Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-03-04


TO present 10 their fellow citizens few
considerations on the present aspect Of
our political affairs. llis now thirteen
years since the government of the
Union, together with that of most Of the
States, passed into the hands Of our op
ponents. At that time all the great in
Ierests Of tho country were in a state
Of decided prosperity, The agricuItur.
al and manufacturing branches we're in
such favorable condition that the i'm
ports and exports nearly balanced each
other. But that was not all; Of all the
nations upon earth none sustained so
exalted character as did the people Of
the United States; and in foreign coun.
tries Americans were regarded with The
most marked attention. For honor, pro.
bity, and punctuairy in the transaction
Of mercaatile affairs; our citizens were
every whers regarded as having no Su.
periors; and foreigners having capital
10 invest, preferred our country TO all
others. Such were our condition and
character in 1929. Let us enquire what
they are now? A most reckless course
Of improvdent legislation, by both the
National and State legislature, has disor-
ganized our whole system of public and
private revenue, and rendered it impos
sibe for ua to comply with either or
! public or private engagements; and now,
10 place Of the high character which
we once sustained abroad, our distant
creditors are 10 a constant state Of alarm,
les, we repUdjae al our obligations.
Nor iq our domestic condition any
more fattering. Possessed of more
property and capital of all kin]s than at
any former time; with corresponding
increase Of science and industry; an
almost universal paralysis seems ready
10 seize upon us; and app2rentIy, we
are on the eve of general ban&ruptcy'
How melancholy is the contrast between n
the same space Of time immediately sue
ceeding the revolution, and that Of which
we are now treating. The statesmen
Of that day found the nation poor, dis
pirited, and nerveless. They put forth
all their energies for it's relief, and un
der their auspices, it soon reached the
pinnacle Of prosperity. Those whose
rollies and vices we have occasion now
to mourn, found the nation in a state Of
the greatest thrift. and suddenly they
have reduced it 10 almost hopeless en-
barrassment.
We have now an aggregate debt ow-
ing by the several states OF upwards OF
$500 100000, and a national debt Of
nearly $50 600, 600, nearly all contract
ed since our opponents came into power
with no means provided even to pay the
interest, except by resort to addltlona
loans. This, fellow citizens, is brief
but true outline OF our present, as con-
trasted with our former condition.
And what are 4hs pretexts put for
ward to justify this cupable misrue?-
The first item in The series, is that the
States had been deprived of their consli.
) tutional right to furnish a paper cur
rency for the nation. That right has
been restored to them, with Instructions
to be liberal in its exercise. The in
jUnction was obeyed, State Banks were
} multiplied; and bountiluI issue Of pa
per was ignorantly stimulated by the
general government, until, in The mlds
: of Presidential landings, the bubble ex.
: ploded: and no sooner had this taken
} place, than the architects Of these base
= less edifces, turned round upon the
works of their own hands, and denounc.
} ed them as utterly corrupt, and always
worthless; nor dad they cease their e(-
forts, until they have succeeded in pros
trating, so far Ns Ohio is concerned, all
means Of sustaining the industry anC
business Of the people.
BY the enactments Of the present le-
gislatUre, three fourths Of the presen
currency of the State must 60 out oCex-
r istence during the present year; and al
2 amount of debts will have to be collect
b ed, perhaps tenfold greater than in an!
) former year: and all to crafty tn,
n whims of politicians, in carrying on
r political quarrel, to tho destruction o
l. our best interests. Originally the sire
nuous advocates for the mulipl cation q
o State Banks, they had been the caust
, Of infuslng the extruvagant issues o
! those institutions into the general bust
ness Of the country, until, owing 10 tn,
=; peculiar condition Of the commercra
d world, they were compelled to suspend
aud then, availng themselves Of th
j. odium caused by that necessity; the,
= Immediately raised the deceptive stand
G ard Of Bank Reform. Thus they hav
; art(ulIy shifted their position, contnu
o ally infusiDg their disorganizing Prn-
/ ciples into the public mind, until, goad,
ed by the importantly of their delude
# followers, they have felt themselves for
ced to carry out their doctrines, regard
less Of consequences.
:, But il is not of the improyidence q