Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-04-01

the correctness of this conclusion, let
him but estimate the number Of banks
in this state, and then the number OF
officers, men and agents, in their EN-.
ploy, the amount of money paid these
officers and agents by the banks for
their services, to which add the profits
and losses of the banks. and the aggre.
gate will be the amount. directly taken
from productive labor by the open sane.
tion OF legislation; and yet, large as
this aggregate may be, it is not a ti,he
of the sum taken from the people by
the fraudulent and swindling operations
Of the banks. | might further demon
strate this proposition, by an array of
details and figures; but, besides desir.
ing to be brief, a further elaboration is
not necessary 10 accomplish my present
object, nor, trust, is it at all necessary,
TO full understanding of the truth Of
my conclusions by those most inter-
ested.
In thus alluding to the banks, and the
fraud and corruption necessarily con.
sequent upon the system, design 10
illustrate the pal alpably unjust exemp>
tions ola bill, which, on its front, pur-
ports to be AN act for levying taxes
on all property in this State, according
to its true value To be sure, if bank
capital was estimated at its true value,
in my estimation, banks would, in reaIi-
ty, be out of all reach of taxation. But,
while these swindling shops are en-
dorsed by law with the influence of real
capital, mere creatures of the law, and
absorbents of real wealth, so far as
concerns expenditures and profits, it is,
in my view, an outrage upon reason
and common justice, that the legal fc-
ton which has the power and influence
of real capital, should be exempted
from its proper quota Of the burlhcns df
taxation to support and sustain the gov
ernment that, in outrage upon the right
Of the masses, give IL existence, and is
bound 10 shield and protect il with all
the moral and physical power Of she
State. intfuft coat tiifaaRees u i6is
! at first Seeming, DEPRESSION, l feel, il
common with the democratic party,tha
banks, bankers, and special legislation
and incorporate and special privilege
in natural sympathy and alliance with
unequal taxation. are gathered in al
their corruption and strength, for theil
last struggle against the progress o.
the age, and the rights Of the wealth.
producing masses. But confident in
the strength and overwhelming power
Of impulsive truth, l have no fears for
the result. This is the age Of ultraism
and progress. In every part of the
world, the man is becoming conscious
ofhis manhood, and his natural rights.
Before the swelling spirit OF natural
ultraism, the walls and supersti,ions Of
China have crLmbled, and are passing
away. 1t has walked in the bosoms Of
kings and rulers, by divine right, an un.
defined terror. AT peace with each
other, they are building navies and rails.
ing armies, in dread Of great and i'm.
pending evil. Coming events cast
their shadows before They feel that
a mighty truth is struggling in the
hearts OF the masses. A dawning of
the intellectual in the millions, is ava.
kcning in them the full knowledge OF
the weakness Of the physical power
under which they have so long bowed
in unmanly sufferance. FeudaIism and
Federalism in the old world and in the
new, are working in natural and per-
feet sympathy. Navies and standing
armies in the old world; banks, incor-
porations, special laws, and unequal
taxation. in the new. But these last
guards Of error, wrong, and corruptioR,
will be but as straws to direct the cur.
rent Of the mighty flood Of natural ul>
:raism, which has been gathering
strength in its pent up confines for cen.
turies. .t ..... ..
How admirably conforms the wind.
ings and machinery Of this last disgorg-
ing of federalism in Ohio. with the
feudaIism that, weak and tottering in
Europe, is endeavoring to sustain in.
stitutions and laws, by special grants,
that had their birth in the power and
strong arms Of the old barons; profess
ing on its front, full and fair equality,
the untruth of which is not even yelled,
embodying the feudal and federal idea,
that the rich can and will take care of
the poor, by insulting exemptions In
favor OF the poor man; what man wor.
thy Of the privileges Of our laws and
that would not spurn this
most insulting distinction in his favorl
Equal laws and equal burthens, and
all who claim and receive protection
from the first, will be willing to bear
their share Of the latter; indeed, it is a.
proud privilege that no true American
citizen would part with, under any con.
sideration, to contribute his quota, sol