Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-03-25
LEGISI,ATIyE CONTRACTS,

The patrons Of bills in The Legislature striving
very quietly and adroitly engra provisions upon the
which perncious In the last degree and more behttng
the arbitrary edics the Gar than the equitable Legisia
ton of a republican country.
We alude TO clauses steahlIy inserted in biils-appa
rcnly innocent themselves and apparently looking 10
some equitable objec-ye SO framed cons,itntc
tract between the State grating The law and the persons
procuring passage by which tho State excludes hcrsel
forever exercising the privilege of granting similar leg
lsaon 10 other persons in the locality or upon the
sarne subject matter 1t would seem incredible to the un-
initiated that in this day OF equal rights and equal pVl
eses vicious principles of legislation should be so osered
and generated 10 the Virginia Capitol not merely TO
confer monopoly franchises and privileges granted
BY legielaon bu. monopoly Of legislation itself
AZ instances Of this fraud and outrage thus attempted TO
be inflicted upon what ought be the impartial and beng
nanI legislation Of II Is sought in one
or two bills before the Legislature 10 enga upon charters
far rail roads merely the clauses which usual wen-
" wears ago prohibiting the construction of parallel roads
within certain limited distances, but clauses prohb.
nug the construction OF roads crossing or infer
sccng those chartered by the bls There was some show
md justice twenty years ago. In prohibiting Pnrai-
lei roads according the then prevalent Ideas on Inc SUD-
ec but the liberal spirit of The age, and the growing aho
strengthening regard republican equality Of rights have
brought into disuse and exccraton Virginia. prohibitions
even against parallel roads whenever they originate from OF
mloster TO. the greed and cunning of cormoran and
shameless monopoly The application Of this perncions pro-
hbon roads crossing intsrsectng those Chartered 10
terms creating the obligation OF contract upon the State 10
enforce refinement and aggaya,ion OF the aoomna
ton which liberal just legislator will fail to epudaie
aud reco from.
Supposing possible find legislators ong to counte
nance execrable thing monopoly Of the legislation OF
great Common wealth, what rigM upon any concevao'e
republican principle has Legislature TO nterdlc lis sue
from granting franchises TO Bel OF people, Whch
vouchsars another sct2 What right has, and "ha
color OF deceney warras set Of capitalists spectators
o1 oonracors,n asking franchises gratuity from he
body to ask hIsI clause In the nature OF con-
"'' "o" me State prohibiting herself from vouchsahne
!, ~ sa"'e franchises to another Of peoplel
n ihe "nR s monstrous abomnatioD not only In prin
e' o III TACT and intention 1t is making merchandise
OF she august functions of legislation 1t cutting oil hs
fountains o legislative franchise from, flowing freely anc
equally 10 a ana turning s pure steams into the rozcr
channels OIL monopoly, or The dirty syes of gambling
speculation The abomnaon needs bu 20 be brought TO c
gsative attention. needs bu, be touched bv the spcar
thue reveal its horrible ea,ures and TO cause Il 10 BE-
.cofied and secuted Of the hauwcd Halls into which
has crept to pollute them.