Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-02-05

speedily checked viii PROSTATE ell that is great and
usurp every principle Of equality and Justice that
has ever been held dear BY free people-and fnal-
IL leave Us in worse condition than he oppressed
Of Europe. Yes, With ali cur rights and privi-
laees leeislated away 20 banks and incoEpoTated
companies then, instead Of the people governing
themselves, (as they should always do,) these mo
nopolies viii dctate, and We viii have to obey Is
not time under these circumstances that we we're
checking this powerful iproad upon popular liberty,
while We have the power
Il Is argued that my amendment would work q
hardship upon these companies. Sir, it is exceed
ingly strange that gentlemen upon this floor, have
no objection to these companies making large pro-
fits and dividing it among the stockholders and at
the same time object to making their individual pre-
perty bound for the payment Of debts, provided The
company should happen to lose money. It is still
strange to hear it said that in the event these
companies fail to make money the property Of the
stockholders shall not be bound to pay the honest
mechanics who have worked hard for them day after
day. to earn s livelihood for themselves and fami-
lies, and leave them to starvation and suffering, and
let these ineOrp0retOrs repudate their claims with
perfect impuuity, and that too by legislative au-
thority think, sir, that il is high time that We
the representatives Of the people, should cease pro-
teeting men or interpretations from the payment Of
their just debts.
1t IS argued that the men composing these com
psnies all honest, and their companies able to
admitting this all to be true, why, ask do gentle
men object TO my amendment? If these companies
perfectly responsible and there is no danger Of
them ever becoming insOlvent, would like 70 know
how my amendment could work hardship upon
them? for would never 90 into effect or be ope-
rative. zen F
But, sir, suppose these companies should not hap
pen TO prove responsible argued by the gen
ueman from the county Of Knox, (Mr White) then
it is that this amendment will prove efeotual. and
will step forward to the relief, and throw the
shield Of protection around those hard working me
chanics who have tOiIed hard, day after day, and
the farmers who have sold them provisions, and to
whom these companies are justly indebted and
says to them-Sirs, You have received the hard
earnings Of these men, and your property shall be
bound for the payment of your honest debts. Is
this hardship? Is this wrong? l am sure no one
will cay it is
If these incorporated companies are disposed 10
do right they cannot, a mater of justice have any
objections 60 their property being bound 10 pay for
materials and provisions furnished, and for hands
10 carry their work, in the event their corporate
effects should prove insufficient. Ii they are not
willing to this, We should reject the bill. Sir the
naked, unvarnished question is-Will you compel
chartered monopo,es 10 10 equal and exact justice
the mechanics farmers, and laborers Of our State?
Or, will you authorize them, By yourown voluntary
act, to shrink behind their chartered corporate
privileges, 20 feast high and enjoy the fruits Of
honest labor without a just compensation?
The next question which presents itself is Wheth-
these interpretations such as is contemplated
by the 9TH section Of article XI-, Of the State
Constitution, which says '' The Legislature shall
have no power 10 suspend any general law for the
benefit Of any particular individual; nor TO pass
any Law for the benefit Qf individuals inconsistent
with the general laws Of the land; nor to pass any
law, granting 10 any individual or individuals
rights, privileges, immunities, or exemptions other
than such may be, By the same law extended 10
~
bring himself within the provisions Of such a law
Provided, always, the Legislature shall have power
to grant such charters Of corporations IS they may
deem expedient for the public good"
Sir, will any one contend that these ineorpora-
tons are for the public good. presume not But /
it is evident, from the very nature of things thai
they are intended for the creation Of mOnIed mo
nOpoy in the midst Of honest community for the /
exclusive benefit Of its individual stockholders and
such has been The nature Of nine tenths of the in
corporations passed by this Legislature consuming
time than everything else put together; and /
at the same time, creating in every community !
where located soulless beings Yet they still exist (
with exclusive privileges against which the honest
mechanic cannot successfully compete.
1t is clear then that they not intended for the
public good and it is further clear that this bill is
intended for individual benefits and exemption and
that no one but those therein specified can ever
bring themselves within its provisions.
Sir, in my opinion the law of eopartnership is 1
amply sufficient for the protection of any individual
who desires to engage in the mining, manufactur-
ing or mercantile interests Of our State This prin-
oipe is free viii Offering to all that disposed.
to combine their effects, Tor any particular purpose
This does not impose any hardship upon the part
ners, for if they think it will they have perfect
right not to thus engage. Neither does it throw
any exclusive privileges or exemptions around them
which connOt be enjoyed by the most humble citi-
zens Of the community.
But sir to pass this bill as it is, without amend
ment, you create a monied monopoly, and exempt
all the individual property Of the stockholders from
the payment Of their honest debts, which is too pre-
pOsterous an idea to be favorably entertained for
one moment Unless this amendment is adopted, !
you authorize those companies to contract debts and
repudIate them with perfect impuniya and that too,
by legal legislative authority. 1 hope this amend
ment will pass.