The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-06-10
saturday, june 10, 1897.
MORE SHIN-PLASTERS.

The Cattawissa Bridge Company have
followed suit with similar corporations,
and our neighbourhood will of course be
flooded with "promises to pay" in average
amounts of from twelve and half cents, to
twenty-five cents, fifty, and seventy
cents, and one, two, three, and four dollars.
Now, the conduct of the Banks in securing
all the specie in the country for the pur-
pose of selling it at a m,-thelr re-
flsal to redeem their own notes in conform
ity with their pledged faith, and the re-
strictions of their charters,-and the conse-
quent scarcity of the legal currency of the
country, may render such course essen
tally necessary in the view ofsome people;
but as an open ciOlatiOn cf la,c, it will GER
tainly never receive the sanction of the
community, and therefore we shall discoun-
tenance any attempt, come from what quar-
ter it may, to put these rags into circula-
ton. While the civil law grants protection
to the rights Of every man, it also prescribes
penalty for every offence, in order to pre-
vent, by the influence of example and pun
ishment, the recurrence of such crime; and
when those who set the law at defiance, are
persons ofrank and character, to whom ma
ny look for examples Of morality, the PEN
atty for any offence whatever, should be
strictly exacted. If such men are left alone
in their unlawful transactions, then all law
becomes null and void, and will eventually
result in the overthrow of all order, and all
respect for the dignity of the commonwealth,
and the integrity and intentions of our ex-
ecutive, legislative and magistratorial func-
tionaries. We will then merely ask, who
issue these Shin-plasters! Who take them
and promote their circulation The answer
is at hand: They are issued by certain cor
porate bodies, through their managers and
oficers0men who have been chosen by
the stockholders, on account of their integ-
rity of character, qualifications, or extern
sive influence and possessions, to direct
and control their operations. What ex-
amples to less qualified & labouring classes
of community! The act of April IL, 1928,
prohibits the issuing and circulating, either
directly or indirectly, of any paper having
the nature, CHARACTER, or APPEAR
ANCE of bank note, of any less denomi-
nation than five dollars and the same act
prescribes penalty of FIVE DOLLARS for
every such offence, "to be recovered by
any person suing for the same as debts of
like amount are by law recoverable. -
We shall say no more, unless new matter
arise deserving animadversion, on the sub
ject of these illegal substitutes for a metallic
currency. Every person in the community
should, by this time, know and understand
the law; & if he be mulcted into the special
penalties prescribed, he cannot attribute his
losses to any want of necessary caution on
our part. We ,ciH take none of them =
and while we have reason to expect, before
many weeks elapse, plenty of the HARD CUR,
RENcT circulation, yet disappointment in
this honest hope shall not alter our deter.
mination, unless the Legislature may deem
1t advisable to render them legal part Of
our paper currency, by altering or abolish.
ing the act which attaches penalty to then
issue and circulation.