Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-04-26
LEGISLATION ON RAIL ROADS IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE.

From the Argus and Spectator.
The duty of the democracy in regard 10
corpordtionS.--The Legislature which short
ly convenes, will, without doubt, be overrun
and beset by wing and lobby members, for
the purpose Of procuring repeal ofthe corpo-
ration laws now in force in this State. This
paper was an early advocate OF the great
measures of reform which have been adopt
ed in this State. 1t boldly took ground in
their favor and has ever maintained its ear
ly position. At every election since the first
agitation Of the question il has been made
an issue at the polls. The same bug-bear
stories Of whiggery were circulated through
out the State that capital would be drawn
from her lmits-that enterprise and indus
try would cease, put at every subsequent e.
lection, the friends OF reform succeeded by
increased maiorities, and at the present time
their majority is greater than that Of the
whole opposition. Under these circumstan-
ces il becomes the Democracy in the Legis-
lature to adhere closely to their measures
and present. an undivided front TO federalism
The Haverhill Republican of the Sd inst has
long and able article upon the same subject, from
which we make few extracts;
The merit Legislature and corporations
the course and duty of the democracy.
have this year, at last, seen in the papers and
heard from members Of the federal end con-
sentative parties in this State, loud and con-
fdent predictions that the democrats are, at
the next session of the legislature about to
abandon certain important positions upon
which they have hitherto stood.
The Statutes now in force, imposing up
on members of money making corporations
the personal liability to pay their own debts,
and prohibiting private corporations, princi-
pally owned and controlled by foreign CAPT
talists, from wrestling their property from
our citizens, without their consent, against
their will, and at prices which they are per-
mitted to have no voice in determining, are
especially obnoxious TO the sticklers for mo-
nopoly and special privileges
For ourselves we have no idea that either
Of these positions will be abandoned by the
democrats in the legislature, nor out Of it,
this year, nor for many years to come.
These enactments have long been requir-
ed by the people ofthe States. They have
been but recently adopted as the fruit oflong
and severe contest with the enemies of equal
rights. They are now upon their trial.
Their practical effect has thus far been en-
inently salutary and acceptable They were
loudly demanded before their final adoption
by the people Of the State through the press,
in the town, county, district and State con-
ventions, in the primary meetings and in all
ways and forms in which they could make
their voice aud wishes known. They were
most sirenuously resisted by their opponents
from The beginning, aud made the absorb
ing issues in the State election ofIS42-
They were urged by them upon the people
as the test upon which the election was TO
turn. Upon this ground the democracy met
them and Joined issue. The people decided
in favor of these measures by majority lar
ger than had ever before been given in any
contested election. The legislature of that
year gave effect to this expression of the
popular will, by incorporating into the Re-
vised Statutes the law Of the personal liabil-
iiy of members of corporations, and re-en-
acting the rail road law which had been al
most unanimously passed in June $780,
The factions of federalism were not satisfied
with this decision. They again made these
questions the tests in the election of lS43.
and again the people decided in their favor
by decisive maiorities in all branches of the
government. The advocates Of special priv
ileges made their next onset upon the leg
islature elected that year, at the last June
session. Propositions were introduced into
the House of Representatives for the repeal
Of all these offensive measures-full discuss
ions were had and votes taken thereon. The
democrats Of that legislation nobly stood their
ground. They upheld the principles they
were elected to maintain, by decisive major
lilies, against all attacks and all opposition.
But the enemy were not even now dis
heartened. With zeal and perseverance
worthy of better cause, they proclaimed
their determination TO continue the contest
They then informed us that the people in
the election of 1914 would retain these re-
!ractory representatives at home, and send
10 the capital in their stead those who would
be more plant TO do the bidding of corpora
ton agents, and lobby members, represent
ing the interests Of mopoly from Boston and
Lowell, Nashua and Manchester. To this
end they in the recent election especially
and avowedly concentrated their efforts up
on the election of members ofthe House and
Senate. Every element Of opposition, rem
egades and factionists of every grade and
hue, combined as usual with the party of
federalism 10 defeat the candidates of the de-
mocracy.
And what has been the result? A House
of Representative with radically democrat
ic molority more than doubled from that of
last year--a senate which when the vacan-
cies are filed will be unanimously democrat
ic with one solitary exception-all the dem
ocratic councillors chosen-and our candid
ate for Governor, whose name is emblemat-
ic of his character -who Is true os steeI 10