Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-07-31

But let us inquire at home. 1.-THE locofocos are
so deadly hostile to banks, how does il happen
that all their leaders are interested in them 7
Why do such men as Englesby, Van Ness,
Lyman, Haswell, Warner, Martin Chittenden,
and others, consent to own the stock, and serve
as Presidents, Directors, Cashiers, and the like,
if they are in reality so hostile to corporations !
And how has Mr.. Van Ness himself, manifested
his particular hostility to banks BY procuring
the two first bank charters in the State 1t was
through his especial interference, that the char
tiers were procured for the Bank of Burlington
and the Bank of Windsor-one of which has
failed, and swindled the people out of a large
amount of money and this bank, by the way,
was managed by loco foco. Mr. Van Ness
was large stakeholder in the Bank of Burling-
ton, was its first President, and for many years
pocketcd his twenty-five per cent. without any
cornpunctons of conscience, that ever we have
heard about. But he was doubtless at that time
consciemiously opposed to increasing the num-
Der! Nor is this ALL We find, on referring to
the record, that in 1915 this same advocate for
equal rights, procured from the Legislature Of
Vermont "An act granting to c. T. VAN NESS
"and others, the EXCLUSIVE right of naviga-
''ting by steam boats the waters of Lake Cham
"plain, within this state, for the term OF TWEEN
"TY-TIIREE YEARS" BY the terms of this
charter, it was made penalty of five hundred
dollars, for any person, during the aforesaid pc.
Rod of % years. to build, sail, or even receive OF
load steamboat on Lake Champlain, "without
license first had and obtained from Mr. Van
Ness! This exclusive" right Mr.. Van Ness
with his associates, enjoyed up to 1926 or G.
when the Supreme Court of the United States
wrenched it from his monopolizing grasp. Tha,
tribunal declared the navigable waters of the
United States TO be the common property of al
her citizens and that, though an individual nigh,
arrogate TO himself all the democracy of the land
he should not monopolize the elements. This
opened the Lake to competition; and mark the
result. Instead of an old dredging machine
padding through the Lake once week. we have
now daily line of the most superb boats on the
| continent And does any man doubt that this is
the direct result of getting rid of Mr.. Van Ness's
most odious monopoly. Had this monopoly con.
tinued according to the terms Of the grant, til
1898, should we now point with pride to "Bur
ngton" or "Whitehall"! Very far from it
and the people would indeed have had good oc
casion TO complain of exclusive monopolies.
There are some facts connected with the mode
of obtaining this charter, which are of rather al
interesting character, and will 90 far to illustrate
the true character of this prince of demagogues
"a man who hesitates no. to denounce whole
party as "pack of liars" while he prores himsel
such, by pretending to be the friend of equa
rights, while stepped to the lips in corporation
spoils and exclusive monopolies of the mos
odious character imaginable! But these W.
reserve lcr another occasion. Mr.. Van Nes
processes 10 nc a great constitutional lawyer
and doubtless was well aware at the time, of tn,
unconstitutonalitv OF this law. Yet was he vii
ling, up TO the last moment, to avail himself O
the advantages it gave him over his neghbors
and shut them out from an equal participation il
the bountes of nature. Ifthis is the dcmocrac
he teaches, then most surely do we not beon,
to his school, and, with many grains of allow
ance will the people receive instruction abou
equal rights" from such source.