Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-07-25

VI 'he NeIIhdn farmers IN pdrucular!-
Though we relieved this man of load
of care, he cried out against US as if we
! had injured him sorely. And the world
in general, though we were benefting
it, by increasing the amount of active cir
culatlng medium, pursued US as thieves
and robbers, brought US before courts
and magistrates, had US convicted, and
sentenced us to long imprisonment
Yes, they imprisOned'us, both Snooks and
me!
When we were released from con.
fnement, my beloved friend and myself
took counsel together as to what way we
should next attempt to serve our coun-
try, and render our names illustrious.
Let US show to the world said
Snooks, that the age of heroism is
not past. Let US become knight er.
rands.
'Nobly advised!'' said Lord Byron
used to say that II the stocks failed. he
meant to take to the highway, for that
was the only way left for honest men.
Our case is exactly that which Lord By.
ron supposed might be his. We have
no stocks, and we are honest men,
Therefore let US do what his lordship
said he would do, if he were in our con-
dition.'
To the highway we accordingly took,
and our feats OF prowess were as much
as might in former ages have been re.
hearsed by many bard. But alas! in
these degenerate days, knight errantry is
called by the vulgar name of highway
robbery and punished, as an offence a
gainst the statutes. Again we were
pursued, again caught, again convicted,
again imprisoned.
You and l. said Snooks, 'are two lit
tie Julius Cesars, or two little Napol-
con Bonapartes. The only difference ia,
that their operations were on moro ex-
tensive scsle than ours. They plunder,
ed not only individuals. They spread
devastation through whole countries.-
We have done nothing more than to
keep single county in state of alarm.
The world is very inconsistent. Conduct
which is precisely the same in principle,
it applaudS in them, and condemns in
u.s.
'Yes,' continued ], 'and what an utter
disregard is pad to the much vaunted
principles of free trade, in one partcs.
lar case! What the world is pleased to
call theiving and robbng is our trade
1t is the one TO which we were appren-
ticed, and affords The only way in which
we know how to get an honest liveli'
hood. The political economist Of high
est repute, from Adam Smith to Condy
Raguet, all agree in declaring that every
trade and profession is best regulated if
left to itself. Why, then, make particu.
lar exception in regard TO our businessi
Can any one say that il IS more iDjur.
aus to the community than the distiller,
or many other trades that might be men.
toned? Surely, surely, we are both
much wronged men,
I'VE are indeed replied Snooks. 'But
there is no use in contending with the
preiudices Of mankind. 'Thers are,' says
DR.. Franklin, 'but three modes Of acN
curing wealth. The first is by agri-
culture, the only honest way. The sec.
ond is by robbery, the course the Ro-
mans pursued. The third is by com.
merce, which is generally cheating We
have tried the Roman way, and found it
not acceptable 10 our compatriots. We
must accommodate ourselves TO the age
in which we live,and the country in which
we dwell. What do you say, ScrogginS,
to our aiding the operations Ofcommerce
by establishing money n1Gnufdctory.
'What, Counterfeiting! exclaimed, -
'Oh, Snooks! conscience! conscielcen
'Now ScrogginS,' said he, don't make
fool of yourself. ! have aS much re-
gard TO conscience as you or any other
man living has. If you will listen to me
candidIy, I will prove to you that the uh.
dertakin2 | propose is not only innocent,
but highly iaudable%'
DO it, replied, 'and l will at once
become your partners
'Well, then,' said he, 'iS not money
something entirely cOnVentiOnGIr'
Il cannot say but it iS,' rejoined l.
Does it not owe its whole value to the
tacit agreement Ofmsn TO receive il from
one another in exchange for commOdi-
tiesF
st is SO declared, said l, Sin the Wing
news papers, and you and are both good
members of the Wing party
sWell, then,' resumed he 'if you and |
should Cabricate notes SO much like those
at present in circulation that the differ.
ence between them could not be discov
cred, would not the one kind answer the
purpose of trade as we'll as the Other3'
| Il cannot see,' said | 'why they should
not. Every counterfeit, till its true char
actSr is discovered, performs the same
functions as genuine note. When the
lcirculatioh of annaIl nofea Vas QunnFnaa