The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-07-16

ECHOES FROM SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF
THE REPUBLIC.
James Madison says: "The princi-
pie on which the voice Of the majority
binds the minority is founded, not
upon the law of nature, but upon a
compact founded on utility"
Thomas Jefferson says: "No society
can make a perpetual Constitution or
even a perpetual law. The earth be-
longs always to the living generation;
they may manage it and what pro-
ceeds from it, during their usufruct.
They are masters, too, of their own
persons, and consequently may gov
ern themselves as they please 4
Legislatures of the day can authorize
appropriations and establishments for
their own time, but no longer; and
the present holders (benefciaries),
even where they or their ancestors
have purchased, r in the case of
bona tide purchasers of what the seller
had no right to convey"
Future generations may or may not
give tacit consent to the doctrine that
the laws creating corporations are per-
petual, but to the true one, that they
are revocable at will, for the public
good, on the principle that the general
good is above all private considera-
ton.
THE EARTH BELONGS TO THE LIVING.
No compact founded by n gener-
alton can place unequal, unnecessary
or unjust burdens upon their success
ors. On this point we quote further
from Mr.. Jefferson: "This principle
that the earth belongs to the living
and not to the dead, is of very extern,
sive application and consequences in
every country. x = = It enters
into the resolution of the questions
whether the nation may change the
descent of lands holden in detail;
whether they may change the appro-
priation of lands given anciently to
the church, to hospitals, colleges, or
ders of Chivalry and otherwise in per-
petuity; whether they may abolish the
charges and privileges attached on
lands, including the whole catalogue,
ecclesiastical and feudal, it goes to
hereditary offices, authorities and juris-
dictions; to hereditary orders, distinc-
tions and ap%pellations; to perpetuate
monopohes an commerce, the arts Or
sciences and a long line of ct ceteras;
and it renders the question of reim-
bursement a question of generosity
and not of right"
The elementary principles of a free
society preclude the possibility of per-
petuating in perpetuity a nuisance,
wrong or fraud upon society; and the
history of this country is replete with
evidence of the sovereignty of the
people in the "resolution of several
of the questions enunciated by Mr..
Jefferson, when popular opinion de-
manded the change.
1t is therefore upon the natural and
inalienable rights of the sovereign
people that we base u hope for the
abatement, annulling or changing of
the corporate or legalized privileges
of organized and concentrated pow
ers, which are preying upon the sub
stance and rights of the masses of our
population.
In the conduct of very many of
these soulless corporations, the indi-
vidual rights and interests of the peo-
pie are not only totally disregarded,
but overridden to that extent that the
public welfare is subverted and the
government plundered and weakened
and it's power and authority deied
and endangered.
ALL AUTHORITY IS VESTED I THE
PEOPLE
On this point Mr.. Jefferson saws.
"The people alone have the right to
direct what is the concern of them,
selves alone, and to declare the law of
that direction" and we may add, as
a co~rrelative to the above, to alter,
amend or repeal any law, as a ma.
iority in their wisdom may deem
proper or expedient. And, further.
more: Whenever a law is found to
be injudicious, or grants Or permits,
powers OF privileges 10 Oe uSed 10 Op
press rather than to benefit society
at large, it is the privilege as the duty
of the representatives of society t.
repeal or amend such law, constitu
tional or statutory, by withdrawing
said perverted powers and privileges
"The oppressive corporations anc
legalized
PLUNDERING CORPORATIONS MUST CO.
Their plea of "vested rights" vii
be unavailing to save them from i'm
notation by a wronged and outraged
people. For they hold their privilege
at the will of the people, By gran
merely and not by right; and .whel
these are repealed, as they ought am
will be, compensation to the .benef
Charles ais a question of generosit
and not of right. and therefore no