Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-04-15
Individual Liability.

AHClC 10 Aiue ulueTcIlCe DeJWeeI
ah adherence to principles 5of thu
Justice Of which we are satisfied, and
a stubborn consistency which disre-
ghrqs al I change Of time and circum-
stance. Perhaps the man of the
strif test inaexibilitY Of purpose, viii
vhry his opinions IN est frequently
To the superficial observer, this mar
will appear to be irresolute and vas
cillatings and liable TO be blown about
1 BY every wind of doctrine, while to
the phil sopher he will exhibit a fdel-
ity to principle, WHICH is itself sub
seryient to the mutability of all hui
man things.
Of all faults to bedespised in pub
lie men, that Of inconsistency stands
preeminen+. It is the inseparablf
incident to weakness, and some pot
litical economist, with whom we cam
not altogether agree, has said that d
bad prince is preferat lie to weak one!
True consistency holds a middle Pc
sition between the extremes Of per
versity of mind, and that of supple
ness to every popular whim and pref
udice.
He who has acquired the virtue o.
consistency, is generd Ply fortified with
a list of fixed principles, which he
rigldly applies to all eases that are
submitted to him. His consistency
performs the functions of a chemist,
who selects his well tried tests, and
after a. fair examination pronounces
the metal to be precious or worthless.
The individual liability principle
was long since declared to be card-
nal principle of the democratic faith,
springing out of a long established
opposition to chartered privileges
MonopoHes are. an anomaly in our
system Of free institutions, and ought
only to be tolerated in some particu
lar cases Of urgent necessity. We
think that the day has gone by when
any body. Of men petitioning for cor
porate privileges, viii be allowed to
concentrate capital and carry trade,
and compete with and vanquish indi
vidual enterprise, without mourning
the responsibilities Of business, under
the sanction Of an act of legislation.
individual capital is the natural and
rightful product Of each, mans indus
try and energy, and in its growth had
to rough al the vicissitudes of trade.
Risks had to be encountered and
losses retrieved, and yet in defiance
of all draw backs, it attained ripe
manhood u hder thegenera al protection |
Of the laws, and without the aid Of
special Legislation. Capital is the
restless an d formidable foe of labor,
and is ever trying to red uce it under
its control. Without L be artificial
assistance Of chartered privileges, the |
cagerness a nd vigor of youthful la
Dor is able to contend successfully /
with the eau. ION and timid ity of cap
ital.
It's indeed manifestb selfish, that
those who have acquired wealth by
their own kin, economy and enter
prise, shoul ID ask for charter ena-
bling them to monopolize a peculiar
business, vi thdraw it from the area
of general competition, without in
curing the responsibilities which
they themselves did in early life, and
natural PERSONS must do now. 1t is,
moreover, contrary to the true spirit !
Of democracy, to confer any unequal
privilege, and destroy that equality
which pervades our social, industrial ,
and political rights, to the same ex-
tent. N
Individual capital is amply -suh- $
.ient to carry out all Legitimate en-
,e,-np;ses. and unfold the re- sources of /
~ state at has extended our L