Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-08

lion Of Slavery; i, is running us as people,
impovishing. US as a Stale, and poisoning
our public private morals"
Action for lSlander-Heary DGmages.-At
the Court Of Common Pleas at Cambridge.
Margaret X. Russell a minor, brought an ac-
lion, through James o. Curtis, her guardian.
against j. q. A. Russell, for Islander, in words
spoken against her fair fame. and recovered
damages to the amount Of eighteen hundred
dollars.
Matne.-Governor Anderson, in his Mes
sage 10 The Legislature. shows the financial
affairs Of the Stale &c be in prosperous condi-
tion. The receipts of the year are $500, $50
the expenditure S290,555.
II has been calculated tina, twelve men,
reading twenty-four hours day, at the rate of
eighty words per minute. would barely keep
up with The works published in London. and
III magazines and newspapers were added,
II would require upwards Of forty men.
SELL, the veteran Printer aud Editor of The old
columbian Cenlinel,' died 10 Boston On Sat-
urday morning. aged SO years. He was wi
wy hhNNh oio 'CISdII} iccltCltus
! MILwAuKIE MARINE AND FIRg Insurance
CoMpANY.-The following report of the Judi.
ciary Committee relative to this concern, points
on, the law governing the legislative power
/ 10 repeal charters, in its true light; yet quite
different from that usually acted upon 10 the
! Western states. No legislature has the pow.
er to repeal the charter Of any institution. with
out showing, by Judicial investigation that
it has violated the same, and wherein
The quite common plan of going to work up
on the mere ipsi DIRT of certain individuals,
and break up the business Of corporation.
is, we believe. stepping beyond the vested
power Of just legislation. Illinois has acted
npon this plan, until capitalists have little or
no confidence in The permauency or security
of chartered privileges in that state.
REPORT
Of the Committee on The Judiciary rciatiue 10 The
Uiscoasin Marine AID Fare E.su-
Taace Company.
The committee on the judiciary 10 whom was re-
ierred the l"llowins resolution, to wat:
Resolred, That the committee the Judicial
ry be and they are hereby instructed to inquire in
TO the legality OF passing law repeating the char
ter Of the Wisconsin Marine aud Fire Insurance
Company, and have leave 10 repor. by bill 1r 9TH
erwise," beg leave to submit the following as their
report.
The committee during the recess Of the Council,
have diligently searched such authorities as has
been afforded them BY limited library, Tor the
purpose of obtaining, If possible, some authorities
ia cases already adjudca,ed to sustain law
Dealing the charter Of sad company; but fnf tho
current of authorities decidedly against such pow
er being vested in the legislature. (See Fletcher
w. Peck, 6 Cranch Re p. 81. The State of New
York rs. Wilson, 7, ibid, 1854; 9 ibid. -, in case
Of Ferret Vs. Taylor. Also, Daltm0u Il College vs.
Woodwar; Wheaton, 5l8). In keats Com.
| page 306,we find the following prnbiplo laid DOM:
"a private corporation, whether civil eleemos-
ynary, is contract between the government and
the corporations, and the Legislature cannni repeal,
impair alter the rights and privileges conferred
by the charter against the consent and without tine
default Of the corporation, Jwicial,y asec tanned
a1f declared"
4 The learned author ard all authorities admit
that if clause permitting the legislature to amand,
alter or repeal be inserted in the charter, that the
| Legislature has an unhispuled right repeal sIch
charter, &c. All the decisions based upon the
ground that government contracts with the corpora
tiohs and that such repeating law impairs the obi
CATION of contracts and therefore uncoa :iu;iona;
and the committee believe that tina co-ectness OF
these authorities, is so genereIy admitted, that
repeal OF the charter wouiy be held by courts
TO he void on the ground above stated
The doctrine of repeal contendcd far by many
OF our eminent staI esmen, does not in any manner
conflict with the decisions Of any case that has
come within our research. II has aeycr been con-
tended that Parliament has not thn power TO repeal
auy charter by them granted The provision OF
! the constitution on which these decisions
made, apply only to state legislatures, and do not
affect in anywiso the power of. Congress; Con.
has all the powers over its chartered institutions
that Parliament has over theirs; ami il appears
question could be raised upon the consttutional-
" OF an act pealng charter that had been Gre
ated by Congress. From the able reports of com-
mittaes of former le 5s'aures who have had the sab
ject under consideration aside Gom what VIC daily
see, (iheir bills), close examnat on of its char
Ter, aad adjndicated cases upon such institutions,
and the powers granted them, the committee have
no hesitation III declaring that the company have
forfeited their charter. They have ce fanny oxe;-
cised banking privileges. The charter fogbils such
acts. But admit for the sake OF arg .meut that the
charter grants ,hsm such powers, The act then is
yod for Congress has never acted upUA :A5ir char
I ter.
The committee therefore recommend thai the
Attorney General OF this Territory be requested TO
inst,nte legal p.oeedinss against the company,
that the act Incorporating them may, as it ought
to DC, declared void: and that hs "souiisss being"
DC brought a hreiy sense Of its duties" and
behold its " eaornons injq Iites."
WIRAM KNOWLTON,
MARSHALL VI. STRONG,
JOHN CATLIN.