Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-05-27
Democratic and Conservative Ticket
SpecInl DEFAMATION.

The baDe OF civil society, IN great de-
gree, can be traced to the exercise Of spe
cial legislation. Indeed, we believe that
she great inequality in human condition so
prevalent in this country results from this
cause.
We would ask the reader to lcok through
society, and tell us who and what are our
most affiuent men. Did the larger portion
of them derive their vast estate from in
heritance or honest Legitimate business
transactions? By no means. Did they
accumulate it by patient industry? There
are few indeed TO whom an affirmative an
swer will apply.
Whence. then, have so many derived the
princeiy fortunes, of which they display
the evidence in their spacious and elegant
dwellings, in their costly banquets, their
glittering equipnges and all the luxurious
appliances Of wealth.
We contend that the answer is plain
These rich men, IN nine cases out q ten,
owe their wealth to special privileges to
that system OF legislation which grants
peculiar facilities to the oPulent. and for
bids the use Of them 10 the to that
pernicious code Of laws ~hich considers
| the rights Of property as sn object of
greater moment than the rights of mar.
l. Is prrfrr to inquire here what is the
rea1on tina; such vas, numbers of men
groan and sweat under a weary life, spend
ing their existence in incessaut toll, and
yet accommodating nothing arou nd them to
give them hope of respite, and prospect
of comfort in old age? Are their minds
guided by less intelligence. their bodies
nerved with less vigor, their morals less
pure, or their industry less assduous, than
those who enjoy such superior fortunes and
rayish upon ell the Injuries that money
can bringf We answer that in all these
respects they are at least the equals if not
the superiors Of those who are 50 far above
them in prosperity.
So far as the inequality in human condi-
ton is the result of natural causes, it af>
fords no cause of complaint. We would
neither pull down the rich, nor build up
the poor by the passage Of partial laws -
All We desire is, that the property of the
rich may be placed On the same footing
with the labors of the poor-that industry
and science may receive its just rewards,
and that idleness may not dwell in palaces
while honest labor rests in novels.
| We repeat that it cannot be denied that
the errors of our system is the cause Of the
disparity Of condition, in a vast multitude
Of instances, and may be traced directly to
our legIslation-t to that wretched system
at war with the Fundamental maxim of
our government, to,wit: the principle of
equal rights. Our legislation heretofore,
instead of regarding the equality Of human
rights, and leaving all to the full enjoy
ment Of natural liberty in every respect
not inconsistent with public order, bestows
privileges on one, and denies them to an
other; and in too many cases compels the
many to pay tribute and render homage to
the few.
The great evils Of special legislation, at
least so far as this State is concerned. will
be remedied if the new constitution shall
be adopted. That instrument contains a
section which expressly declares that the
legislature shall not pass any local or spe>
cial laws conveying exclusive privileges to
any association or Individual, and provides
that all laws shall be general aud of uui.
form operation throughout the State.
Now, is it not apparent that the adoption
of the constitution containing the above
provision, would be the end of speciaI
privileges in the State. The greater por-
ton of the tins of our legislatures, for the
last twenty years. has been consumed in
the enactment Of laws for the benefit Of
the bankers, associations, corporations, or
individuals. Indeed the evil has grown to
be enc Of immense magnitude. Laboring
men ami producers have been swindled out
OF millions Of dollars by those enjoying
the benefits q private and special legisla-
tigu. AaIi IL time row that ehauge Of
prpgrawme was introduced
We waail 20 for the osv constitution. If
tls-uP oiber reason than .ha; ~ gested Let
1t e al pied, and the days Of corporations
and leg aiizai svirdlers will he numbered;
aud people viii once moro return to that
just and equal system Of government,
which, ike the rains of heaven, showers
its favors alike upon the high and low,
rich and poor, leaving every man to pursue
hia legitimate calling without the aid of
exclusive rights and special privileges.