Report of the debates and proceedings of the Convention for the revision of the constitution of the state of Indiana. 1850.

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institutions, I hold that we ought to do equal we not also to exclude those who hold onice injustice to the whole of them, and exclude every directly. individual, however remote his interest in these It seems to me sir, that this is good RepubliCorporations may be-no matter whether he is canism-that an individual should not be borne a stockholder in a bank, or in a railroad, or in a down by the weight of office. Sir, the princrplank road; he must be interested directly, in ple itself is a correct one, without regard to the reference to all legislation bearing upon those question of interest. We all know that these Corporations; and if this is the principle by corporations constitute in themselves a kind of which we are to be governed, then we ought to small Legislature. We give them the power exclude the whole. to make their own by-laws, to regulate and govBut, Mr. President, I never conceal my proper ern themselves, and the President or the Direcposition. I, for one, will state to the Conven- tors are controlled by these by-laws; and should tion, that I am entirely opposed to the proposi- any one of these be elected to serve in the tion offered by the gentleman from 1Hancock- General Assembly, it should be remembered but if it is to pass in reference to those who that he is bound by his oath to attend to the hold offices in these corporations, then it ought interests of the people, and not to those of any equally to apply to those who hold stock. I am body else. Now, sir, when these men come opposed to the section for the reason that it is a here, I take it that they do not come entirely prohibition which may come in conflict with the free from a desire to promote other inteests very principles of republican government. Are than those of the people; and, if it is good to we to say, because a man holds an office in a exclude Postmasters and Justices of the Peace corporation, that therefore the country shall -if it is good to exclude those who hold ofce have no confidence in him, nor vote for him directly, I contend that it is equally good to If you are prepared to take this step, I trust you exclude those who hold office indirectly. are also prepared to adopt the amendment I have Then, Mr. President, I think we have asproposed. If the one is proper, and the reason signed reasons enough why that class of why we should so act in the one case, is good, persons named in the section, should be excluthen I say it applies with equal force in the otherded. I would not exclude them from any precase. [Consent.] judice to them, as individuals, in consequence The gentleman referred to the State of Flor-o the office which they may hold, but I regard ida. Are we to turn our attention to that little th coect nciple,thattheman State, which borders upon the Gulf, and be gov- comes to make the wsfor afree people, should ernaed in this enlightened State by precedents himself be free from all restraint which might in'this enlightened State by precedents established in Florida, a State which is a hun- ie ferested motive. [AppEause.] dred years behind us, both in intellect and civ- r. TAUE. T hope thatthe original secilization [Cries of "consent," and applse.]ion offered by my colleague will pass, and also the amendment of the gentleman from Hen& No, sir, I am opposed to it, and therefore I insist te amendment of the gentleman fro hsend;that the position assumed by the gentleman ricks, (Mr. Nave) offered according to his own ~~~~~~that ~tpoiamyenawords, with the view of breaking down the from:Hancock is directly in opposition to a re- ction with the view of breaking down Ril publican form of government. I am in favor of temped R llowingevery individual to holdan office who road, and I am perfectly willing to be excluded allowing every individual to hold an office who from all offices while I hold that stock. ["Con-.may be elected to fill it, whether he holds an n offices e e ae th oatsto ~offiGB in a corporation or not. sent, consent."] We are are aware that our Mr. DOBSON. It willa bpe rmemembered by n.State is adapted to be a great commercial State, the Convention, that we have already adopted a and that eventually we will be chequred all ection in the followTing langluage: over with railroads, and plank roads, and other improvements; and that probably one-hair of "-No person, holding any lucrative office, un-our inhabitantswill hold stock in these works der the United States or the State, shall be el- in banks or other corporations. And, I am igible to a seat in either branch of the General aware, Mr. President-for I have seen it in Assembly." ~ this Convention-that men are very apt, even We struck out Postmasters, and we excluded when they are sent to work for the good of the justices of the peace, whose annual fees, in people-to work some little for SELF. [Apmany instances, do not amount to sufficient to plause.] Self-interest, sir, has shown itself in pay for their ink and paper. Now if we intend in this body; and when we elect these men to to carry out that principle, is it not equally as come here to make lsws, the probability will be properthat we should exclude persons holding that they will be mostly stock-holders, or officethose offices mentioned in the section proposed holders, in these public works, and I, for one, by the gentleman from Hancock? Then, sir, would think that they would aci in some measthere is another section, which, I have nodoubt, ure from selfish motives. we shall adopt-one which provides that no I have, on another occasion, said here, that it person shall hold more than one lucrative office is as natural for men to work for themselves as at the same time. Now, if we exclude every it is for sparks to fly from a fire; and if those individual who holds an office directly, ought improvements to which I have referred should

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Title
Report of the debates and proceedings of the Convention for the revision of the constitution of the state of Indiana. 1850.
Author
Indiana. Constitutional Convention
Canvas
Page 1200
Publication
Indianapolis, Ind.: [A. H. Brown, printer to the Convention]
1850[-51]
Subject terms
Indiana.

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"Report of the debates and proceedings of the Convention for the revision of the constitution of the state of Indiana. 1850." In the digital collection Making of America Books. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/aew7738.0002.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 22, 2025.
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