these chartered companies What obstacles
are thrown in their way? What alarm and anxiety
are created in the community? What despair in the
capitalist? Why all this? Have not chartered com.
panes paid abor with promptness and with less de.
fault than private associations of equal business
Have they particularly practced frauds upon the com.
muny. or trampled on the rights Of the citizens
The reckless attacks, indiscrminately made on char
tered rights and corporate franchises have filled
capitalists with apprehension and shaken the found
alton OF the social fabric No business which reuuires
the investment Of large capital and extended time
for operation and perfection, can be conducted with
out an association of many persons under charter
Corporate nothing more than such ASSOCIATIONS.
partnerships with the attribute OF perpetutv and sncR
other powers as are given them by the General As
sembly. am convinced, that in many minds, am
ter and effects Of associated capital charters are
grantedin proper cases only, carefully guarded in
their provisions, and the operations under them
watched with vigilance; i is scarcely possible, that
An indlscrimnate cutlery against them as monopoles
as exclusive privileges as aristocratc, as combna-
tlons of the rich to impoverish the poors nischiev
unnecessarily created unless some appropriate OBJ
ject requires it is safer to let individuals conduct
their pursuits without legislative interference. Un-
hence consider the law passed at the last session of
the General Assembly. extending chartered powers
to every kind Of lawful business under nearly af
circumstances while it requires neither personal re-
sponsblty on the part of the stockholders nor resi-
dence in the state, exceedingly doubtful in its policy
short experience will, apprehend, convince us of
Its evils 1t s better IN most instances, in limited
territory as ours for the General Assembly to know
the circumstances, and the object, which induce
persons to desire an act of incorporation
Hostility to tried institutions, is the chief cause of
our present ebarrassments; it is vain for those who
have brought these troubles upon us, any longer to
cover their errors by imputing them to speculation
have never proved these positions, and the recent
elections throughout the country, pronounce these
charges untrue Besides, these evils are the natural
consequences of measures pursued, and actual
y toreseen and pointed ont by our statesmen in Con-
eress, and elsewhere, with unerring certainty. The
authors Of them were forewarned, before a cloud had
now history; and the golden visions Of those who
would heed no warning, have vanished like the
dreams of the waking man.
The patronage Of the Executive Of the United
States has become vast and alarming; far exceeding
the fears OF the most jealous friends OF the constltu
ton. By il, the executive department is advancing
toward, lift has not already attained, controlling
ascendancy in the government; and it will long,
II no barrier is erected to check its progress, become
absolute over both branches of Congress-. The daily
removal from office, of virnous and capable men, for
no other reason than independence Of opinion, is
prostitution of executive privilege. inconsistent with
vrtuous principles, and true patriotism: Besides, the
natural consequence such course is to drive into
retirement the modest and deserving and 10 bring
into the ranks OF the executive. the noisy and obse-
quious; hence we behold the executive troops
throughout the Union, standing foremost every DO
come most frequent) of appointing members of Con-
gress to Offices of dstnciion and profit, calls asO
aond for retormation 1t as consuming the gerry Uols
The subject IF the public lande, has at several
times engaged the attention of our predecessors it
will again return; and permit me to ask, whether It
ner, express your decided opinion the subject
know not WHY the inhabitants Of the old states
should not participate equally with others, in the
ure, obrained by the united sacrifices, valor, and
blood, of the people Of the old thirteen states, and of
Connecticut in a e-eminent degree. We ought not
clen to bring annually into our state treasury, some
hundreds of thousands of doars) is taken away by
grants to the new states, or preempon laws, which,
in most instances. operate to reward those who de-
sign p'undering the public. These new lands lie in
the states and territories north of the Ohio ceded by
Virginia to the United States in the year seventeen
hundred and eighty-three. on the ground that they
were the fruits of the revolution; and in Florida and
Louisiana. having been purchased, the former from
Span in the year eighteen hundred and nineteen for
the sum Of five millions of dollars, and the latter from
France in the year eighteen hundred and three, for
the sum of fifteen millions of dollars. This domain is
it will he lost to the Atlantic Staes or worse than
lost, by becoming hrbe in future presidential cleo
tons. recommend this subject to your particular
attention.
and conflicting interests. The representatives Of
these interests in the national councils, already
involved in angry debates, and dangerous collisions;
we have, indeed, occasion for anxiety respecting our
see the darkest clouds arise, for peri
cd, then pass away; trust that wise Providence
has not led our pious ancestors to this land and gwen
them these happy governments, and excellent lnstl-
tutions in vain let us then take courage, and con-
fide in the God of nations.
Ifhowever our territory should he extended by the
annexation of Texas to the United States, there would
be almost certainty of our early dissolution; and
more especially. as she has voluntarily introduced.
and Is perpetuatng African slavery; crime OF the
deepest dye. Whatever may be our sympathies for
the people OF the slave states in this Union, with
whom we have entered into solemn league OF mutual
friendship and assistance, we can have no feelings OF
respect for nation, adopting this nefarious traffic at
this advanced period of the Christian era, and OF en-
hghtened reason; nor can we safeiy enter INTO any
national union with such people,.
In nothing has the institution OF slavery 80 much
excited the attention OF many persons IN the free
states, as in its denying them me gnt o. ree discus
These rights are Justly esteemed invaluable never to
be yielded, never to be compromised all claims to