Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-12-10
$s4.52I 80 6

UOtIOSl ~ U
This amour: has been drawn from ca-
nal fund, being the interest on the prin,
cipal on euch fund.
1t is apparent that special and local leg
salion in this State has been 10 dulged
until it has truly become an evil. With,
in the last 6 years, two thousand and fit>
lynne acts have BEEN passed, Of which
seventeen bundled and forty six are spe.
cial statutes, and three huIdred and ihir-
teen fall under the denomination Of gen,
eral laws. That there are cases invoIv,
ing private and local interests, which dc
serve and should receive the attention OF
theLeglslalure, no one doubts, but the
chiei par: Of the time and expenditure as.
signed to legislation, cannot be properly
CONSUMED in the enactment uE special
statutes. Laws should be general and
just, and like the air and light of Heaven,
extend their sa!utAry and benign influence
equally aud alike 10 all. Special exemp,
Iions, special privileges, and Iocal advan,
tages produce injustice ami oppression, =,
aud are always more or less fraught with
danger. III acts for local and private
purposes, the Legislature is very liable
10 be msled by Misrepresentation, and
the opportunities ofindiViduais. Il be
lieVed that general regulations, which
would supercede the necessity OF the
chic part oEour special legislation, could
be adopted upon terms and conditions
fixed in a general law, and afford all the
just aud rightiul advantages and protec-
ZION which can be demanded.
OI the seventeen hundred and forty six
special acts above mentioned, eleven
bundled and twenty seven relate 10 cor-
Poratlons-the grants OF exclusive priv,
lleges, and SPECIAL immunities TO assucia.
lions Of individuaJs. This class Of spe.
cial legislation has been continued in
nearly ON equal ratio for the last ten years,
and should il be perssvered in, and cor,
paratiuns continue TO multiply as hereto.
fore, Tor the next twenty years, the Stale
will be literally ihatched with charters
of fincorpCratioD,and the past subterfuges,
Pretences, frauds and profligacy of cor
poraions will form but miniature ep
tome of what will be exhibited in future.
An oVershadOwing combination OF arli'
cial persons and Fictitious interests will
be created, which will trample upon the
rights Of natural persons, override the
barriers of justice, and annihiate the g.
quality O(rights which forms tho corner
stone OF Our free Institutions. All eXpe
rience has taught us, that men will do
things when associated under the cover
of charter, which they would shudder at
The bare idea Of DUNG as private indivd>
nais. One Of the evil tendencies of The
present age s venial spirit of adventure,
stimulated by a thirst TO acquire proper-
y without earning il, and desire to
ransact business through lne agency of
'cts OfincOrpsration Wealth has its sp. /
'iOpriate Influence, ahd possesses natur.
lily iGIrinsic advant ges over labor, but
when associated under charters, and fal
'Ored with special immuRities, and exclu'
i've privileges, il builds up oppressive
nonOPolies IN the business Of the coun.
ry, aud acquires an undue ascendency
'ver the interests and rights Of the pri,
citizen. II