Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-09-21


Let every treeman ask himself the Gnos-
ton, have banks heen well conducted! /!
Hsve they been SO contsoiled as Il be
pefsecil9 safe and fully answer the ends
ofxheir creatiupi Hays they been ttgat-
" and tarudensty nssnageds These ques-
tons cannot be answef3f IN the atirnis;
tive. Their present S&aai;on is couc'u.
sive evidence BOT only that !. the present
Baking system is greatly defective, hut
that the system, bad as il is. has been
greatly abused by those charged with its
management. Loans have been too great
ly exteaded; Directors have been permits
ted to become borrowers for ejaculation,
TO too great an extent; there has been TOO
much lavoritism, too much aceommoda,
tion for the auariciOasj jew, and too little
attention paid to the demands of the en-
terprising and industrious inany;--too ma
ny of the Banks are mere shoviag shohs:
too many Of them are managed with sole
view of speculating off community. to en-
rich those Interested 10 them, regardless
OF the public veal; and now, TOO many Of
them, it II, believed, are engaged in pur,
chasing vp. their own paper al discount.
That these abuses exist is unqualiliedly
asserted every day, was about 10 say.
even on the house tops. These are truly
great oyershadowing evils. effecting iju'
riously a great majority Of tho people.
The blame justly rests some where. The
sin is only chargable to those who
con'soi and manage the banks. They reap
all the benefits Of their practices, and
most certainly the public must hold them
responsible for the injury resulting there
from.
l have shown that Federal con'rol
and manage the banks, and if there has
been faud-iflberc has been ohhreSsion
If there has been illegal and erhorbh,
ant interest demanded ard received - if
any Of the Banks have purchased up their
own paper at discount, and these things
are every dav asserted, let the blame rest
upon the e>GUILTY--let the people be.
ware. II is dangerous TO trust such a
povsy with political power. They have
bused their powers as bank directors, aud
this is certainly not the time to trust them
with the exercise Of the duties Of Legisla-
ton. The crisis demands pure AID dis
interested men men ofin!egrty aud puri
ty Of character-men OF great prudence
and undoubted Grmness; men that Bank
influence cannot swerye from duty; men
who have no connection with Banks, and
who have at all times been opposed TO mos
MED monopoles. Such men should the
people elect to the General Assembly.
The people cannot think that BANK
DIRECTORS will thoroughly investigate
the conduct OF Banks; it cannot be ex.
pected that Bank Directors viii be wifi
nesses in behalf Of the State; it cannot be
expected thar Bank Directors will crimi-
nate themseIvesj II cannot be expected
that Bank Directors will give the people
q full and true history of the practices OF
the Banks; it cannot be expected that
Bank Directors will vote in favor of such
measures in relation to the PRESENT
BANKS as will compel all those that
are able, Immediately to resume SPE-
Gle PAYMENT, and that are not able
to do so to wind up their concerns as
speedily as possible, SO as not to injure
the public. say that the people cannot
expect that Bank Directors will do any
of these things. Then why elect them,
when it is morally certain that they viii
oppose the measures you are most anx-
ious TO have fully consummateds Think
seriously upon this subject. II is one of
great importance, deserving the grave
consideration Of every Freeman.