The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-12
wooDsFIELD, JULY 70, lo45.
TO THE PEOPLE OF BELMONT AND
MONROE C0IJNTIES.

Fellow CITizENs:-An ancient and laudabls
persons proposed, by their fiends for places Of pub
lie trust, should disclose to,he electoral body, the
main and leading principles of public policy
which, il elected they propose TO promote. The
proprietors OF great estate would think it reasun-
able to know something of the opinions and
views Of person proposed to them as one OF their
stewards. A frank disclosure therefore has alwav:
been deemed by democrats, duty Of the first mag.
nitude, and at no period has the performance oi
that duty been more requisite than az present.
We are laboring under the pressure of an enor-
nous public debt, the heaviest beyond all compar-
ison of which the People OF Ohio, have had any
experience. our share of the national debt, at the
close of The late war, having been all things con-
sidered, light aud trivial comparison with it.
And unfortunately, its burhen finds no alienation,
in the discovery of any wisdom In the policy which
contracted the debt any value in the objects for
which it was contracted Knowing that the faith
of this great and mighty State has been repeatedly
pledged in every sacred form for its payment, the
patriot will not be disposed to murmur at the sac
rihces, indispensable to the attainment of so desi-
rable an ohect but he will be disposed to scrutn-
ize the bearings OF policy, which has proved so
disastrous. Perhaps the public debt of Ohio if
productive of no other utility may prove useful in
It's history and in lis warnings; and may Heaven
speed the time, when it shall exist only in history.
The energies OF the Hero of New Orleans were
tal a., 1oIt
object worthy of his vast mental powers and of his
former fame; our energies may well be directed to
the payment of our State debt, but with the nexo-
rable determination never to contract another ex-
cept for purposes Of general utility
The fathers OF our country, the sages OF therev-
oluton have advised frequent recurrence 10 first
principles, in order to bring the practice OF the gov
ernment back to that pure and orig ginal standard,
from which in its actual tendency. it frequently
departs The taxing power is the interesting func-
tion Of our State government now Its action is
exorbitant. Let US consider for moment whether
that action for the last quarter of century has
been in accordance with first principles. Then
from whence, according TO first principles, does
the right Of the government to tax the citizen pro-
ceed? The writers on Jurisprudence tell US that
taxation is the PRICE of protection, that it is not
to be wantony levied upon the citizen, norto be
levied OH him at all. except in return for valuable
privileges, conferred and ilhey had been silent on
the subject common sense would have told US the
same thing.
II is the duty of the State, by its ordinary Judi
cal tribunals to restore right to him that has recei-
,ed wrong, and redress his grievances, so as TO
preclude the necessity of aresort to private force
tits equally the duty of the State by the same agen
cy to enquire into and repreSs crimes, that the
whole society may flourish in peace and safety,
none daring to molest or harm the citizen by night
orby day. These two branches, constitute civil
and criminal justice upon the due administration OF
winch the wealth, the welfare, the happiness, the
greatness and the glory of commonwealths essen-
italy depend. And as in our complex system the
war-power belongs to the general government, it
would be difficult or impossible, in accordance
with right reason and first principles, to discover
any functions properly belonging to the State gov
eminent except these, together with the enacting
of laws for the right regulation of the whole soci
city including the judicial tribunals themselves -
Bearing in mind these principles, it will not be
hard to distinguish, when the contributions of the
citizen are wrongfuy and when rightfuily applied.
When few hundred dollars are taken from the
State Treasury to pay the salary of Judge the ap-
preparation is rightful, for the time and labors Of
the Judge are directed to the preservation ofsocial
order; and every part OF the State receives por-
ton Of the labors of the Judiciary. But when as
many millions are taken from the treasury to dig
a commercial ditch ia few favored counties. the
appropriation is wrongful, for vast majority Of
the tax payers have absolutely no return for their
outlay Is any man bold enough to question or
deny this position' Ifsuch man there be let him
tell US how the tax payers in Belmont Harrison or
Columbana are benefited by the construction of
a commercial ditch in Mercer or Paulding. Does
such n outlay tend 10 the preservation of social
order amongst them or in any other manner con-
tribute 10 increase their wealth, their happiness or
their safety' Then why should they be compelled
to contribute for such an object more than their
neighbors, the inhabitants of Marshall, Ohio and
Brooke on the other side Of the river?
Fellow citizens, If there be truth in mathematics,
it is true that every appropriation out OF the State
Treasury for objects of SO called internal improve
ment is part and parcel OF SYSTEM of legazed
plunder and robbery, not justified by considerations
of morality or sound policy Not to be forcibly
resisted because consistent with the FORMS of the
constitution, but to be abolished and overthrown
by an appeal to the People themselves, the pure
and original source Of all power and authority 1t
may be remarked by the way that we have the u!-
most encoura cement to attack this vast system of
folly and injustice from which we have suffered so
much, as even small corps of TREASURY
GUARDS will be sure to prevail if they have suf-
ficient skill to avail themselves OF the divisions and
distractions amongst the sposmen themselves.
The subscriber disclaims all hostility to system
of internal Improvements based on right principles.