The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-12-18
$84,521 IS

THIS amount has been drawn from the
canal fund, being the interest on the prin-
'ciple Of each fund.
1t is apparent that special and local leg
"lslation in this State has been INDUCED un-
til it has truly become an evil. Within
the last six years, two thousand and fifty
nine acts have been passed, of which sew
cnteen hundred and forty-six are special
statutes, and three hundred and thirteen
fall under the denomination Of general
laws. That there are cases involving pri.
yate and local interests, which deserve
and should receive the attention Of the
Legislature, no one doubts, but the chief
part Of the time and expenditure assign.
cd to legislation, cannot be properly con
sumed in the enactment Of special statutes
Laws should he general and just, and like
the air and light of heaven, extend theiI
saIutary and benign influence equally anC
alike to all. Special exemptions, specia
privileges, and local advantages produce
injustice and oppression, and are Away.
more or less fraught with danger. In act:
for local and private purposes, the Legis
%Iature is very liable to be misIed by mis-
representations, and the opportunities Of
individuals. 1t is believed that genara
regulations, which would supersede tho
necessity Of the chief part of our specia
legislation, could be adopted upon term:
and conditions fixed in a general law, ant
afford all the Just and rightful advantage.
and protection which can be demanded.
OF the seventeen hundred and forty
six special acts above mentioned, clever
hundred and twenty-seyen relate to cor.
porations-the grants Of exclusive priyil
eyes, and special immunities to asSocia
tons o findiyiduais. This class Of specia.
Legislation has been continued in nearly
an equal ratio for the last ten years; anc
should it be preserved in, and corpora
tons continue to multiply as heretofore
for the next twenty years the State will
be literally matched with charters Of in.
corporation, and the past subtoruges, pre-
fences, frauds and profigacy Of corpora
tons will form but a miniature cpitome o
what will be exhibited in future. An o
yo~rshadowing combination Of artificial
persons and lacticious Interests will be ere
ated, which will trampIe upon the right:
of natural persons, override the barrier:
o fjustice, and annihilate the equality o
rights which forms the corner stone o
our free institutions. All experience ha:
taught us, that men will do things wheI
associated under the cover Of a charter
which they would shudder OF the bare idet
Of doing as private individuals. One 0
the evil tendencies Of the present age is
veniaI spirit of adventure, stimulated by
thirst to acquire property without earn
ing it, and a desire to transact busincs
through theagency of acts Of incorpora
ton. Wealth has its appropriate inlu
ence, and possesses naturally intrinsic ad
vantage5 over labor; but when associate,
under charters, and favored with specia
immunities, and exclusive privileges,
builds up oppressive monopolies in the bu
siness of the country, and acquires an un
due a~scendcncy over the interests an
rights OF the private citizen.
Acts Of incorporation are usually oil
tanned under the pretence of advancin
the public interests, but the real object
too often merely to obtain an exemptio
from the responsibilities to which naturo
personsar are subjected, and a cloak for frau
and deception. The only legitimate pur
poses for which acts Of incorporation ca
in most cases be sought, are simply TO ac
qure the right of suing and Icing sued i
a corporate name, and oftaking, holding
and conveying the title to propert,
through the authority of tho representa-
tives ofthe association. These objects ca.
be fully and more conveniently attaine,
by a general law Of joint stock partner
ships, for the benefit Of all associations G
every description which may have a reg
ular organization, and a record thereof
the Recorders office in the county i
which located. Such joint stock associt
tions would not be corporations, but the
would possess all the necessary and legit
mate advantages for the transaction {
their company business, without tho SIP,
cial exemptions and exclusive privilege