The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-06-14
SATURDAY, JUNE ii. ls43.
For the Sptra Of Democracy.
NEW TAX LAW.


The editor of that paper is a stranger
to me in all respects. lie may perhaps
justify himself to his own conscience
by a consideration of the ordinary H.
eentiouSness of the news paper press.
but that en,iousness is itself great
evil and hodes evil to our institutions.
The violation of truth must be attended
with evil consequences, remote or i'm
mediate. If my course had been plea
sing to him, why should he attempt to
do me the greatest injury in his power
to infict. A friend does not stab with
dagger.
II had any appetite for NoromErY.
the whig news papers in and near CO.
lumbus surely gave me enough OF 1t, 10
satisfy the stomach Of Cormorant.--
Their war upon me was incessan: from
the first week Of the first session to the
close of the last. No other man in
either branch of the General Assembly
was treated by them with such gross
and shameless injustice.
When convinced OF my error by ar
gument am ready to retract, and not
till then. But it must not be supposed
that mere personal considerations can
sway my conduct. No man has a more
lively sense of the kindness and conf
denee of his fellow citizens than the sub
scrlber; and if the people, on any fu-
ture occasion, see fit TO re-electme, !
shall serve them as heretofore, with
perfect heart and with willing mind,
but will not lie, ! will not prevalicale,
will not conceal my real opinions, or
shun any proper responsibility .or the
sake Of reelection. Whenever poliii-
cal success becomes the primary object
Of any man, he is in reality unworthy
of the confidence of his fellow citizens.
To DO RIGHT and promote the happi-
ness Of the PEOPLE, ought to be the gri-
mary object Of every man called to take
part in public affairs. Personal consid-
erations should be secondary and sub
ordinate.
AS to differences amongst democrats,
why is the attack made, if defence is
not expected to follow? Can any par
ty discipline or partlzan ties be strong
enough to deprive men of the natural
right of self defence? If the leader Of
an army for the sake Of sore lt,le
petty advantage over the enemy.should
attack a regiment of his own men.
would they be bornd to lay down and
die without resistance? lfspaniels they
might, but if men, they will make
desperate and bloody resistance, and
their efforts will correspond with the
Indignation which they feel at the rREA-
cuERY that attacks them! The new
tax law is not a whig m assure in any
partizan sense Of the word. The man
who first proclaimed it so was guilty ef
a base artiicc, and it shall not sue
coed! Mark that! claim nothing
for myself; but was nothing due to the
feelings and the services Of such men as
Disney and Baldwin aid Loudon and
Johnson and Wood and Meredith and
Obannen and Swarty and Bell! Was
the fierce attack on such men likely to
produce harmony in the party? Was
it wise, was it prudent? Was it not a
mere piece of selfish cunning?
If surgeon should be dragged be-
fore criminal tribunal and condemned
to death for setting a bone, under law
passed after he had performed the &C,
ton, he would say that he was hard
treated, for no law forbid him to do SO
at the time the thing was done. At
the time voted for this law no more
expected to be charged with a breach
Of p9rty obligations, than now expect
10 be charged with murder for eating
my dinner. No part of our previous
training or principles had taught US
that it was ar!stocratlc and federal and
whiggish to make merchants and mon
ey lenders pay Il little share Of the pub
lie burthens!!
AS to the exemption Of the capital
employed in the purchase of live stock
from taxation under this law, | submit
to my fellow citizens the foil 'wlng rea-
sons: We might tax that kind of car
ital in the hands Of our own fellow Cit
liens, but we could not tax it in the
hands of the DRovERs from all the bor-
der States, such as Pennsylvania, Vir-
ginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan,
who come and 60 in a few weeks. If
the act contained such a feature as this
! should give up its defence? The lou
dest blast Of condemnation which
have yet heard, was upon this provision.
The gentleman happened to be mlsta-
ken, but suppose it was in the law,what
would be said, or rather, what would
not be said? Can two diametrical op-
o,b h. to ,l,o do,