Corporations

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...the exercise of the police power of the State shall never be so 
abridged or construed as to permit corporations to conduct their 
business in such manner as to infringe the rights of individuals 
or the general well-being of the State. 
  -- CA Constitution, 1879 

The life of a corporation is, indeed, less than that of the humblest 
citizen, and yet it envelopes great accumulations of property, moves 
and carries in large volume the business and enterprise of the people 
(New York 1890) PEOPLE V. NORTH RIVER SUGAR REFINING CORP., 24 N. E. 834 

The abstract idea of a corporation, the legal entity, the impalpable 
and intangible creation of human thought, is itself a fiction, and 
has been appropriately described as a figure of speech 
(New York 1890) PEOPLE V. NORTH RIVER SUGAR REFINING CORP., 24 N. E. 834 

The state permits in many ways an aggression of capital, but, mindful 
of the possible dangers to the people, overbalancing the benefits, 
keeps upon it a restraining hand, and maintains over it a prudent 
supervision, where such aggregation depends upon its permission and 
grows out of its corporate grants 
(New York 1890) PEOPLE V. NORTH RIVER SUGAR REFINING CORP., 24 N. E. 834 

the state, by the creation of the artificial persons constituting the 
elements of the combination and failing to limit and restrain their 
powers, becomes itself the responsible creator, the voluntary cause, 
of an aggregation of capital 
(New York 1890) PEOPLE V. NORTH RIVER SUGAR REFINING CORP., 24 N. E. 834 

Indeed, it is doubtful if free government can long exist in a 
country where such enormous amounts of money are...accumulated in 
the vaults of corporations, to be used at discretion in controlling 
the property and business of the country against the interest of 
the public and that of the people, for the personal gain and 
aggrandizement of a few individuals. 
(Nebraska) RICHARDSON V. BUHL, 43 N. W. Rep. 1102. 

All experience has shown that large accumulations of property in 
hands likely to keep it intact for a long period are dangerous to 
the public weal. 
(Georgia) RAILROAD CO. V. COLLINS, 40 GA 582. 

It has long been recognized, however, that the special status of 
corporations has placed them in a position to control vast amount 
of economic power which may, if not regulated, dominate not only 
the economy but also the very heart of our democracy, the 
electoral process... The State need not permit its own creation 
to consume it. 
Justices White, Brennan and Marshall, dissenting opinion, 
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON V. BELOTTI 435 US 765 (1978) 

...the blessing of potentially perpetual life and limited 
liability... so beneficial [sic--R.G.] in the economic sphere, 
poses special dangers in the political sphere. 
Chief Justice Rehnquist, dissenting opinion 
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON V. BELOTTI 435 US 765 (1978) 

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