Kentucky Gazette

PUBLIC PRINTERS.

The house of representatives of the United States, by a lean majority, have passed a bill to reduce the number of Publishers of the laws of the United States to one in each state and territory—and to reduce likewise the compensation for publication, already as mean and contemptible as the motives which must have actuated the minds of some of the supporters of the measure. The report of the committee, which brought this subject before the house, is the poorest legislative document we have ever read. The reasoning is flimsy and sophistical. The whole proceeding appears to be tinged with disappointment—with envy towards the secretary of state—and a littleness which would do no credit to any deliberative body whatever. A desire to suppress information can never be founded on magnanimous feelings, especially information arising out of the laws of the nation. Caligula, when he hung his edicts above the reach of the eye, could not have been guilty of a more atrocious violation of the principles of liberty and equality. We trust the senate will spurn from their chamber the obnoxious bill.

The following remark is taken from the Petersburg Intelligencer of March 21. The writer, when he makes it, is speaking of some of the affairs of this state, and particularly of our mode of legislation. He says,

"The legislative body, that without scruple or hesitation, can stretch arbitrary power so far, as at a single blow to deprive of their charters forty corporations of its own creation, can have little regard for the rights of citizens of other states unfortunately within its control."

This is a fine sample of Virginia arrogance. We doubt whether the insolence contained in the above sentence could be over-matched by the brightest genius that might be selected from a whole phalanx of Yankee demagogues.

The people of Kentucky understand and duly appreciate the great and sacred rights invested in them by the God of Nature, and by the constitution of their country. They know that government is made for the people, and that the constituted authorities must be subservient to their interests and happiness. The lordly notions of pomp and pageantry entertained in some quarters of the union have, no doubt, introduced corruption. That is not yet the case in this state. Every man here is a freeman. The goadings and shackles of poverty itself, do not deprive him of political independence, nor do they reduce him to the subordination of nabobs and money-mongers.

In 1817 & 1818, a litter of illegitimate banks was produced by an unchaste legislature. They were not welcomed by the people; because their unhappy influence on society was soon seen and felt. Not a single exception to this observation. When, therefore, these petty corporations, in the course of two years, had corroded the pecuniary vitals of hundreds of individuals, it was time to commence thinking about the necessity of their defunction. The right to repeal charters granting privileges, is seldom contested now by rational men. The policy is amply proved, by the high satisfaction which exists throughout the state at the event of last winter that sealed the fate of these obnoxious bantlings.