Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-06-02


ton, men must be allowed 10 swindIe by
statute, and perpetrate frauds by legislative
enactment--then for one ] say let them
remain unconstructed; and if the people Of
the State remain poorer, than they would
otherwise be- they will have the satisfac-
tion of knowing their moral rectitude is
untarnished. --.---.-
1t is strange, most strange. that whenever
a fraud is opposed, or wrong stopped, or
a moral evil corrected, the leaders of the
vhig party are always ready to step for
ward as the unblushing advocates of fraud,
wrong, and immortality. I cannot tell
whether the individual liability provision
will prevent the further construction of
works OF internal improvement or not-but
this 1 can tsll-that. among and upon
honest men it should not so operate.
But the liability clause is not more
frightful in the opinion of the address, than
that other provision, which renders incor-
porated companies, and the individual
stockhoider liable s'to have all their rights
swept away at any moment by an arbitra-
ry legislature repeal"
This is sheer nonesens e-ba,dordash.-
| There is not one provision in the whole of
the new constitution which not only does
not favor, but which permits the rights of
1ndlvi duals 10 be ''swept away by The leg
lslative' enactment-on The contrary pri-
vate and public rights in property, ure
most carefully and strictly guarded, and
nshaH euer be held inriolate,' both by the
State and the people, @. s g
i The writers OF the address most certainly
knew TINT, and in insolence, have imposed
the people incapable Of comprehending the
plain meaning Of language. They know
that, the entire new constitution does not
contain one single provision which ought
10 deter an honest man from giving it
hearty support; although it dces no, con.
tain many provisions which are terror to
scoundrels. and it may be, the last conside-
GRAFTON is the one which operates most
strong ) on their minds, and gives point 10
their hostility.
Examine this provision Of repeal, and
TO what does it amount! For illustration
| will take n case. The Columbus and
Xenia Railroad Compony, have, under
their charter. constructed this read They
have been honest and paid their debts.-
They have been wise and obtained @.
lease for their rIgh: Of way, over the lands
through which their road passes, they are
an incorporated company, and The individ-
uals composing it, are each, severaly
stockholders. Now, suppose lhe charter
of this company should, by Legislative re-
peal, be taken from them tomorrow, in
what way would it change the rights of
the co mpany and Of the individuals com.
posing it and owning the stock?
They would be deprived of their seal
and incorporated name in and by which
they could sue, and be sued-und the indi.
vidual Stockholders would change in char.
acter from Stockholders to partners in the
grea. firm OF the Columbus and Xenia
Railroad Company. And this is all the
change ackich such repeal acO"ld effect.
Instead Of an iucorpora ed company u~n-
ing the road. a company of individuals
would own it, and in these individuals, and
each OF them would be vested Tho property
ofthe road rs his and their own private
property carefully secured to them and
their use, and benefit, against all trans
gressors by the declaration that, ''private
property shall ever be held inYiolale y
AS then, The repeal of law does not
change the rights of parties, in the proper
ty, the right OF repe1 in The General AS,
scmbly, cannot seriously be made an cb-
lection 10 the new constitution.
TRUTH.