...members of the civil government. Is it from the act of incorporation? Let this subject be considered. A corporation is an artificial being, invisible, intangible,...upon it, either expressly, or as incidental to its very existence. These are such as are supposed best calculated to effect the object for which it was...

...a corporation in a Supreme Court opinion for Dartmouth College v. Woodward in the following terms: "A corporation is an artificial being, invisible, intangible and existing only in the contemplation of the law. Being the mere creature of law, it possesses only three qualities which...

...and the principle of the sanctity of a written contract to include states, as well as corporations: "A corporation is an artificial being, invisible, intangible and existing only in the contemplation of the law ... . It possesses only those properties which the charter of its creation...