Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-01-06
Vested Rights.

In the constitutional Convention the
question Of giving the Legislature the un-
conditional power to repeal charters being
under consideration,-
On Monday, Judge Vapc., of Butler,
made long speech against such repeal.
He contended no charters should be repeal
ed without repairing all damages that may
be occasioned thereby 10 those who have
invested money under the charter. He
thought the naked justice Of the matter was
apparent, and he revolted at the thought Of
making the State an indiscriminate rascal
violating at her discretion, the rights Of
private individuals.
Mr.. .Reemelin followed in very able
and spirited argument in favor Of the un-
conditional right of repeal. He said that
unde. the condition prescribed by the pro-
posed amendment, any corporators who
may be unsuccessful under their charter,
may procure its repeal and be made whole
in all losses which they may have volunta-
rily incurred. Under such condition there
would be lack of prudence in asking for
charters; for the hope would be INDUCED,
that if unsuccessful, all damages may be
repaired by a repeal Of the charter. They
would abuse it on purpose to- make the
State repeal it, and pay them for the prop.
erty they may have invested init. -
Mr.. Reemelin spoke on the decision Of
the U. S. Supreme Court which had been
cited against the right of repeal. He said
that he had no respect for the United
States Court. He believed its power was
too colossal and should be watched witt,
a jealous eye. He quoted Jefferson sa wing
in effect, that the time would come when
the people would trembls before the power
that will be welded by this tribunal -
When the Court speaks, all the people mus,
be silent. Its judgments are absolute, and
therefore the tribunal should be restrained
He would make no reference to the decis-
ions of this Court, while framing the Con-
stitution Of sovereign State. s..g
MrRemelin said the question Of repeal
under consideration, was one between the
living and the dead. Shall the living rule
themselves, or shall they be governed by
those WHO may be crunbling to dust in
their graves? 1.-THE charters of pnsl
Legislature are 10 be held irrepealabe, will
no, the living be governed 10 this exten, by
the dead?
Itwil, not do Our Legislature has no
right to grant away sovreign power which
subsequent one may not recover. We
must beware of charters -lor the day may
come when the whole State will be patched
over with them, and they will constitute n
money gian. too powerful for the equal
rights and privileges Of the people.
The reporter would here remark, that
already is more than half the aggregate
wealth of Massachusetts held by incorpo
rated companies. Railroads, Banks and
Manufacturing Companies, hold more than
half the property Of the State, while the,
do not represent an hundrcdth portion oi
the people. 80 81. - :.
These companies enter into competi
ton with the people individually, under tht
most unjust and unequal advantages
They are possessed Of all the power OF as
sociaiion, fortified by the favor Of the law
They are grants warning upon the people
individually, and absorbing the profits 20
| their tOil . T. s.gs:f* . : : ~-E.;"