Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-12-13

cipaI of each fund.
1t is apparent that special and local lie.
gislation in this Sta!e has been INDUCED
untiIit has truly become an evil Within
the last six years, two thousand ana ility-
nine acts have been passed, Of which Sc
venteen hundred and iorty-siX are special
statutes, and three hundred and thirteen
fall under the denomination OF general
laws That there are cases involving pr'-
vate and local interests, which deserve
and should receive the attention OF the
Legislature, no one doubts, but the ch'ei
part of the time and expenditure assigned
to legislation, cannot be properly co.'s am
ed in the enactment Of special StetufeS-
Laws should be general and just, and like
the air of heaven, extend Their salutafy
and benign influence equally and olke to
all, Special exemptions, special priv
leges, and local advantages produce IN
Justice and oppresalon and are always
more or less fra,'yht with danger. In acts
for local and private purposes, the Legs
ature is very liable to be mised by msre-
presentations, and the importunltI2s OF IN
diyidrals. 1t is believed that general re-
gulations, which would supersede the ne
cessity of the chief part of our special le-
eislaton, could be adopted upon terms and
Conditions fixed in a general law, ana
afford all the Just and rightful advantages
and protection which can be demanded.
Ofthe seventeen hundred and forty-slX
special acts above mentioned, eleven nun
dred and twenty-seyen relate to corpora
tons-the grants Of exclusive privileges,
and special immunities to associations Of
individuals. This class Of special leEsla-
ton has been continued in nearly an equal
ratio for the last ten years; and should 1t be
porsevercd in, K corporations continue to
multiply as heretofore, for the next twenty
years, the State will be literally thatched
with charters of incorporation, and the
past subtertuges, prctences, frauds and
prohigacy of corporations will form but a
miniature epjtome of what will be exhibit
cl in future, An ovcrshadowing cOmbl-
nltol of artificial persons and fictitious
interests will be created, when will tram
pie upon the natural rights Of per'Ons,
override the barriers Of justice, and anni-
bilote the equality Of rights which forms
the corner stone Of our free Institutions
All experience has taught us, that men
will do things when associated under the
cover of a charter, which they would shud-
der at the bare idea Of doing as private in
divduals, One Of the evil tendencies Of
the present age is a venial spirit Of adven-
turc, stimulated by a thirst to acquire pro,
perty without earning it, and a desire to
transact business through the agency OF
acts of incorporation. Wealth has It's APP
propriate influence, and possesses natural
" intrinsic advantages over labor, but
when associated under charters, and IA
vored with special immunitjrs, and eXclu~
sivc privileges, it builds up oppressive mo-
nopoIies in the business ofthe country, and
ACQUIRES an undue ascendenCy over the
interests and rights of the private citizen.
Acts Ofincorporation are usually obtain
ed under the pretence OF advancing tho
public interests, but the real object is toe
often merely to obtain an exemption from
the responsibilities to which natural per-
sons are subjected, and a cloak for fraud
and deception. The only legitimate pur'
poses for which acts Of incorporation can
in most cases be sought are simply to ac'
1ure the right ofsuing and being sued in
corporate name, and of taking, holding,
and conveying the title to property thro
the authority of the representatives OF the
association, These objects can be fully
and more conveniently attained by gen.
eral law of joint stock partnerships, for the
benefit of all associations Of every desCrip.
ton which may have a regular Organlza-
ton, and Il record thereof in the Recor-
der's office in the county in which located,
Such Joint stock associations would not be
corporations, but they would possess all
the necessary and legitimate advantages
for the transaction ofthcr company busi
ness, without the special exemptions and
exclusive privileges which render corpo
rarons objectionable and dangerous.
The subject of banks and the currency
has occupied no iuconsidcrabie share o
the attention Of the Legislature in thh
State for the last ten years, and will pro
hbly continue to do so for many years tt
come. 1t involves considerations Of para
mount importance and difficulty, and eli
ther for good or for evil, hearing directly
and extensively upon the various anC
complex interests of the community. The
! diversity Of opinion on the subject, Is no
to be wondered at. Distinguished states
men, in different countries and ages, have
differed ON few subjects more widely and
warmly than upon paper money and bank
ing. Truth should be searched by can
did consideration Of the views on boil
sides of the sabiect. In the adjustmon
oft the question, The great body OF the peo
pie have a common interest, and Ccrtaln
y, no one can be governed by any othe
/, motive; than desire to see it settled /
; the manner best calculated to preserv
the safety of our institutions, and advanc
, the welfare and happiness OF the country,
D Within the last three years amaiority
s the bank charters in the State expired.
+, March l842, an act was passed, deslgnt
| to supcrscdc the necessity Of special cha
2 ters, fixing, in general law, the power
liabilities and terms of future banks, AZ
e imposing rigid restrictions on the ahus
= heretofore practiccd in banking. This Ia
was alleged to be severe, and, in Fehru
@ rv. 1849, it was amended, and a numb