The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-02

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would frequently add not one cent to
the value Of real estate on the nothern
line, because its commerce may have
other markets. On the contrary il
might, and sometimes would ruin the
commercial towns situated on the north
ern line. SO that if this system of leg
islalion shall continue and prevail, the
taxpayer will sometimes be compelled
to pay for first rate calamity, as if it
were blessing of the first magnitude.
Oh, the thing is aorong. 1t will not
terminate well. No human laws can
sanction such rank injustice, and the
divine laws never will.
This new species Of legislation. -.
gether with the immense extent of our
State works, will afford great and in.
creasing mass of local, private, and in
dividuaI enactments. This is a conse'
queuce much to be regretted. There
is always much more iniquty in the
private legislation Of popular assem-
bly, than in their genera! laws. The
committee has no confidence in the ca.
paci,y Of the great public, whether Of
State or OF county, to manage COM
mercial affairs with success. Such af-
fairs essentially demand the supervision
Of private sagacity. skill, and industry.
The pecuniary losses to the taxpay-
ers will, therefore, probably be great,
in time to come, as they unquestlona-
bly, have been in times gone by. This
consideration is important, and not to
be overlooked by The legislator. But
it is in reality consideration of secon-
dary magnitude in the mind of the pat.
riot. The great, the capital objection
in his mind is, the lowering of the stan
dard of political and public morality
by the everlasting collision Of private
and public interest. Is not this SO! Is
not happiness the onl y rational object
Of human pursuit? And is happiness
ever found out of the company of vir-
tue? Or rather, is she not injured by
the slightest approach toward vice?
Of all men living, the members of
the General Assembly have the most
direct. immediate, and personal inter-
est in raising the standard Of political
morality. | appeal t" every Senator
if, when though private solicitation, or
the apparent necessities OF his situation,
he is tempted to the enactment ofart OF
intrigue, or to perform the work OF mere
political arrangement, his moral iacul-
lies do not revolt and refuse to perform
the ignominious task without !oathing?
| Who is there that has not experienced
tina: his pure cup Of happiness is min
gIed with gall from this very source? 1t
must be so. 1t is so in the nature OF
| things. For as the corporeal eye is so
constituted as to be delighted with the
sight of green fields, and sparkling foun-
tains, and silver rIvuets, and sloping
hill sides, and is offended at the sight Of
calerpillars, and vermin, and filth, and
obscenity, so the mental eye is delight
ed with exhibitions of fcandor and frank
ness, and simplicity, and manly bold
ness, and generosity, and is dissusted
with the appearance OF art and in
lrigue, and cunning, and dissimuation,
and sel6shness. Then what language
can adequately paint the folly ofintro
ducing a whole system Of Legislation
which cannot even be approached with
oul feeling the impulse of irregular in.
huences! The enactmen. OF general
laws unconnected with partizan, or To-
cal, or personal interests, puts the NOR
al faculties to no such torture. The leg
islator, in such cases, is free to act in
accordance with his conscience and his
reason, and the known will and wishes
Of his constituents.
The committee is not visionary. Men
will never he entirely separated from
th,Ir frailies. The destined struggle
between the spirit OF right and the splr-
it Of wrong, the genins of good and the
genius of evil. will no doubt proceed to
the end Of time-but il is to be hoped
with increasing advantages on the side
Of rec.ilude; and we are false to our
selves, and false to our posterity, if we
do not make strenuous exertlons TO IN,
cline the victory more and more TO the
standard of virtue. If such be our as
pirallons, if such be our aims, we must
Danish this species of local, personal,
and interested Legislation from our halls
for Its breath is of sufficient virulence
to poison.a destroy political morality.
There is still another circumstanc
( which ought, in prudence, to forbid ev-
cry sovereign from engaging in com
mercial adventures. The government
| is most unfortunate and unwieldy
experimenting power. The Peoples
organ Of fsuperln.endence is the General
Assembly. How can the duty of su-
perinlendence be adequately perform.
I IL. a.,