Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1845-02-13
The Constitution.

lion. whenever we SiHSlc ou' ony
particular feature as Objectionable. we e
have the credit of ,hrus,ing forward our
cardinal, if not our sole dissent from It's
provisions. Thus the Reporter "gath'
ers'' from our late article; that our
chief opposition to it is its corporation
restrictions. Although this IS not
true inference, let il stand as II Is
We are advocates for corporate endow-
ments upon rational and appropriate
conditions. Not in small ways and
for sordid purposes. but for enterprise
upon large scale, carrying with It all
increase Of public benefits. We 40 not
believe in chartering companies to build
Touring Mills so by 40, or granting
r-..e' 60 "A associates OF half dozen
for ,tafrin.8u a twenty feet VIDE creek,
with he t,ght Of taxing flowage ground
when they please and where they
please. at an assessed value. For
Banking with capital of not less than
500 900; for making Slackwater navl.
CATION in our water courses; for con-
struc,ing Rail Roads, if ever demanded
by the public necessity; for manufac.ur.
ing on large scale; for canaling the
upper and lower rapids on the Missls-
sppi; or for any other project, requiring
an investment. beyond the prudence or
| The ability Of any one or two indivldu-
ais, we do contend for Corporate
grants, and it is of small account to US
whether it is christened federalism,
| or Loco Focoism. Either or both,ll is
common sense.
No sane man contends that private
| corporation should have the right to
take private property for private pur-
poses, except by fair bargaining with
the proprietor. Would it be Of any
benefit to the Territory to make the
Des Moiues, Skunk and Iowa rivers
navigsble for Steamboats,, by dams and
locks? and il so. who but private
Corporation will do the work! Will
individuals! Surely not. Will the
State! The very thought is treason to
modern Democracy. Suppose this
scheme to be in agitation, is it not in
the power of the gripping land owner on
the route, to deprive the people of all
the advantages Of the impr ovement, by
demanding price for his property be-
yond reasonable limits. in which nulli-
flying position, he is sustained by the
| Constitution.
We do not object to the right to re-
peal Corporation act by the Leglsla.
ture in cases of abuse or infraction. It
would be curious contract indeed,
where one party was bound and the
other left in full freedom, and this is
the precise situation of body charter
ed under this Constitution. The Leg
islature have the power of taking it
from them at any moment, with, or
without cause. 1t is not charter-n
is not even bargain-it is simply
uflerance-permission graciously ex.
tended. to be ungracionsly revoked at
any moment and for any cause. The
head ache Of an overnight. debauche,
or the indig estion Of an over. tasked
stomach, may vent its i'll nature upon
an incorporation, by giving the casting
vote, which takes back the conferred
powers. What capitalist-of all men
the most sensitive in matters of invest
would ever put his means in a
condition to be affected by the most
insignifcan, resentment, or the smallest
5' regard 10 the individ-
/ 3oi it' ~ curporanons in Massa.
ie r5sae wiz nol tell the whole
futt, ar make Do allusi"n TO the case.
individual liability the condition of
taking an act of incorporation. or one
of the penalties for neg'ecting to COM
ply with The restrictions? Chartered
companies are required to make public
statements annually of the stock and
the debts. and failing to do this, for a
term of years. they become personally
accountable for all claims.
Of the internal improvements Of
New Hampshire-is there over $50
miles of Rail Road in the whole State
How many miles Of Canals are there!
Who constructed these roads and put