The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-24
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
No. Ill.

MR. EDlroR:
If the principles which the SUBJ
scriber, in his former numbers has at
tackled, as unjust, foolish and proaigate,
have nevertheless worked well for the
people, producing happiness and bene-
fits to them, an impartial reader would
be inclined to suspect some unsound-
ness in his reasoning, suspicion nearly
always well founded, when theory is
conlradicted by fact and experience.
If on the contrary those immense, enor-
nous sums which have been levied up
on the people of Ohio by the hand of
injustice have been expended by the
hand of folly, then they will be readl-
ly admittsdto be in harmony with ex-
p3erience. Let facts therefore, speak
fol themselves.
A number Of years ago the people
of the Muskingum Valley, seeing the
lavish expenditure which the State was
making in other parts, became anxious
and excited on the subject of the i'm
provement of their river. Public
meetings were held in various pla-
ces. At one of which held in the coun-
ty of Morgan, Mr.. Hawkins, late
Speaker of the Senate, and some other
iudicious persons advised their fellow
citizens, tn ask only for small appro-
priation, sufficient to clear out the rip
piles, build few wing-dams and i'm
n prove the sluice navigation; warning
them at the same time that if they de-
manded large appropriation, sutfl-
cient to construct dams and locks, they
would be compelled to yield their in
fuence to obtain appropriations for
other works, in other sections OF the
f State, or they would fail in the | object.
: this wholesome advice was unhapplly
/, ;!isregarded. The people resolved to
call for the improvement of their river
, by dams and locks and 50 instructed
: their Representative. lie sodn ascer'
tanned that so large an appropriation
oould not be obtained without com
blning with the friends of the Hooking
canal and the WaIhonding Canal, ano
so informed his felow-citizens. They
> instructed him to 60 for all those works
: These combinations have received the
familiar name of logrolling. Let u:
see what this log-rolling has cost the
people of Ohio. The Muskingum I'm
improvement has cost one million sil
hundred and thirty eight thousand and
sixty eight dollars; the Hooking Cana
/. one million, and the Walhonding Cana
!. six hundred and seven thousand, two
t hundred and sixty nine dollars, in the
f whole amounting to the enormous sun
: of S3,245,337. A capital which, if fem
h ployed so as to produce six per cent
I, Der annum would forever relieve the
e people of Ohio from direct taxation fol
e the purpose of supporting their State
Government; the interest on this I'm
mense SUM being moro than one hun
: dred and ninety-fve thousand dollars
an amount far greater than the tofa
annual charges ofour government.
y Yet it would be well for the people o
d this State, if this largs capital were
e merely sunk and lost, without entalllns
: any further charge upon the people
y than the payment Of the annual inter
: est; but this is very far from being thu
: case, as they are saddled with the cos
y ofREPAIRS. These worthless work
. altogether make gross return OF a
bout twenty five thousand dollars. AM
;, no sane man will pretend that the.
: can be keptin in repair for that sum-
They are like a THUNDER GUS
o MILL, which every year sinks tn
owner deeper and deeper in debt unit
some great freshet, very happily an
i fortunately sweeps it down stream, an
n relieves him from an annual loss in tn
e shape of patching and repairs. Man.
+ wise and discreet men, well acqualn
e ted with the subject, do not hesitate t
/ give it as their opinion, that a small al
!. propriation to clear the dams out of tn
!. Muskingum, would be judicious one
j inasmuch as it would relieve the Stat
e from an annual burthen and the pei
!. ple on the banks from CURSE and
v NUISANCE. What think you. fellov
s citizens, Of these matters in connexIo
,e with the fact of our seven per cen
a loans, and the sale Of our State bono
4. sat fifty-ive cents in the dollar? u
/. lvou not agree with me, that as anclel