The Hickman courier., 1871-03-18
For the Hickman Courier.
Corporations.
By. W. R. MCDANIEL
Respectfully inscribed TO Hon. H. A. Tyler.

BY. W. r.. MCDANIEL
Respectfully inscribed to Hon. H. A. Tyler.
The civil war and its causes have pass
ed into history, and we will have to be
resigned to the result, and submit to the
iuexorable but there is another prob
lem the people of the United States will
have to solve, another gordian knot to be
cut; aud that is shall the corporations
rule the politics of this country. Cypress
its industry and subvert what little lib
erty we have left? A corporation is as
soeiated capital, to carry on a particular
business. or to accomplish certain pur-
pose. In order to do this. they have
certain exclusive rights and privileges
called franchises" vested in them in an
instrument of writing called "charter, /"
passed by Congress or State Legislatures
Franchise, Is poger and privilege not
allowed by law to private citizen. As
they are public institutions, they should
be controlled by law, and restricted in
their charters, allowed no privilege not
necessary to carry on their business; aud
held sternly responsible for any damage
done to private citizen, either directly
or indirectly. Congress and the State
Legislatures have created numberless
corporations with enormous capital and
Unlimited franchises; these corporations
have formed themselves into gigantic
rings" to carry out any measure, ex-
tend any privilege, and establish any
monopoly which would iDerease their
own wealth and mower
In monarchy the King is the foun
tain of honor, justice, aud power. In a
republic, all power is derived from the
people, aud the more they gire up the
less they will have, until 6nally they will
have ''aone at all" And said Patrick
Henry, who ever heard Of power being
wrested from those who had it, by those
who had none at all" The Roman En-
peror Trajan, was perhaps, the wisest
prince that ever sat on n throne in the
Golden time" He was so jealous of cor
porations that he refused to Incorporate
one hundred and fifty men into fire
company in the city of Nicomedia. He
was .'power" and he would permit no
associated power against him. General
Jackson was another Trajan, when he
vetoed the United States Bank. He
would permit no associated power against
the people. Wise aud virtuous Emper
ors like Trajan and the Antonines would
grant no charters; but profigate tyrants
ike Nero, Caligula, or Commodus, would
grant them to any person for any pur-
pose, if they were paid to do it. Our
democratic Presidents were Jealous of
corporations while the Radicals are on
" anxious to extend their power and
privileges. Constantine, the founder Of
Constantinople, divided and subdivided
every power that had previously hurled
Roman Emperors from the throne While
to day, it seems that our legislators are
determined to associate and consolidate
every power" that would be dangerous
to the liberties of the people. 1t has
been stated in the papers, that the Di
rectors of the Pacific Railroad supported
fifty of the most beautiful eourtezans
that could be found in the cities, to
Washington city. to induce members of
Congress to vote for that bill. If this is
so, the Empress Theodore, and Auto
nina, wife OF Belisarius, who we're noto
rious in their day, may rest in peace, for
the Great American Republic is con
trolled by the came causes, and governed
by the same means that ruled the Roman
Empire.
Money is power in peace. and the
"sinews of war, the rich and power
full are ever desirous to have political
power and to bend the government to
their purposes, and when we associate
their wealth aud consolidate their power
by an act of incorporation VIC are putting
the government that much more under
their control Subtracting from our
po,oer and adding to theirposoer, making
the rich richer and the poor poorer, deep
ening and widening the gulf between
Dives aud Lazarus. A poor man has
nothing but his liberty, aud when you
take that away, he.is nothing but slave.
4 gigantic corporation is power be-
hind the throne, more powerful than
the throne itself.
As FIVE thousand soldiers under an able
commander can hold in submission
city Of million of inhabitants; SO a mil
lion of dollars in cash welded by man
Of talent, has more power than fifty mil
lions invested in Agricultural corpora
tions. Put millions and millions Of dol
lars under the coutrol of few men, and
in an election when their franchises are
opposed by political party, they have
millions Of dollars to buy votes, aud the
recent extension of suffrage furnishes
them an inexhaustible market in which
they can buy plenty of votes with
little money.
Sometimes corporations come IN col
lisiou, like the Louisville and Nashville
road and the Cincinnati railroad. 1t is
then we see a savage war, like that waged
against each other by those great savages
Tamulam and Bazazet, when the only
principle involved was which should put
the other in an iron cage.
This communication is inscribed to
Capt. Tyler, because he voted against the
Cincinnati Railroad Bill. A man who
commences his Legislative career by
voting against corporations should be
sustained even if he should biunder in
small things; for capital can always take
care ofitself while labor has to stay at
home to work for bread. Let him fight
it like he did the Yankees and the people
will sustain him.
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