Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-09-15
THE LET-ALONE POLICY.

How long is it to be before mankind generally
and lawmakers particularly, will learn to let mat
tiers alone that have never yet thriyed under their
interference. 1t strikes US as a very plain PROPOSE
ton, that all matters of trade and business will
much better regulate themselves, than legislation
can possibly regulate them.
There was a time in the history of the world,
when tyrants took every thing they wanted from
their subjects by the strong arm of force by unds-
gused robbery, But the people got too smart for
that and other modes had to be resorted to. Then
came tariffs and taxes and excuses and banks and the
Lord knows what, which accomplished the result in
a somewhat more gentle and less perccptible man.
ner The question is now whether shall ever
grow out of those things. and people be permitted
10 retain to themselves what they earn. Five mil
lloas year would be ample for a legitimate admin
isration OF government and vet by means OF tariff
for protection and revenue, we presume the people
pay Sl00UO00O0, Why, in the name of common
sense do the people prefer to pay one hundred mil
lions, instead of onetwentieh part oft But this
is the smallest part of the burdens with which peo-
Pile voluntarily tax themselves Look over the
whole face of the land visit every city and town
and village and hamlet of our extended country
and enumerate if you can, the thousands who live
upon laws ostensibly to protect the rights and inter
ests OF the people the necessity OF which, howe
yer, is entirely imaginary. But these things are
not what designed to speak of In the late Hi
nois Constitutional Convention, member introdu
ced proposition that all contracts wherein Bank
paper was made consideration. should have no
binding force, aud ii a man paid a debt in Bank
paper, the creditor could sue him. and recover it
again in coin. Now, we desire to ask if this pro-
position, which was grayely received and entertain
ed, and which received some considerable encour-
agement Is much short of an insult TO every
man OF even ordinary discretion! Why NAV not
men trade as they please, and take what they please
in payment for their sales? If choose to take
bass wood chips for my load Of wheat. whose busl-
ness is it! What right have lawmakers TO presume
that business men are incapable Of taking care of
themselves Propositions OF this character gener.
ally come from demagogues whose love for the dear
people knows no sensible bounds They want 70
take care Of them in every relation of HE and sur
round them with wall Of statutes, that no rogue
can ever penetrate to DO them harm. OF this char
acter was the bank article of our late Constitution
which caused its rejection, People will DO longer
submit TO have their ordinary BUSINESS interfered
with in that way and we are glad TO see it. II
quack legislators will let the currency alone. we
will engage that the people viii take care of them,
selves. Let not the Legislative power of the coun-
try be lent, under any circumstances, to give
character currency to any institution for money
making purposes and the people viii not be deceiy-