Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-01-27
Ibe DO rtaae 5el,tinel.
Monday, Jan. 2s. is s L.
Corporations and the People.

We have letter from ColumpuS "hich
speaks confidently OF the repeal OF the Home
stead Exemption law. This law has been
in force but little over seven months, and
consequently a sufficient time has not elaps-
ed to test its practical effects. Its passage
was hailed with rejoicing by the people gen.
erally of all sections Of the State-not be-
cause the act was right and perfect in its
details. or that it might not in some instanc-
es operate injuriously though we are at
a loss to determine wherein-but because
it recognized the principle of mans right to
the soil, to home, to the natural means
of sustaining life, and Of which he might
not be deprived by reason of unforeseen
adverse circumstances, or through the in
strumentality Of designing spectators and
shavers. The right thus acknowledged is
as natural and inherent as the right of life
and liberty, and without the full and prac-
teal acknowledgement of which that life
NAV not be maintained or that liberty de-
Tended. 1t is only necessary to look at the
condition of the countries of the Old World
where the lands are owned by the few, for
a practical illustration of this fact--it is
only necessary to lcok upon the dark pic
ture which Ireland presented but recently
when gaunt famine walked through that
land, and in damp cellars and dark garrets
and in the public streets summoned his
thousands of victims to that bourne from
which no traveller returns while thousands
of broad acres were made but the sporting
ground of some lord of land. This was
the practical working of a system of Land
Monopoly-an an evil of which the American
people seem to have no fears or which they
are putting afar off. But, while the pub
lie domain is open to the grasp of the spec
ulator, and while the privilege is allowed
him Of stripping every one whom he may
induce into his snare of his last acre, SIM
liar result may eventually be brought about
in this Gland of the free and home of the
brave" Against such result noav is the
time to act. .. .#.
The Homestead Exemption law was an
act which secured a man in the enjoyment
of his natural right. 1t was Contract,
in which the State had agreed to protect
her citizens in the natural means of sustain
ing life and maintaining their independence.
But it denied the right and power of capi-
tai to rob man of that right; and hence
capitalists become clamorous for its repeal.
Nor do they even so much as claim that
the Legislature should provide for paying
to those whom it thus robs of their birth
right, any compensation for the damages
they may sustain in consequence thereof.
No; the people may be stripped of their
rights and made the prey of crafty specu-
lators, but no one may murmur or COM
mplain; ard the eharter-mongers and shy
locks will all approve such legislation.
Ohio is dotted over with corporations, the
creatures Of special and partial legislation,
which are endowed with powers and privi-
Ieges which are denied to the people, and
yet, however much those privileges may
be abused, or however much their powers
employed to Cypress the people, these corpo.
rationists claim that no legislative act can
interfere with them to strip them Of their
franchises. They claim to be entirely be-
yond the reach of the power of the people
or their representatives; and In the consti-
tutional Convention recently, men calling
themselves Democrats have so far given
laid and comfort to the charter mongers as
to claim that if the Legislature did inter-
fers with corporations TO strip them Of their
charters, to save the people from their op-
pressions, robberies and wrongs, they sho'd
be compensated for any pretended loss they
might sustain!
The doctrine of the advocates of special
privileges is, that the Legislature may in
terfere with the natural rights of the citizens,
but that the rested aorongs of these char
ter-mongers are foo sacred to be touched.
And is it true that the people have thus
permitted their representatives to bind and
fetter them and place their rights, their in
terests and their liberties in the hands and
keeping Of the soulless corporations of the
State? Do the people acknowledge the
right of corporations to control them? or,
will they assert and maintain their right to
control corporations? We shall see.
Free Banking.
The Senate of Ohio have had General
Banking Law under discussion for several
days, and much confidence has been ex-
pressed tha j: it would pass. But the follow