The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-06-02
The Corporations Against the New Con-
stitutiOD.

Inc corporations Against he NcW Soh
stitutiOn.
= An article against the new constitution
over the signature of IAN Old Citizen, 81
- iginally appeared in the Chicago Tribune an
. was copied into the Missouri Democrat OF tn
~ ODD ult
Whether the writer be or be not can ole
citizen" Of this state, the article shows un
mistakabe evidence of having been written
by some one employed by the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad Co., and other corporations, who
are making every effort to dcfca, the new con.
stjtution,
The chief object Of "oId citizen Seems
to be to prejudice people against the new con-
stitution because it authorizes the alteration
or repeal Of special charters, Now, to
show that this object is baseless, and TO vim
dcate the wisdom Of the early settler" the
"pOor man, +" the "agrarians," rs this writer
calls them, We make the following extracts
from the constitutions Of several THE states
New YoRK-Ar, 8. Sec -" Corporations
may be formed under general laws, but
shall not be created by special acts, except
for municipal purposes, and in cases where
IN the judgment Of the legislature, the OBJ.
.lects Of the corporation cannot be attained un.
der general laws, All general laws and spec
idt acts passed pursuant to this section, may
be altered from time to time, or repealed,"
DELAwARE-l7H Sec (0mendmenO Au. 9
No act OF Incorporation, except for the re-
newa Of exi listing corporations, shall be here.
after enacted without the concurrence Of two.
! thirds Of each branch Of tho legislature, and
with Il reSerred power Of rccocatiou by the
legislature.
MARrLAND-Sec. Al. AyL Same "a in
constitution Of New York above quoted.
Onlo-1rt. IL. Sec ." Corporations NAV
be formed under general laws: but all such
laws may, from time to time, be altered or &c.
pcaled"
MIcmGAN-1rt. lj See. l." All laws
passed pursuant to this section providing for
formation Of corporations may be Qiicrcd
amended or repealcd."
WIsCoNslN-IH. II. icorporatiomSl See. /.
y An general laws or special acts
enacted under the provisions Of this section
may be uttered or repeated by the legislature
at any time after their passage"
The objection made by "Old Citizen" is
that the reserved power of amendment, al.
teration or repeal, in acts creating corpora
tons s a" death blow" to all further improve
ments. This provision in the new constitu-
tlon is substantially indenticaI with those
above quoted. Will "Old Citizen" or the
Chicago Tiduae, or the Missouri Democrat,
inform us in what states more public improve
mcnts have been made than in New York
and Ohio; and made, too since the foregoing
amendment. Of their constitutions?
While these amendments to the several
| constitutions, and the history Of beneficial i'm.
prOvcments III those states, show the ialsitv
and iallacy Of "Oi Citizens" objection.
they prove another thing that between the
gigantic and corrupt corporations and the
people there has been an " irrcpressiblc con
hict : that the corporations have confirm
ally been seeking by corrupting legislatures
ana controlling elections, to acquire the en-
tire power oil the state--tO own not only the
legislature, but the people, and that the only
ehectual method Of curtalling their power Is
by constitutional restriction. The true
ground OF "Old Citizens" objection, and Of
the endorsement by the Chicago Ii6uae, is |
not apprehension Tor the welfare Of the people, |
but that the new constitution il made for the
people and not for the exclusive benefit of cor
poratIons. There are other provisions secu-
ring to the people protection, and economy
and purity Of legislation, which these corp6-
rations and their hircling editors and writer's
dare not openly oppose, which constitute the
real ground OF opposition with them.
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