The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-11-12
The Two Elements.

o ""o"' A. J. r.
= The Two Elements.
= we have, on several occasions. recently
seen In the editorial columns of our neigh
uor' the Times, an expression of opinion t,
."e enect that the two houses Of legisla.
-oody ought to represent separated,
mo Two constituent elements of society
persons and property. Under certain re-.
e'r'ctions we think there is much to an
prove in this suggestion. All hnman ton,
pofai interests are comprised, in every sys-
TEN OF law, under the two grand divisions
PERSONS and Things. Tie whole of Gre
at'on so far as this world is concerned con.
sists OF rational beings called men, and ir-
| rauonai matter, whether animated or inan.
imated' which 10 all destined for the use NJ
.ne former. Every mundane interest If
man Is therefore embraced under those two
neao' interests of the person and interests
Of property. '''
Now, each and every person has a,
equal interest in the laws affec.ino nerso..
IN their security and liberty, their punish
ment Tor crime, their relation as husband
""u wife, parent and child, etc. But each
una every person has not the same amount
o.. OF interest In the laws relating to propertv
here are some citizens who must he oreot.
y anected by the laws of taxation, manv
WHO nave a very limited interest in ;ts
rate and a multitude who care moth
ng 1or it as they have no propertv m
which it can be levied and do mot er,.ot
,ver TO have any. The result of this ia =
nat public moneys, though derived from |!
"e 'ew' are often shamefully squandered i
mo missapplied because the power to dis
'ose OF them is in the hands of an indiffar-
NJ ana irresponsible majority who have
othlng to lose by public proficacy.
u would be evidently unjust, in a Repub- lo
IN sehse, to put into the hands of q few in
loneyed aristocrats the exclusive power SO
making laws to control all nersons So
hereby labor could be upuaturai,v con,
oaea to suit their special purposes and al
ZEN the property rights of the majority az
'uio be crushed out ard absorbed into an
70 substance of the ruling few. But il tel
pears equally unreasonable that the VIC
7ners of property should be controlled in lat
disposal of it by those who have no in tbs
rest therein. 1t would seem more reas- Cpl
aoie' theoretically, that all men should KIN
represented by eze ret Of legislators aa''
10 would have the power to protect ner. A
nal rights even in property, from the ms
croaching tendency of capital. md that and
,perty should be renre..,to, day
OF men who would have power to pro- 49, w.
IL from the reckless Legislation of ire. 49,,
ponsloie power. Thus every man tnt;,
AID vote for the members of one Hopsa the
every dollar of assessment would have ferre
ote Tor members of the other House. flo
such case it is clear that each House addr
'id De a perfect check upon the other in OF, i
attempt at encroachment upon richts Thor
either kind. Thus if the Pronertv Bank
$50 should propose law to put men in Book
for debt. the Personal House vonld RA
nimousIy reject it and if this latter This
III frame bill to pledge the bonds of 18th
State to sustain some swindlino ,.,,o 1t wi
, the Property House would tabla loth'
short order. lshet
the grand days of Rome this division tn
over was traceable in the existence of otam I'M
Fatrlclrn parliament on the one hand sacra
d q tribune on the other The nro. Sulta
OF two houses of equal dignity and men,
+ wouId embodv 49, N or an
n,,oh '"o Same principle and Il
more elaborate and effective obser
II we should ever have anotber There
titutional Convention in Islt
will he eo,no.,,,- "o nope thls that
atom presented to its con- ton,
that Il
R FOR ST: y1scENr,s- H., to kee
1or this grand fair going on with Here ;
% anu perseverance which gives every whose
q success. 4 | Loo,