The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-03-22

private profit Of those who procured them.-
Millions Of dollars have been directly made
out of acts passed, TO say nothing OF PERM
cious results Afterwards ALI this has come
ou, of the people. Upon the broad and
burthened back of the laboring and produ
cling classes have fallen, in some form, all
the curses, exlctions and injustice Of The
system.
And The defective and injurious features
Of our Legislation can be attributed, in a
great degree, to the cause already mention
ed--the irexperisuce Of members under our
system of rapid rotation.
| But, in the next place, the Legislature is
subjected to strong sinister Influences A
portion of the nernhers, upon many ques-
tions, are controlled by sectional considera.
tions. A representative Of Adams is expec-
ted TO vote for the Gettysburg railroad a
representative of Crawford for the Erie ex.
tension, of Luzerne, for the North Branch
Canal; Of Cambria, ior the Portage road, and
of Erie, for guage law; without inquiring
very particularly into the wisdom of the
measure, SO far as the State is coEceined.--
With them the local interest is paramount,
| controlling the State interest is secondary
consideration. II is ever so, that near inter.
esls are preferred to those that are remote.-
Consequent upon this, ore legislative COM
| binatio ns--the system of rolling, not logs,
bu, bills together, and carrying by union
OF forces what could mol be carried alone.--
| potent cause, also, of bad votes, Is divided
responsibility. The odium Of bad vote TO
carry bill, 10 shared with large number
and lessened by distribution. 1t seems hsrsh
| to crush one 70: lhs fault OF all. And when
the member stands behind local, homs
question, he confidently expects 20 be iorgi-
veE for all Objectionable votes necessary 10
acquire strength upon the one measure.
Added to these considerations, we are 10
take into account the subject of Influence
| Persuasion, interest and fear, operating di.
rec.ly, are not to be overlooked. Agents of
influence appear at the capitol, 10 prevent
tho understandings or seduce the votes of
members; some, The avowed, and others the
sectet instruments Of interests abroad. Leg
sIation is poisoned by their arts, and occa.
sionally covered with reproach. No one ap-
pears as the advocate of integrity, truth and
wisdom 10 confirm the wavering aud en-.
courage the weak; 10 inspire him who con-
tends for The right, and assist in crushing The
projects Of speculation, folly and craft; but
members are left TO the solicitations and ap-
proaches Of those whose mission II is Ie mis-
lead
Upon every ground stated--sur expert
ence, the defective composition of the Leg
lsislature, and The existence of powerful influ.
ences TO disturb and prevent its action-I
conclude the constitutional amendment un-
der consideration to be necessary for the
protection of The people.
The prohibition of municipal subscriptions
! is next 10 be considered. Chief Justice
Marshell in the celebrated Dartmouth Col
lege case, describes municipal corporations
as "bodies established within State, for
purposes of internal government and regula.
| tion y a description comprehending Cities
boroughs, incorporated districts, counties and
townships. At the session of 1852 the ques.
tion came before the Legislature whether
such bodies, in this Common y eallh, should
be authorized TO subscribe 10 the stock of
railroad companies. The pioneer bill 10 the
Introduction Of this policy, was one admira-
bly, calculated TO render il successful The
Sunbury and Erie railroad company-the
projected improvement of which was 10 OK.
tend from Northumberland 10 Erie, through
eight counties undeveloped in resources and
| anxious for its construction, and connected
directly with the trade and prosperity Of
Philadelphia, toward which it pointed-was
! The applicant for The bill. After contest the
bill passed and became law, and forth
with large number of bills, similar in char
acier. relating TO other companies, were in
troduced as the natural result of it's success
OF. these some passed, some failed, two
were vetoed, and the adjournment left the
system somewhat unsettled, but with victory
| inclining toward the side of Innovation
Among the bills passed al that session was
one relating 10 The Susquehanna railroad,
which led TO prosecutions for bribery in the
counties OF Northumberland and Union. AT
the session Of 1853, a large number of sub
scriplion bills were passed, with about eight
voies only against them in the Senate, and
| general attention was awakened to the stub
jeci- The question of the constitutionality of
| such acts was subsequently, determined by
the Supreme Court, three Judges to two af-
firming lheif validity, and ii was seen dis
,inctly that protection against the syslem
must be sought in an amendment of the
Constitution. Experience has shown that a
hard pressed corporation act or supplement
| can rarely be opposed with snccess in the
Legislature, and in this case courts have IN
formed US that they are powerless AS a
steady opponent Of subscription bills from
| the outset, rejoice, therefore, at the oppor-
tuni,y afforded by this joint resolution, OF
striking final and deadly blow at gross
abuse Of the powers of legislation.
| The undoubled result Of the system of mu-
nicipal subscriptions is to burden our coun-
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