The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-03-21
SPEECH
OF Ben. NIetcaIE, ESQ.,,

4tt, lS45.
Mr.. PREsIDENT:--We have not assem-
bled here this evening to consult together
upon the subject of general politics. In re-
lation to that matter, which during the last
year, so entirely absorbed the attention OF
the people, the public mind has been happ-
ly put to rest by that sublime triumph OF de-
mocratic principles this day consummated in
the Inauguration Of James K. Polk.
We meet, sir, to commune together upon
a subject of infinitely greater Importance TO
us as citizens of Ohio, than any question of
national policy which has ever agItated the
nublic mind We meet to consult together
upon measure in which are involved the
, destinies of the people of Ohio, perhaps,
for all time to come. We meet 10 consult
together, and concert means 10 avert the des-
perate calamity with which we are threaten
Yea through the action of the base truckers
10 Bank dominancy in the present Legisla-
ture. The issue which we, as part of the
sovereign people of Ohio, are called upon
todetcrmino, is faught with nothing lessthAn
The liberty of the people-the equality OF
rights and the equality of burdens on the
one side-and slavery, exclusive privileges,
and privileged order of Bankers and paper
money nabobs on the other. And we meet
on this, the day on which the nation at large
laws aside the mourning weeds, worn during
she past four years of misrule, and once more
dons the cap of liberty, and wraps herself in
the mantle Of peace and prospcrlty-on this
the day when the destinies of the nation are
once more committed 10 the watchful care of
,bei, ancient, watchful and true guardian,
the democratic party, because it is day
which will remain hallowed as one of the
pure spots OH the waste Of memory as the
lime of our redemption from the thraldom OF
federalism.
For centuries during the night of barba-
rism which enveloped the world from the fall
of the Roman Empire, until the middle of
The last contury, the mass of this Christian
world was held in chains underathe iron
rule of the feudal system, and the Tulnous
mahcincry put to work by tyrants 10 sustain
it. The Individuality of man was thing
not known, at least not generally known
The many were cry regarded as the Williams
and followers of the. fudatory lords, their
masters; and they were willns,-servile serfs
proud of theI. .ma4ers, and emulous only
to stand higrS.ihe estimation Of the proud
usstrpers who tramplcd upon Them. They
willingly lickedst hand which answered
with caress, but carcsscd only TO destroy.
But as that darkness which enveloped the
nations began to disperse before the eful-
gent light of modern improvement, and
the knowledge of the rights of man be-
come a commodity no longer confined
to the cloister, but difused throughout
Chrs.endom, wherever there were hearts
10 rejoice in the possession Of the celestial
boon liberty, the rusty chains in which the
world was bound, began 10 give way, as man
once more began to arise in the dignity Of
his nature, and assert those rights, OF the
enjoyment of which he had been SO long de-
prived by the robbers of his species. The
tyrsnts took the alarm. Time proved the
futility of every attempt 10 strengthen and
rebuled the tottering bastle in which their
victims had so long groaned, and it was 81
ven up in despair, prey te the deVourng
spirit of the age. But with the instrument
of tyranny, the disposition to tyrannize did
not disappear. The old shackles were no
sooner worn out and shakenr off, than the
wits of the wise ones were pat 10 the tor
ture 10 discover new modes of OPPRESSION
The time had passed when men gloried in
chains, aid licked the hand which smote
them. Erect in all the conscious pride Of
liberty and equality, they spuned with in
dignaton every open attempt to tetter them.
"But tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquer
eds" when every other effort TO reduce men
to their ancient sorvitude failed, an insidious
poison, the very touch of which was death,
was sought out, and diffused through the
public body in the shape Of paper money.
"Best paper credit last and best supply,
That lends corruption lighter wings to fiy.'
We are approaching the crisis of this last
struggle between the friends and enemes$
of liberty and equality. The issue is well
made up. Nothing will satisfy the friends
of the paper credit system, but an over
shadowing public debt based upon the tares
of the people, and an eternal mortgage upon
their farms and property, and an aggregate
of individual Indebtedness sufficient to bank
rupt the world with all their attendant evils
in corrupting and poisoning the currents of
Understanding and destroying the utility
of the ballot-box, through the meretrcious
appliances of paper money-overawing the
legislative assembly, and directing it at will
and spreading the mildew of corruption and
servility through the entire body of the peo-
pie.
The party thus laboring to PROSTATE our
fair Republican fabric, and undo the labors
of the patriots Of +" the times that tried mems
souls constitute a mighty army on this and
the other side of the Atlantic, unsurpassed
in point of intelligence and wealth, and rich '
in everything calculated TO insure victory save I