The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-01-25

would eventually constitute sinking fund
TO pay OF the principal OF the State 'lebI
and should be continued I'LL the income of
the public improvements would render lou
ger taxation unnecessary. The crisis de-
mands the exercise of the most tarreaching
sagacity--the calinesi judgement, and the
! most fearless patriotism. l am sure the
| Legislature will meet in the right spirit, to
dsarm it of its pers Coming, as you do,
from all quarters of the State, and possess
ing more intimate knowledge of the cir
cumstance5 and wants Of the people, than
] can, | most cheerfully surrender lhls I'M
| portant subject to you, satisfied that rru-
dence and justice Will direct your action up
on it.
Among other subjects Of much impor-
tance TO the people that will claim your at
tention, the creating, renewing and super
vising of corporations. These institutions
in great measure the continuance of mod
ern times, have become within the last hall
century, multiplied TO all extent never dream
ed of before. There is scarcely any branch
of business, or pursuit of life, into which
they have not, directly or indirectly entered.
| Corporations may be divided into two gen
eral classes;those established for public pur-
poses and those for purposes Of private
nature. There is another species of corpor-
ations, including banks, &C. that partake OF
the nature Of both these classes, but being
mainly established TO promote individual in
terest, they belong essentially to the sec
ond. The first class, consisting Of those
for religious purposes, as churches, for the
promotion OF the arts and sciences, as col
leges, academies, medical universities, sc.
d. &c, for purposes OF internal commuui-
cation, as turnpikes, bridges, railroads, ca
nails &c. &C., and in short, for all great pur-
poses of public utility, to the attainment of
which, individual meana and exertons are
wholly inadequate, doubtless under proper
and judicious regulations, suhjectlng them
to the control Of the Legislature, are 10 be
encouraged and sustained. The other class,
embracing those principally established for
purposes of 4 private nature, ought either
not to be increased in numbers at all, or on
ly when imperative necessity demands it
and then, under the most naexible guards
and restrictions.
Legislation has, within the last few years,
departed widely from that republican sim
plicty that oug hi to characterize a free gov
ernment. Privileges belonging 10 all the
citizens alike have been specially delegated
to small associations; a few persons coec
lively have been invested by acts Of assem-
bly, with powers and immunlles denied TO
the rest Of the community, and thus have
numerous monOpolies been created not only
to rival, but 10 trample down all individual
efforts and enterprise. The creation of one
corporation, has been the signal for creating
others as competitors, until the system has
reached point that calls on The Legislature
to pause. 1t may be improper TO Interfere
with those already in existence, unless their
own migconduct requires it, or experience
shows that the security OF the public good
calls for such interference! Ii lis high time,
however, that the system itself on which
they were created, should be Brought with
in the wholesome influence Of reform. Lot
the increase Of corporations hereafter be
limited to cases Of und0ubted public utility,
where individual capital and enterprise are
insufficient to accomplish the object intend
ed,and let thepOwero Of the Legislature 10 con-
troll or abolish them, be at all lines express
ly reserved. A system resting on opposite
p!htiplCS lnGsb tFGLtud4tg lAal4SlGI ICdIly
all the powers and authorities Of the legis-
lature, as well as the business of the peo-
pie to corporate bodies, and thus silently
but ellectually achieve a revolution in our
civil relations; fOri if the obligations OF men,
may be converted into those of Limited
and artificial nature instead of a direct per-
sonal responsibility, it is manifest that the
very elementary principles Of society are
: changed. We shall be constrained under
such change, to reach the citizen, not by
= the immediate personal process of the law,
but by its clumsy indirect application 10 him
: in an ideal state of existence, created by le-
t gslalon and rendered independent Of the
usual responsibility of the members of so.
: ciety. This is the condition of things, com.
plicated and clogged by corporate excep'
tions and privileges, towards which our re-
: cent system of legislation on this subject
has been fastening US, and at which we
3 shall sooGer or later arrive, unless it be a
t bandoned. Events that have transplred a
= round US within the last few years, have
n Justly awakened us to our true situalion.-
: The lessons Of experience will not surely
4 be lost.