The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-08-29
THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF LEG
lSLA rlON.

The rights Of property and the modes o!
those nights, are the princip al
subjects treated of by our civil laws. LII
- indispensable iha, The law should define
and declate what are valid rights in respect
10 dominion over external things; ami that,
It should guard those rights from f9rclble or
fraudulent inlraclon, both by preventative
aud remedial ehactmenls Otherwise, the
peace Of society could not be preserved, and
the weak would be objected to the opplos-
sion and injustice of the powerful. Further
It is eminen,ly convenient, q, least that the
aw should prescribe rules for the convey
ancc OF property, or rather, Of rights there
to. BW ,h ere, !, is conceived, as general
rule the law should stop' lis proper Office
is filled: and that when il iranscends this
limit; when it gives privileges to some per-
sons over others and when it creates arIfi-
caI beings 10 own ptoperty-to compete
with individuals in the acquisition of wealth;
II is treadlng on ground dangerous both 10
individual and public welfare
| But, the law has been made 10 transcend
this lie just Limits it has given undue advan,
Iages to some persons over otbers: it has
granted privileges 10 some unenjoyed BY
others-'exempiions from common liability
II has created monopoIes in most of The
pursuits of lie, agriculture excepted: 1t has
created artificial eXistences to compete with
natural ones in the acquisition Of wealth
The injurious consequences of this policy
are both Gear and alarming; and it becomes
US 10 open our eyes TO It's true character.
Equality Of rights, and not equality Of
condition, constitutes republican liberty;
and whatsoever trenches upon this, is Him-
zeal to our system, and is to be coniended a.
galnst. The conditions OF men will be va
RED. No law can equalze The nteIects Of
people, any more than il can give to all
The same ply sical strength Bu. it can give
them equal rights; and all legislation should
keep This object steadily in view.
Upon this principle Democracy plants
itself: equal rights 10 all, special iavors to
none Federalism, on the other hand, has
continually sought TO draw off legislation
rom this principIe, md make i, conduce 10
he interests OF class, or Of few. What
were the alien and sedilion laws, but an un-
Just discrimination between different classes
OF inhabitants! Federalism, by their enac,
men', prohibited portion Of The inhabitants
OF the country, from enjoying political
rights. New England Federalism opposed
'he war Of 1912 becaese, although rendered
necessary to vindicaie the rights and honor
Ioi ne country, it affected injurIously the in
eres's OF class, the commercial capitalists.
II stopped their gains from commerce, and
I'hey threatened 10 cut loose from the union
rather than sUbmi! 10 have their profits cnr
'aI.ed, This dOiiar patriotism, however,
was made TO bend 10 Me interests and hon
or OF The union as o whole, & we came out
of that war with vindicated rights and eelab-
IIshed character. When we come down TO
later times we find federalism, under new
names, true TO its ancient ldllh, and advoca-
lung measures as unjust and dangerous as
those OF former times. Wha, was the
Bankrupt law, but sponging act for large
speculs'ors? |, was law passed for The di-
rect advantage of some thirty thousand i'm
prudent or fraudulent men, who had earned
lis passage at the hands of Federalism, by
lpolIlCal services rendered in the various
Ipancs from 80 10 1910. 1t was not law
lcaIcuIaled for The unfortunate of all classes ip
The country but for a class, and that one the
least mertOrlous that could be selected
The slate insolvent laws, were Sufficient iorl
the tradesman, the farmer and ihe mechanicl
in short for the people generally; but Fed-l
erasm must legslse for q class, and il Sc
Iee'ed' the children of folly, and fraud, and
|eHme!--Agan, IN regard 10 business Incor-
pora'Ions, II is clear that they operate iniu,
HouSly nPon private rights, and that they
are created expressly 10 benefit n few a, The
expense OF the many. And yet, federalism
Is their fast advocate and lriCnd They are
IN PLAIN English, cOnIrivsnces by which al
lew persons can make moIe money lhanl
We rest OF lhe community; Conlriyancep h,