The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-04-26
NCAEER TWO.

t
labor, A FREEHQLDER.
NUAEER TWO.
That the "Act to provide for compensa-
ton to owners of private property appropria-
ted for the use of corporations, does not
eomport with the provisions Of the Constitu-
ton will be apparent to any one who viii
make the comparison. At 6rst view the
law would appear just and proper. But on
closer examination there is an obscurty in
the wording Of one or two sections that ad-
mits of doubt as to the meaning, and affords
au apology for an Interpretation adverse to
the rights of the landhoIders How came
this discrepancy between the law and the
Constitution? The Legislature NAV have
had an honest desire to protect the interest
Of the ctizens, aud at the same time have
ovorool ed the insidjous clauses in the bill
afFording different construction from what
they intended. The committee who framed
it might have had advisers, deeply interes-
ted in railroad projects. Itis not intended
by this remark to impeach the representa-
I uyas OF the peopls--far from i'll But to
prove that there may have been some among
them under corporation influence, the testi-
mony OF Member. of the Constitutional
| Convention, who had served as legislator
is worthy OF serious consideration.
In page ia vol. 2. Of the debates in the
Ohio Convention, a member from Uamlton
county. thus spoke of the ind uence exerc-
zed by incorporated companies.
| Corporations always have their lobby
members in AM; around the halls of legisn-
ton to watch for ald secure their interests
MOI so with people. They cannot act with
that diFectness a corporation can. No in.
dividusl will axe it upon himself to 20 up
to the Capital at his own expe nse TO watch
the representatives Of the people and tc
lobby against the potent inAnence of corpor.
atoms. Ru! corporations have money, and
it is their interest to exPend it to partia.
laws"
Such was the language spoken in the most
! es2ectable and responsible body ever con.
vened in Ohio--a convention met to form
that organic law on which our S ATE govern
ment is founded. and under which the Gen
eraI Assembly ITSELF and all the execu
tive officers Of the Stale owe their existance
"Corporutions," says this honorable mem
her, "haye their agents around the halls 0
Legislation to watch for and secure their in
teress. Corporations have money, and i
is their interest to expend it to S.cure M
passage Of partial ta1gs. The declaration
was made by one who had himself been a
member Of the Legislature, aud was listen
ed to by a large number Of delegates in thu
Convention who had nlso occupied seats il
the General Assembly and not one Of then
conradicBed the statement Their silence
gave a taclt acknowledgement Of Its truth
1t is not charged that the trainers of tn,
Act under which the right Of way is to b,
obtained BY Railroad companies were ii
rectly influenced by their agents. But in
direct agents might have been at work as as
sumed dlsinterested advisers to operate oi
men who were then ignorent of the adYan
tagcs that might be taken of the wording O
the statue. a clause slipped in by such ad
vice may render section SO obscure as &
afford different Interpretation of il from
that which was intended. Let any on,
take up the Constitution consider its lette
and spirit rs applied to Railroad com mpanies
and then compare it whh the law, and ht
will percieve the constitutional protection 0
The CITIZEN has been partially withdraw
from the statate. A man for instance is liv
ing on bis own ground. enjoying the fruit
OF bis labor, with the facilities of good roads
and a nayigable canal or river to take hi
produce TO market. He hates litigation on
account of its uncertainty, trouble and ex
pcnse. A Railroad agent demands from
him right Of way through his premises
He refuses to give it, except under certain
stpulatlons. The agent represents TO hin
the very great benefit the Railroad will b.
to him and his heirs-how certain member
Of the company are directing their time
their talents and heir money for the pub
lie good, and how others have literally sur
rendered the right of way when informed
of these facts The man, perhaps very
reasonably doubt the sincerity OF these pat
rlQtic professions, because he may havc
known the stockholders spoken Of as shewet
traders or keen spectators, whose ain
through life had been to increase their owr
wealth regardless OF the suferlngs and pov
erty Of :hose around them. He has TIC
sagaclty to discover The draft Of such ar
suments aS these, and may correctly iufe
they are used to coax him out Of his CLAIM
for just compen. aston He may have beel
informed ofpasties yielding up their grounds
On similar representations, who af'erward
regretted it the repeated taunts and insult,
Of Railroad agents and contractors whei
making the road through The premises thu
surrendered givng additional vexation. :.
The man knows that the Constitution ha
protectsd his right Ia bis propertF, aud r
fuses to giveitup until full compensation /
first made to him for dameges a sly
threat from the Agent rs to the power O.
the company tqlpjure him by a long course