Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-02-28
House of Representatives,
Washington City,

washington CltyS
February 9th, IS43
Dear Sir-I inst now received yours ol
the 32st Oltimo, upon the subject of the
conflicting opinions which seem 10 pre-.
vail among our democratic brethren iu
Ohio, in relation to the currency. Twill
reply in ss few words as the nature of the
question will permit. Since | first ds>
covered that conflicting opinions were
entertained, both in and out of our Leg.
islature, upon this subject, l have been
puzzled to know how they could possibly
have arisen amongst those who participa-
led in the9struggle for S'PrincIple, not
men," which. resulted SO gloriously
throughout Ohiein the fall Of ls4S.-
The issues in, that conflict were we'll de.
fined; perfectly understood by the people,
and their decision upon them as clear
and emphatic as their will through the
ballot boxes could possibly be expressed,
What were these issues? The first land
by nO means the least important TO the
liberties of the People was the one, EN-.
bracing the legal right, or want of legal
and constitutional authority in any pOr-
ton of our Legislature, to "absquatu-
late" when ever any law is likely to be en-
acted by the majority, (ess than two thirds
of the entire body) which the minority
disapprove Of The verdict upon this
question stands upon record, and will
there remain as warning to absquatula
tors in all future time. The next and
great question, land the only one which
shall now notice was the one of "Indi-
vidual responsibility OF Bsnkers." This
in my opinion was the grand pivot upon
which The elections turned. II was as
serted and reiterated by the democrats
throughout the State, that by the resig-
nation of the whig portion of the Legis.
Ia,ure they had defeated the passage of
"I.atham'S Bill" which the democratic
majority intended 10 pass and carry into
effect. Upon our most faithful promise
to carry ouI amongst Others) this cardi.
nal principle OfrefOrm, if placed in pow.
er, we achieved most signal victory over
our enemies, who had always opposed
this salutary and democratic measure.-
If then, this be true, the path of duty can.
not be misconceIved. If we promised
this reform, (and we most assuredly did)
1t IS no time to be specializing upon, and
debating theories about the introduction
Of hard money, but the time to act. We
as party should perform just what we
pledged ourselves TO do, and what the
people so emphatically called for. IT.
this, and other wholesome restrictions
shall fail to prevent continuation of that
system ofswindling and plumber with
which Ohio has been afflicted for many
years, it will be the time, after we have
fulfilled our promises, and the reform
system has been tested and found made
1uate to the accomplishment of the OBJ
ects, 10 talk about an immediate return TO
currency, or tn do whatever
else the popular will may indicate. Ifafter
w0 have made bankers, like all other cit
zeps, individually liable for the perform
auce of their engagements, and placed
before their vision Penitentiary of suff-
cient capacity and durability TO suit their
case, and all these shall fail TO answer
The purpose intended, the community
will Gas heretoIore) again become arous.
ed, ,and direct the remedy for the evils
under which they may be laboring. This
matter, like all others, should be direct
ed by the popular will. In their iudg-
ment there is safety. am full believ.
or in the maxim, that, in politics, "lhe
voice efthe people is the voice of Del
Iy,"
| think we have had some experiences
within the last year or two, which ought
to teach us lesson as to our duty at the
present crisis. The whig party in 1910
by a large majority carried the elections
thrO'Out the county. One ofthe means
by which they accomplished this, was the
innumerable pledges they made Of ore.
form, retrenchment, restoration Of conf.
dence, advancement in the prices of pro.
duce and labor. These promises we're
made before the election. What was
done afterwards? Not single one Of
them fulfilled. And what has been the |