The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-03-28
FOR GOVERNOR OF OHIO,
DAVID TOD, Of IfunabaH County.
THE FEDERAL PAPER OF BELMONT

The editor. OF the Belmont ChT0ntcte mas puD-
lished, in his paper of the goth inst the letter ad
dressed to the editor of the Spirit Of Democracy
by the Representative from this Congressional
District. The editorial article, in the same number
curiosity, in its way, that we publish it entire,
though In detached portions, accompanied by such
remarks as we deem proper. The federal editor
says:
"We present to our readers letter from Joseph
Morris, our Representative in Congress; not for
the amount of information it contains but because
we think it has been written by one of the leaders
at Washington; and because the motive Of the wri-
ter will be apparent to the most careless reader
We are well pleased that the Chronicle has pub
shed this letter, "because the motive of the wri-
ter is apparent to the most careless reader"-that
motive all can see was to give to his fellow citi-
zens the reasons why he would support the issues
made by the 9Th of January Convention. When
the Chronicle asserted that the letter was written
by one of the leaders at Washington" it made the
assertion without the shadow of foundation,
knowingly and wilfully. Every individual ac-
quainted with the author OF that letter, or has ever
heard him talk upon the subject of politics, even
in common conversation, knows that the style and
language of that letter is the style and language of
him whose signature il bears. In making such
charge the Chronicle exempli6es ''the base SER
Witty of the whig press of Ohio to bankers" Again
the Chronicle says:
"The writer does not introduce the document
as his own; he merely submits the " following"
for publication. He, then, in the document, says,
that the softs may aid the wings to be successful
in the coming contest He thus thinks to whip
them into the hard money traces"
By this passage the Chronicle would have us to
know that an individual. to be understood as being
the author of an article, must say, in SO many
words, " wrote this" or Z" / am the author of
the following article" or some such expression.
We would, however, say to the Chronicle that
there are some men in the world who are not quite
so much Of the egotist as its editor, and who can
be understood as being the author of an article by
merely saying he " submits the following for pub
cation." If Joseph Morris is not the author of
that letter why does the Chronicle attack him as it
does in the subsequent parts of its artic e' The
talk about whipping men sc into the hard money
traces" is all moonshine, and exhibits the ;. base
servlity of the whig press of Ohio to bankers -
That letter speaks only of the evil consequences
that would result to the people of Ohio from pa-
cling their pecuniary destnies in the hands Of bank
ers, and which might be brought about by the
wings with the aid of the softs. Our next quota
ton from the Chronicle is as follows:s
His great reason for putting no trust in bank
ers, is, that bankers always act for SELF and not
through patriotic love of the people. .No,o this
is true, and we think that J. Morris himself, acts
from this motive of self, and we think none the
acOrse Of him for a''
The Chronicle makes an admission in this SEN
tence which we could not have expected. The
proper and only construction of this paragraph is,
that "H is true that 6aakers aitoays act for self,
and not through a patriotic J pe Of The people"
Now, our humble opinion is and we believe it to
be the opinion of the great body Of the people, that
when any set of men act purely for self interest.
regardless OF the interest of the people, they should
no longer be tolerated in free government. That
is, that the people should no longer give their
countenance and support to set of men who have
no patriotism, and only act through selfish mo-
tves. Itmay suit federal editor. such as IS the
editor of the Chronicle, but it will not suit free.
men. If our readers will again peruse the letter
OF Joseph Morris, they will find ia it sufficient
refutation of the charge " that ] Morris himself
acts from this motive of SELF" What we under
stand bythe term self INTEREST," that interest which
stands opposed to the interest of the people at large
But an editor who will support set OF men who
al,cdys act for self, and not through patriotic
love of the people," shows the =" base servility of
the whig press of Ohio to bankers" But to con-
tnue. The Chronicle next says:
"But the wings favor the bankers, he would
have us to know. In Ohio, we have screwed the
bankers pretty tightly up, and the people have be-
come aware of this fact; if this is favoring them,
why, so be it, If Mr. Morris would look little
deeper he would see that the people wish banks,
not because they think these bankers patriotic, but
because the interest of the bankers Is, on fair
grounds, the interest Of the people"
We would ask, in all sincerity and candour, how
have the wings I" screwed the bankers pretty tightly
up'" When did the Chronicle find out that the
people wish banks, which, according to Joseph
Vance, once whig Governor of this State, can
contract to-day, and ,sdto-mo,ro,o2 Isit true
that the interest of bankers is the interest of the
peoples No. Because il is not the interest ofthe
people to have set Of money machines to throw
out millions OF bank rags, and then explode, leav-
ing the people to sustain all the loss, while the
stockholders and directors Of these rotten concerns
roll in the wealth thus acquired. Its " the in-
terest of bankers" to flood the country with bank.
paper, and then refuse to redeem it; because they
make the most money by such an operation--it is
"the interest Of bankers" to get rs per cent inter-
est on their capital invested by issuing and dol
lars for one, while the people at large ge, but 9
per cent Will the Chronicle say that this is the
interest Of the peope But has in effect said SO
already, and thereby exhibits the base seryility