Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-04-01
REMARKS OF THOS. J. GALLAGER
OF HAMILTON COUNTY, -

REMARKS OF THOS. ]. GALLAGER,
OF HAMILTON COUNTY, s -s
" the Iar Bill, in the House Of Repre-
ssntalires, Tuesday, Feb. "a, 1916.
Mr.. Gallagher said, he was aware
sot t1he anxiety Of members, TO have the
discussion Of the bill now before the
House concluded, and he was not dis
posed 10 tire the House by an unneces-
sary consumption Of time; but, in duty
10 himself and in consideration of the
respect ne entertained for the emphati-
calIy expressed will of his immediate
constituents, as, also, his regard for the
party with which he was identified, he
felt bound, TO briefly and honestly win.
dicate the integrity Of his action, in
casting his vote against a bill, which
bears the specious title of "a bill for
levying taxes on all property in this
state according to its true value" To
the idea shadowed forth in this bill, no
intelligent citizen of Ohio, would raise
The slightest objection. Equal laws,
and equal burthens, are, in brief, the
sentiment Of the democratic party; and
did the bill under consideration, truly
and fairly develope, in its long drawn
out, and clumsily arranged sections, the
idea set forth in its title, instead Of be-
ing ranged in opposition to its passage,
| would take great pleasure M advo.
eating and sustaining it with my vote.
However much an economical peo-
pie may feel disposed 10 condemn and
discountenance the needless and rascal
y extravaganza in controlling and dis.
bursting the public money, which has, in
part, rendered increased taxation ne
cessary, still, in their proper and hons
orable willingness to sustain our state
credit and engagements, they would
never object to the burthen, il ALL were
compelled alike to bear their full and
equal share; but, sir, the day has long
past when specious and delusive soph.
istry could cloud and mystify the peo.
Aple.. with regard. 10 the outrage Of spe
Esaiand class 1egislati sllio bsajori
slee rot cherish the vain thought
that thafax paying producers Of wealth
lnOhlo, will bear, in quiet and unrepin-
ing meekness, the crushing inequalities
that their system of legislation throws
upon them. | know as we'll as any
other citizen, and no better, that the
bill under consideration is a necessary
consequence, no more upon past frauds
and upon the people of Ohio, than upon
the banking system, fastened for brief
time upon our state.
know, sir, that it will be a. matter
of exceeding difficulty, if not entirely
beyond my ability, to convince any
member Of the majority of this House,
that there is any connection between
the tax bill' now under consideration,
and the bank bill Of last winter. These
bills, kindred in all things, and conse-
quent and dependent as they are upon
each other, and in design and spirit
alike in all things, it is right and proper
that we should notice that both laws,
in their bcginning-on their very front
express undeniable and unblushing
falsehoods. The bank bill is called ian
act to incorporate the Estate Bank Of
Oho," and other banking companies"
The design in calling this picture and
debt mandatory, The State Bank Of
Ohio is evident TO every man who will
give thought to the matter. The in
iention is, to endorse, with the credit OF
the State, a private banking monopoly.
and delude the unwary into the belief
that the State Of Ohio is directly inter.
ested as part owner Of the bank. Thus
shielded by a distinct and palpable
falsehood, what reasoning man can
come to any other conclusion than that,
begun in deception, sustained by fraud
and corruption, It's fated explosion and
insolvency will be most disastrous to
those whom its effect and intention 1t
is TO rob of the product of their toll
the laboring and productive masses;
and in this we see again the likeness
between the tax bilp and the bank
law This latter, founded in falsehood,
based upon the generous confidence Of
credulous people, utterly devoid Of
any proper or real capital, deceiving
strangers and capitalists out of the
State, with the idea that it is a State
concern, and that the honor of Ohio is
bound to redeem the issues; and to give
color and strength to this fraud, the
state debt of Ohio is blended with this
mammoth debt factory-the DEBTS OF
THE BANK ARE BASED UPON THE DEBTS
OF THE STATE; and thus the productive
labor first pays the interest on the
state debt, and then the profits OF the
banker; and thus it is that special priv
ilege and monopoly in the state Of Ohio
wrings larger amount in actual value
from the productive laborer, than is oh.
taincd from him IN any other govern.