The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-09-12
r.ss rEopLE Avn conpoaATsess.
Polk CouNTy, OREGON,
Senlember 7. 1879.

Bloated Dondholders, Railroad Mag.
mates and Corporations" that are strik-
ing ut honest industry, and sapping the
very principle on which this nation was
founded and ought to lcst. contend
that the contest between corporations
ruling tho people, or the people, in their
sovereign capacity. ruling corporations,
is Of vital importance to the people Of
Oregon. And as by both the civil and
the common law the sorereig,, authority
only can create corporation, and In
these United States sovereignty Is vest
cd in the people, and the people through
their representatives in Congress and
in State Legislatures grant charters to
corporations, and as all corporations are
moulded aud controlled, both as to what
they may do and the manner in which
they do it, by their charters, which to
them are the laws Of their being, which
they neither can alter or amend. Who,
then, | ask, can alter or amend char.
ter, and wherein is the power lodged to
do oil thisi The answer il, tho same
sovereign power that granted the char
ter. | know some may say, Oh sir,
it is engrafted in the Constitution of
our country, which among other things
forbids a State from passing any Law
impairing the obligations of contracts. {"
And | know furthermore that IL has
been decided that the charter of cor
poration is an executed contract, and
that the Legislature cannot repeal, inn
pair or alter il, against the consent or
without the default Of the corporation,
judicially ascertained and declared.
But with all this, which to my mind
il correct, does not every thinking, up
right citizen know that no. one single
corporation of any moment whatever
exists in the State of Oregon to-day,
and might truthfnlly add, nor in any
other State of this American Union,
but what has done some act or acts in
default Of lis charter
Why is it that so much trouble aud
discomfort exists to-day among the peo
| pie of California ! ! answer and say
the main cause is by reason of the dom
inant spirit and 'eneroachments Of rail
road kings and crushing monopoliea
over Gods poor, and receiving labor
without just or reasonable compensa,
ton therefor, the imposition of high
taxes on the honest and toiling classes
and alHiost exempting the railroad
king and stuck up aristocracy there
from. Ale not these facts that ART
coming home to the voters of Oregon
and the sooner they are met the better
No party should exist who uphold such
or even countcnanee the same.
Then what. is the remedy Il i
this Elect no man TO Office from
Senator Of the United States down u
Justice of the Peace, unless pledged Il
oppose. both at the polls and in legis
Iative capacity, By sill honorable and
fair means, every encroaehment Of al
corporations against the people.
Again; Require Of every candidate
for either the State Legislature or Con
gressional honors such a pledge, and
that before nomination.
/ Oh, what a fIutter this will cause II
some localities, and especially in Port
land, whore candidates are always a,
thick for Congressional honors as i'd
dlers in that celebrated "Styx." Ant
was il not that same spirit Of Railroad
magnates, and, as it were, the vapol
coming up from the said river, thai
made George G. Perkins Governor O
California Who dare deny 1T Nov
is the time for the people Of Oregon T.
meet this issue, and see to it, and in the
next election at that. And see that NJ
man be elected 20 the State Legislature
unless he is unqualiiedly opposed Il
granting subsidies to railroads and al
other corporations Whatsoever. And
furthermore, that no man be elected Il
the Legislature who Is not in favor d
the enactment of such law as will holt
railroad corporations responsible, ant
unequivocally. so. for ell labor done OF
performed by contract or otherwise il
the construction of their roads, ani
that such law be so plain that way
faring man, though fool, need not erl
in the Interpretation thereof.
And We think the late law Of Cali
fornia salutary one in prohibiting
"lobbying" in the State Legislature, b,
a severe penalty. This is what ".
need in Oregon, and such d law would
put quietus on much of this iobbine
in the interest Of these steamship anG
railroad monopolies who prey upon tn,
time and patience of members of the
Legislature. who have been sent ther,
to legislate in the interest Of the people
and for no special class legislation.
yOX PoPULT.
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