Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-01-10
THE COURIER,
! OTTUMwA, IOWA:
Friday Morning, Jan. 10, 1851,
Iowa Legislature.


"Such corporations may exempt the
private property Of its members from IL
bility TO corporate debts, by provision
TO that effect in IFS articles of incorpora-
ton, but subject to the provisions of this
chapter in relation thereio.' aa
And amend by inserting the following:
"Such corporation shall not exempt
the private property of its members
from liability for corporate debts, but
each stockholder in such corporation,
shall be individually liable for all the
debts Of the Incorporation" .,., ..a'..
MIR. HARPER, a Democratic member
from Des Moines county, moved TO a.
mend the amendment by adding the fol-
lowing proviso: u.a ~, a,s..a s-
"Prorided, That such liability shall
be in proportion to the amour, of stock
subscribed" ...rf art5 g
Mr.. Harper's proviso was voted down,
and Mr.. Flint's amendment adopted. -
This amendment to the General Incor-
poration Law reported by the Commits
sioners, virtually destroys it; and no
man of sense would invest one dollar in
company organized under its provis.
ions. 1t strikes fatal blow, not only to
all Internal Improvements by private en-
terprise in the State, but also 10 the for
nation of Insurance and Manufacturing
Companies. If the Legislature consul
mate this folly, we say to capital seeking
investment, 1--WE don't want you in To-
wa, and therefore have erected high
wall to keep you out."
We had supposed in all conscience,
that the Constitution was illiberal en-
ough; and threw obstacles sufficient in
the way of the advancement and pros
perity of the people, to suit the most
radical of the lay-down, go-to-sleep, do
nothing school Of politicians-but not
SO, Mr.. Flint goes full head and shout.
ders beyond the Constitution, making
war TO the knife and the knife to the,
hilt, upon every species of Improve
ment and advancement in the State.
The people Of Iowa are just waking
up, and demand works of Improvement.
How are we 10 make them? The State
can't do it. Mr.. Flint's amendment
drives private enterprise and capital from
the field; and all the dependence we
have for these numerous and much need
ed works all over the State is on the
bounty and liberality of Congress-
Will Congress depart from its long es
,ablished policy of rejecting all local
works, and make Iowa an exception ,
No reasonable man expects il. Con
gress will help us in some Of the great
National Roads and Rivers, but no far
Their. ,s.Es3Ji 81. Eu EaE
We notice that scarcely a bill can
come up, which has for its object the
improvement of the country, but in a
moment Flint, or some one OF the des-
tructives, are upon their feet, thrus'ing
the Constitution forward as some mon
sler to swallow it up, and it sleeps the
sleep of death. Is it true people of To-
wa, as claimed by these men, that your
Constitution lies Immediately across your
road, impeding every step you attempt
to make towards prosperity and great
ness? Have you warmed a viper in
your bosoms to sting you to death, and
crush all your much cherished interests?
Is the fundamental law Of the State,
hanging like milestone around your
necks TO drag you down to the perdi!ion
of poverty and distress Ifthe Flint's,
Babbiu's, Dibble's, and Allender's are,
as they wish us and the little world that
revolve around them, to believe, good
Constitutional Lawyers, we must an
swer these questions in the affirmative;
and il is high time for the people to "a
rouse and shake off the shackles that
bind them, and as true Democrats march
on 10 prosperity, and vigorous man
hood. II it is not true, how can they
meet their injured constituents, and ex-
plain their wreckless and unjust course?
Some of Mr.. Flini's Democratic breth-
rem of the press, and in the Assembly,
have attributed this strange freak TO over
much zeal in the cause of Democracy,
that the principles Of old Hunkerisns
have run riot with his brain, causing
him to depart from the true light of De-
mocracy. We believe we hazard moth
ing in saving that eight out of every ten
OF Mr.. Flinl's constituents are of the
same mind. And now that the work of
accommodation has commenced, we
aypecf soon To roopiva Tho oo,y. &c .bo