The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-03-05
The dying struggles OF Bank trait.
Ors---Bankers at work for the
Banks--Olds, McCOOk--the LehigII
Bank, tkC.!i

to the State Convention, welded to the Bank in
terest met in secret caucus at Columbus and
concerted measures for controlling the Conven-
tion, and betraying the Democracy into the hands
of the bankers. The leaders in this iniouitous
work were the notorious Dr.. Olds, Daniel Nc
Cook Of Carroll County, and few others il il
not necessary to mention Dr.. Drake whom they
used as a cats-paw in the transaction, has since
made himself sufficiently notorious to crafty
even his silly and excessive vanity, and evidence
his participation. Butths seoundrels were foil
ed in thei, work of disorganization, and honest
men and honest principles triumphed.
A circumstance has since transpired which
shows the means the Banks use to control votes
both in and out of Legislative Halls. McCook
after the 9th January Convention, left Columbus
fei Washington, it was said, but recent events
show that he was elsewhere carrying out the le-
climate principles Of the +" softs."
There was Bill before the Pennsylvania Le-
gislature, now in session AT Harrisburg, providing
for an investigation into the affairs of the Lehigh
Bank, wild cat concern owned by Moses Y.
Beach, Of New York, and 10. Lake of Ohio, (the
same concern that owns the Toledo, Akron, and
Wooster Banks, and several swindling concerns
in Pennsylvania and New Jersey) It appears
there was probability that the bill before the
Pennsylvania Legislature to investigate this rot
ten institution would pass. McCook was there as
the tool of Lake, Beach, & Co., and interposed
his efforts against the measure. To one member
he offered a bribe Of $4oo in cash, and an addi-
tional $l0o provided the bill was defeated.
The member accepted the bribe--took the
$400-went to the House of which he was
Member--related the facts of the case, and had
McCook brought before the House in the custo.
dy Of the Sergoant-at. arms. The Pennsylvania
Legislature placed just estimate upon the
purity and dignity Of their body, and instead Of
refusing to investigate, like our Ohio Solons, or
treating the matter as "jest," examined into
it, and took action in the following manner:
In the House, Mr.. Knox, from the inves-
tigating committee, made report reviewing
the testimony, and stating that the House
could do no more than keep McCook in its
custody until the adjournment of the Legis-
lature, and offered the following:
RESOLVED, That the Attorney General or
his Deputy in the county Of Dauphin, be re-
quired 10 take the necessary steps 10 arrest
and bring to trial in said county, the person
Of Daniel McCook, upon the charge Of hav-
ing attempted corruptly to procure, by the
payment of money, the vote Of Victor E.
Piollet, Esq, member of the Legislature,
in favor of the Lehigh County Bank, and
that upon the issuing ofthe warrant of arrest,
the Sergeant-at-arms be directed to deliver
to the proper officer, the person of the said
Daniel McCook.
Rcsolped, That the committee be dischar-
ged from the further consideration of the
subject.
This report was signed by Knox, Gallow-
ay, and Gwin.
Mr.. Trego also made report signed by
himself and Mr.. NichoIsony in which they
say that they agree entirely with the MAORI
ty, only excepting the closing paragraph and
The above resolutions.
The resolutions were adopted, and on
motion of Mr.. Burrell, 1000 copies in Eng
lsh and 500 in German, of both reports,
together with the evidence, was ordered TO
be printed.
That the atmosphere of our legi station is be-
coming daily more tainted with rottenness and
corruption is fact but 100 forcibly placed before
us. Integrity, honor, and public faith are at a
low ebb. The passions and interests of selfish
and bad men are now Of far more influence than
the welfare of the people or their interests We
may bid adieu to liberty--to the vain hope of po-
pular sovereignty, or public justice, If this state
of things is to continue. If the people will ad-
here to banks it will be at the expense and sac.
rfce Of all their patriot forefathers fought to
cure them, equality, liberty and Independence
Under the pernicious auspices of bank immoral
ity we are rapidly going back to the old monarch
ical usages, under the Walpoles, Butes, and
Norths, when conscience and truth were bought
and sold for price, and when to be governed
by integrity and principle, was to be shut out
from all places of power and profit, and e1clu-
ded from all political influence in the State.
The Wooster Bank and its satellites, with a
mendacous print at their command. are using
the whole power of bank bribes and Intimidation
to njure the Democracy. They are aided by the
same influences which were at work in the Le-
high bank case, ,and are to some slight extent sue
ccessful in different parts Of our state. We cam
not but pity the poor creatures who have bartered
their independence for bank promises and whose
bodies and souls are at the mercy Of the shy
lock aristocracy. which now curses our State
These serfs are made to say that they will not
vote for David Tod and Hard Money. We did
OF expect they would-they never have voted
| for him or any other sound man in their lives
| Such mer never knew what it was to cast
into the ballot box free unpurchased vote