The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-03-21
IETrER Ole n. w. BARTLEY.

LETTER OF H. w. BARTLEY.
s.NIEDARY, ESQ. ;--Will you please insert, in
The columns of the Ohio Statesman, the follow
ing letter.
Yours, very respectfully,
r. W. BARTLEY.
February 2sth, 1914.
SENATE CHAMBER,
February 26, 1874.
HIS ErcclIency, Wilson Shannon:
DEAR S1R:-It is with feelings of astonishment
and regret, that have read your letter ofthe 18th
instqnt, addressed to DR.. John Dunham, editor of
the.ist Clairsyille Gazette on the vexed question
of he banks and the currency. Entertaining
for Ybu, personally, as always have, and donow,
no Cher sentiments than those of kindness and
high consideration, | would be one of the last
peFs3ns to take exception to any thing which
it M, 8,ht be necessary for you to say in defence
iof Yourself, against any personal charge or de-
nuleiation. But your letter is not confined to
aIs es.cuipation Of yourself You have deemed it
proper, with the weight of your opinion and your
official influence, TO assa, indirectly at least not
onlythe position assumed by the democratic par
| ty as this State, on the currency question, at the
State Convention recently held in Columbus, but
also the legislative acts of the democratic major
! ity n the Legislature at the two sessions prece-
ding the present, as we'll as the acts Of majority
of the democratic members of the present Gen
eral Assembly. | conceive it to be due to the
deHocratic majority in the legislature, with whom
i | Have acted due TO myself, OH account of The
par (which have taken on the currency question
and due to the democratic party of this State
that some of the remarks contained i'll your letter
shoild not be permitted to pass uncontroyerted
WhltI shall say, will be dictated in the spirit o
fraplness and fairness, and under the influence o
no other motive than high regard for the public
welfare, and the deep interest which take in {
subject of great public importance to,the people
Iof Ohio. And address you in this public man
t ner, for the purpose Of giving you an occasion
/. Efor making further exposition Of your views
shQlld you conceive that have in any respec
nlsapprehended the import aad effect Of you
letter
in the forepart of your letter, you use the fol
: lowing expression, which is undoubtedly correct
'slhc whole democratic party took the ground 0
L Bank Reform while our opponents either justifi
S ID, or to some extent palliated the conduct 9
It tl4 banks, and maintained that the system tsGl
t. ,Iregaired but little if any amendment, This wa
tho issue between the two parties in the contes
/; of 1888, and in every subsequent one, includin
d thntof 1922 LII the opinion here expressed,
d fully occur. While the democratic party, on til
one side, were contending for reform by whic
. to correct the abuses and evils Of the bankin
. System, under which the people were seyerel
. suffering, our political opponents, on the otht
= side, met us at every step, contested every inc
: Eleaa around. and resisted us at all points, I'll
4 strength of the two conflicting paIlies vas qel
!. dfcarly balanced. AT the session Of IS40-'4
the whig party had an overwhelming majority
s the House Of Representatives AT the two su,
cceding sessions the democratic majority in eac
st branch Of the legislature was very 1neagre on,
d and at the present scssionsthe whig party hay
., again majority in the Houseof Representative
y The fearful difficulties and obstacles created an
+ thrown in our way by the organized and detern
j. ned resistance Of our political opponents, almos
e and, at some times, entirely equal TO us in poll
d cal strength in the Legislature, were vastly au
ID lmented by diversity Of sentiment among Il
d democratic members Of the Legislature, as to Il
iy details of the measure proposed, and the peculi
le remedies best calculated to correct the varo
n abuses Of the banking system. 1t is an easy m;
o. ter to find fault and point out real or magma
10 imperfections in the details of a measure; al
II few do, nay, very few can, fully appreciate Il
perpleXing and fearful responsibility assumed
those who attempt to propose measure upon
y subject so complex in all its bearings, and so
y fcult Of comprehension in all the minutia Of
practical operation, as that Of banks and the CT
q rency. Under these circumstances, when bes
% by difficulties on all hands which seemed to
u almost insuperable, the democratic party in t
y Legislature, true to the paramount interests
~ the people, and true to what they believed to
= the principles and sentiments of the democra
~ of the country, proposed and adopted measu
" containing the terms, safeguards and liabiliti
Y for the future management Of thabankng syste
Y in Ohio. The measure became law at the 81
y y sion Of flS4l-42. At the sd6esaaing session
= was claimed that the law was to- agid and str
- in some Of its details; and an amendalary
y was consequent passed, removing the objt
tas tions BY which rs then alledged the law v
~ rendered impFaeaeahle; and. a few Of the proI
\ nent persons connected with the companies VIII
N had been making application 10 tlie Iegislatl
- for the privilege of engaging in tho Business
y banking, on flie terms Of the old system, IL.
= lauthoazed 70 organize and commemorative bl
4 nesstlnd the present law Our political ~
y, nents, in order 10 bring this law into oaisf
Z land 70 utterly PROSTATE the principles Of the a
sn locratic party on The currency questions have
v sted that the bank question in Ohio was !
~ al open one--have proclaimed the e,dstng
le7 lto be impractcable; and by holding bit pro
: ses Of more liberal and profitable syaIsm
Id bankers, have so far succeeded jim prevent
I'm thom from engaging in the business.on the Tel
5ad Ipronded, by I've law, Inc question had P1co Peco
ice harroWea Gown 70 tile slAlple lssuey WnetheF
log provisions q NE exlsslng iaE' containing
ned prominent Nihciples oF.he qemocfauc parry
ce. the cuHIBncy question, should be maintained
bis successfully carried into operation, or whet
,ce or POLITICAL opponents should tFiumgsh BY
iae asloptan II theif unsafe and irresponsible bai