Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-10-04
Communicated.
For the American.
j. H. Zimmerman and Corporations
MoEwxssvrLLE, Sept. Gath, 1856.

MoEwxssvIlAE, Sept. Gath, 1856.
Mr. EDrroR
The several able and convincing COM
muncotons published in former numbers Of
your paper in relation to the Act authorizing
the Consolidation of the Trevorton and Sus
quehanna Railroad Company and the Maha.
npy and Shamokin Improvement Company"
passed by the las. Legislature, have called the
attention Of the people Of this end OF the
county to IN examination Of its terms and
awakened then to full sense OF the gross
| Injustice and mischievous tendencies Of its
! provisions.
1t is not necessary MIR. Editor, in order to |
show the glaring wrong OF this law, to in
| stitute comparisons between the relative me-
rits and advantages of the Shamokin and |
Trevorton Coal Regions, nor to say what |
effect it has already had upon the coal trade
of the county; for it stands its own most |
bitter accuser and is the swiftost witness |
against its supporters.
Among its many obnoxious features, en- |
bracing such unlimited and unguarded powers
as no other corporation in the State possesses,
| the ninth section alone should sealits condem-
nation and make every true Pennsylvania
pray that he might be able TO boast, thou
canst not say did it."
The section referred to reads as follows:
SECTION 9. That the said new corporation
shall have power to take and hold coal lands
in fee simple not exceeding the amount OF
FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
ACRES, and to prove and open therein and
thereon veins OF coal and other minerals, and
fit and prepare the same to be worked, and
KET, AND VEND THE SAID COIL
AND OTHER MINERALS, and erect the
machinery and fixtures necessary therefor
and further, shall have power to take and
hold WOOD LANDS IN FEE SIMPLE,
not exceeding the amount Of SIX THOU
SAND ACRES Prorided, That this COM
pany shall not own or hold any coal or other
lands, other than they now hold in the
county Of Schuylkl.
Even in England, where aristocratic wealth
employs all its engines to crush houest labor
in its struggle for equality, such o Law would
not be suffered to disgrace their statute books.
A far more democratic policy has been forced
by the people Of England upon their own So
veregns from tho time Of Magma Charta un-
; til this, and our forefathers, impeled by tho
. spirit of freedom which drove them to this
land Of equal rights, as one Of their first acts
S ofcivil polity declared the soil Of Pennsyva-
: MIA should not be bound up IN Mortmain by
: corporations, but remain free and open az the
: winds Of heaven to that man who was willing
+ to acknowledge himself the owner in his own
Q name, expend upon it his industry and make
it liable for his debts.
:. This policy has always continued to inau-
: ence the legislation OF our State and, sloug
= with the principle ofindividual liability Of the
0 stockholders Of corporation for its debts,
}. has become ono Of the fundamental doctrines
t OF the democratic party. The party Of Suy-
J. der and of Skunk
J. What, sir A corporation in our midst au.
d thorized to purchase in fee simple 1850 acres
IS Of coal land, engage in the shipment Of coal
IT and hold 5000 acres Of ,cood-iand anywhere
. in any township OF old democratic Nor,hun-
e berland county!
y A corporation tochop wood and clear new
e, ground-aye, sir, and to hold it too in fec
+ simple!.
n Had number OF our farmers gone to ar.
g. risburg last winter asking similar privileges
It with no indiriduQl liability for any de6t, The,
y might contract, how do you think they woull
e have Jared Would they not have been told
)" by our democratic representative, why gen
g tlemen. individual enterprise is sufficient ioi
h this purpose. capital aud com
,e biued wealth, protected by these ccrpor
G. ate franchises, would enable you in o shor
le time to cripple the resources, affect the credit
dampen the energies and ruin the prospect,
le of every man who would be bold enough e
nt bring small capital and his own indiyidua
ID ldDOE III competition WIN you. Ut EOOS
as people Of Pennsylvania need no such corpor
ate rights-they must be reserved for others
To my surprise Mr. editor / see Mr.. Zin
norman attempts in the last number OF tht
Sunbury Gazette. a vindication of his cours
le in passing this Act, but without offering on
W word in justification Of the propriety Of tn
or law itself.
oy A petulant abuse OF your other cores
of pondents, who have presented this question
es in its true light, will not excuse him in tn
re sight of his constituents who have right t.
le demand of their Representative on accouu
Of his stewardship. Whether Goal Operate
ry is one in q small way or not, as Mr.. thinner
On man asserts, cannot aid him in the dilemma
n and is a fact that am not prepared to cor
he tradct. But it is certain, that if such unwis
lg legislation is to be mad at Harrisburg for til
ng asking and chartered monopolcs are TO b
OF brought in direct competition with individuf
means, the day is not far distant when nc
en- only your correspondent, referred TO- bu
he every other operator will be in small way.
BY An apology offered by Mr.. Zimmerman fc
the passage Of this bill, upon the principle,
suppose he has discovered that two wrong
will make right is that the Shamoki
49, rail road has also the right to mine and Sc
.; coal. But unfortunately for the gentleman
a' attempt at legal learning an examination
thcit uSt VI VI lCNo W "ulC
~ ~ he refers, and the several supplements, wi
e. :. convey to no mind, other than his own, th
- most remote idea that the Philadelphia an
~ Sunbury Railroad Company possess any sue
:" right. That restraining provision in an &C
ofincorporation should be held to enlarge tn
granting powers, would indeed be new doc
lie trine and the more strange from the fac
he that although the law has been upon the sta
at tute book thirty years, it has been reserve
he for our late representative TO discover this in
" portant feature.
rt Another attempted excuse Of Mr. thinner
'r, man ia that the bill was pending long tim
er in the Legislature before its passage. lie
as me ask, Mr.. Editor, whether in that time h
lie could not have sent copy to at least som
re one of his constituents. The State afford
o. an ample postage fund.- and our taxes ar
an used to pay for the printing of extra cope
he Of bills for the purpose Of enabling on
Sc Representatives to inform their constituent
ne of their proceedings. Was it too muc
&c trouble for Mr.. Zimmerman TO address
ad few comics of this bill to the Coal Onerator.