Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-05-02
Corporation rights, W. Human
Hights,

Cooperation rights, W. Human
Rights.
In the civilization Of these latter days
shsrs are two grand subjects which form
shs bssis Of oflegisls,ion---one the interests
sfeaPital. the other the interest Of pcr.
sons. Since permanent hereditary or.
dsss in society have been abolishei the
only means by which csstss are sought
- b psrpstus.sd, is By the accumulation
By few Of the avails Of other peoples
labor. To do this sue cessiully the rich
sad powerful generally combine their
means under what is called a charter,
10 oslsr 70 produce common will, and
unity ef PuNpe.
But the moment the ffse industrial
people units to protect their mcnaccd
rishs, then the morals Of the people, OF
the rixhss Of property are in danger.
Have not the workingmsn OF this
county the right to act in concert, when
those whose trade it is to reap the profits
Of ,hsir labor act in concert. Nay, is it
not their bounden duty to combine
ssainst the only enemy they have to fear
~ yet in this free country. monopoly,
end great land specuIatins system that
grinds them 10 the dust!
10 not this a government Of the people,
founded on the rights Of the people, and
instituted for the express object Of guard.
Ing them against the encroachments and
and usurpstions Of power! And if they
are not permitted the possession Of com,
mon interest; the exercise Of common
feeling; il they cannot cofnbine to resist
By constitutions means, these encroach.
ments--to what purpose were they do.
elaysl free to exercise the right OF suf.
fragp in tho choice Of rulers, and the ma.
hing Of lausi
And what, we ask, Is the power against
which the people Of this county are
called upon to array themselves, and
tbs encroschment on their rights which
they are called upon to resist! Is it not
emphatically the power of monopoly,
and the encroachments of corporate
privileges Of every kind. which the Gu.
pipity Of the rich ensenders to the injury
Of the poor.
ttyas to guard against tho aggression
ofpowsAth insatiate ambition Of wealth
,hss this government was ins,ituted--5y
tho people themselves-and will they
suffer to grow up among them, a powe:
Of their own cres lion to control their
independence OF action. or all mo.
nopoliss none is 20 "hateful and odious''
Is monopoly Of land. For who ever
has dominion Of the earth can contrel
whatever may te upon it, tenants OF
debtors.
Tho monopoly that we have in oul
midst, and about which so much ha,
lately been said, is either corrcc, in
principle and policy or it is radically
wrong.
The public is already familiar with
its powers, privileges AMI doings. w,
srs among those who regard the theory
~ which the o, !, & c. Go. was estab
)ishsd, as being in direct derogation o
common right because it authorizes tht
strong and powerful to combine thsi
wealth in land under a common SO al
with nllther heirs nor descent. Blu
tkers sre others who differ from Us
and hold that this corporation is the onl!
ssfs guardian Of the morals and Interests
ofshs people Ct Ironton. II their view
srs correct. and We truly interpret thsi
meaning, their argument, or rather con
cIusicn 10. thst tie people are incapable
ofself government, and that therefore
they should have master to rule owe
them. We know some, and such tier
aIzsys-ass,wko are as ",rSe to power q
tAe dial 10 to the sum-" men who deligh
in kissing the iron rpl that smites ant
rules them. who in short will do. eithe
for pay or from incIinstion, their mas
tsrp viii.
IT,. s,,r :. nus again and has dis