Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-01-11

doubtful exneaiency; aud as ahsldeineuts OF
the liberty and privileges af the citi9en, can
only be Justified onthe grpsAd Of necessity.
Whilst this is admitted, itcnanot be denied
that the agiss resulting FROM intenlperasee,
create a redessity for regulating and res
trainins I; legislative acts, the trailic and
sale of intox,cating liquors. TO onhat ex-
tent this teaEic should be restrained By
positive law. must depend ca the viii cf tire
people, determined by considers1lo1s of
their own moral, physical and soeisi wel-
fare. Whatever may bc my own opinion, or
that df the LegilaiEre ut 'tlieF people, in
reference 10 The law OF the last session sto
restrain tho sale of Intoxicating liquors. it
must De asimitted that tali return to the
license system, 10 operation prior TO The
passage OF the present law, is not demanded
i,y enlightened public sentimeat, aud would
rot promote the good order or happiness of
the coplalhn;ty. That the laws then IN exist
Siice were imperfect and failed to check or
control tile evils Of iatenperance is a pro-
position too plain 10 be doubted that they
;.eeded revision, must also be conceded.
IL our large cities and towns, the evils Of
she systcm w4re more severely felt. The
facility and cilcapness with which licenses
were obtained, operated premium to vice
and immortality. aud multiplied tipping
houses and places where incompetence, un-
der the authority uf law, was not only per-
usit.ed, bat encouraged NJ imsnediate
predecessor, 10 his last unnual message 10
ihe Legislature in reference TO the then
license. laws, says: "sso far as relats TO the
cify Of Philadelphia, they are peculiarly
prejaiicsl TO public morals, ana seem 10
have heen COZ structed to prom, e. Tie cor
veuience OF drinking Sc more to restc,in It's
oyil Consequences In this opinion fully
roucpr. That remedy was dcms,nded, all
viii concede. Whether The law OF the last
session was the proper remedy. il is not my
province how to determine. Enacted by
the representatives IF the people, cave
ttat act my official approval Recognizing
the people as the soorce Of all political
power, aud tleir Representatives us the in-
mediate ezpnnents Of their will, upon you
viii devolve the responsibility Of further
legislation, if any, on this subject. 10 all
IT'S relations, economical. political, social
ind moral, the question SO important, and,
its proper determination involves fearful re-
sponSibilities. 1t deserves, and should re-
ceive, your serious consideration. If action
is had, maj We not hope that ii will promote
the sirtne, morality. aud true interests OF
cur people and Commonwealth.
Legislation, so far as practicable, should
b general and uniform. Local and special
Legislation should moi be encouraged, when
the desired object can be obtained by gen
eral laws. Such legislation is not only local
and special in its character, but frequently
temr orary-the act of one session being
repealed By lbe act Of the next, and per-
haps replaced by one still more o!,iectiona-
bic, which in turn soon shares the fate Of
It's predecessor. 1t crowds The statute book
with useless and unnecessary laws violates
private rights creates confusion and uncer-
iainty-destrnys uniformity of practise and
decision proiongs the sessions of the leg
lslstrre. and increases. Our gener j laws
regulating roads highways and bridges. and
providing for the support and employment
Of the poor, constitute we'll digested sys-
tern for the accomplishment. OF those OBJ
i.c,s, and yet, under the system of local
legislation heretofore psaetieed, we fire.
qleutly fa3 in different townships Of fhe
same county, local laws regulating these
subjccts, not only differing materially from
the general law, bnt from one another. Re-
foniia fhi' regard IS required, and = this
respectfully ask your attention.
''Omribns Legislation" having tean con
ceane4 aad abandoned, should not BE-
permitted again 10 sully the records OF leg
islative aetion. I: csnnot receive ms ap-
Iroyal.
Numerous appl;cItions will doubtless be
made FOR he incorporation OF insurance,
g.s, water and boom companies. TO facili-
rate aotion oa these questions --economise
time reduce the expenses of legislation
secure uniformity and confne the companies
thereafter Incorporated to the legitimate
purposes oF their creation, would recon-
mend tli, propriefy Of enacung general
llwsr rcgua'ing such corporations. Alrsady
laws Of this character for coal, ireu, canal
railroad, turnpike, plank ana bridge com
Fanies have 5ean found highly useful and
economical. Such laws, well regulated aud
csrcf;rally guarded, would be productive Of
similar results IN their application 10 IN
surance a.li the other companies named.
The proprety Of limiting aud restraining
corporate ooiiic= % the objects and purposes
os their creation, will not be denied or
aont.osetted q relation to yovers and
privileges o. insurance companies, this
ptaia priaciple has been overlooked and dis
regarded. By successive acts oflegslation.
many Of these institutions hayo acquired
ciscuunsing privileges, sul nearly ali the
rowers Of banka, without iheir guards, re-
s:ri ctions aud liabilities. This his been
'feeted By the magic of son, general pro-
vision in the act Incorporating the company,
Or b. reference 10 some forgotten supple
lnen. concealed 10 the fold OF az Omnibus
Bill, OF loss in the nlazes Of tie pamphlet
laws. General laws, whilst they would con-
fer On such companies all the powers noces-
saFy TO accomplish the objects es their IN
corporation, would at thc same ,inis prevent
~ extension Of privileges foreign to such
associations. This subject Is commended
70 yonr consideration
Tie Jurisdiction Of the c9prts in relation
m resl estate, trusts, The iacorpration OF
literary, charatablc anA religious societies,
manufacturing and other associations, has