Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-12-09
The next legislature.

representatives OF tue feople VIII again meel
to consider the past, present, and future condi-
ton of our young and growing State. As has
been the case for years past, the entire power OF
shaping its destiny is in the hands of that party
claiming to be the exclusive friends of popular
institutions. The first questions IN every mind
ought to be, what should be done to avert the
consequences of previous mistakes, and to shape
the future course of the State, so as to recover
in the shortest possible period, The losses which
have inevitably resulted therefrom? What
course shall be pursued to promote the happi-
ness, the security, the prosperity of every in
habitant ofthe Peninsula; of eUery individual, no
matter how humble, whose residence is within
the bounds of the jurisdiction of Michigan
What shall be done to promote honesty in COM
mercial and political life, and happiness equality
and comfort in all the ramifications of society,"
The laws make people after all quite as much
as the people make the laws; and the spirit in
which the government of a people is administer
ed, nsensbly leavens the whole mass.
The rapid retrograde of the lower classes and
the equally rapid adherence to the higher, thro'-
out the world, no less in our own highly favor
ed country than elsewhere; admonshes us that
something should speedily be done to retard
tendency which is so surely bringing upon us
all the degrading distinctions, and all the enslav
ing necessities of the old world. Amid all the
financial crses-amid all the crash of bankrupt
cies and the pressure of times, class of men,
favored by law, exist In ease and aflluence and
emerge only the more prosperous for the SEEM
ing fiery trial. Labor is compelled to receive
lowlier dwelling and a more economical sub
sstence; the prospects of competence is snatch
ed from thousands of the poor, and the means
of honorable living from thousands of others;-
the prosperity and advancement of the State is
Frustrated yet this favored class, rise aboue the
general wreck like Phoenix from its ashes, to
dazzle the eyes of their victims, and soar above
the reach of harm.
1t might well be supposed that the ordinary
differences OF ability and fortune would create
all the distinctions which could safely exist in
Republic, yet how immeasureably have these
distinctions been increased by partial laws
The salaries of public officers, so far beyond the
pay of common, or even skilllul mechanical la
Dor, has created class of men, who, if only sell
dom successful, can afford to devote their every
effort to the means necessary to constitute them
selves the governing class; and, as their num-
Der is few, they are to all intents dristocrdcy
Though compelled to do homage to the people
for their support, they constitute class, whose
interests are distinct from the people and often
at variance. As politics and government be-
comes their trade, they fall into the practice of
making all they can by it; only caring to help
themselves under the pretence of offciously he'll
ping their constituents. May not this be, and
has it not been, fruitful source of partial Le-
gisIaton! OF that Legislation of which our
own State has been a most miserable yictlm.-
Let us dgress fo- moment to gaze on the
most mournful and notable example of false
and partial Legislation. The State of Penn
sylvania chartered a corporation known as the
United States Bank; a nelghboring State char
tiers the Morris Canal Company, both protested
Iy for the benefit of the people, and in strict ac
cordence with the genius of our government, as
we are bound to suppose. The State of Michi- |
gan, with the laudable purpose of Improvement,
borrows $5,O00,OOO of these companies for
which, to the entire amount, her bonds are CIV
en-, while she receives but a small installment.
Ere any more is paid the legal fictions called |
corporations, disappear; the State bonds are
hypothecated to secure the debts of these bodies
the quid pro quo of which the
indivIdal members of these bodies carry off in
the private capacities! Nor is this ALL The
climax is yet to come. The State struggles on
amid thickening embarrassment, until compelled |
to Weld to necessity, she unwisely creates an
other legal corporate body of the same materi-
ais, in part which constituted the former, and |
this body presents the same bonds and receives
in exchange, for the worthless paper the valua-
Bile works of the State.
The very men who swindled the State OF
Michigan under the charter of the Morris Canal
Company, now possess every atom OF her ayaiia-
bile property in virtue of the effects of that very
swinIle. Has any of them suffered! Have
they not come out of their leagal frauds veal
thicr than they entered them? Have they crea-
ted this wealth! Yes, to the second question.
No, to the first and third. They have not sui
fered, they have become weather, but they
have not created wealth. They have managed
under color of law to make wealth change ow-
ners They have managed by legal fraud to WI
den the gulf between them and the mass by
stripping away the lawful property OF the latter
and diyerting it to their own use.
The General Banking law was an insane Ell
fort of the people to remedy this evil by ena-
bling all to become the guilty partakers OF it,
AS might be expected, they pulled down ruin on
heir own heads. How much better would IT !