The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-02-12

s Ff1ViicEcO ORDERS
Titles of nobility are prohibited by the Const-
tuition, and it is reasonable to presume that this
! prohibition was intended to exclude the privi-
leges which give lustre to nobility, as we'll as the
empty title. Nobility has been defined in France
as "the privileges derived from birth, or patent
which create distinguished class in the State"
1t is not the possession of high station, or great
wealth, which constitutes nobility, because these
may be the result of superior merit or industry
and are open to all, but it is the possession Of
privileges conferred on the few, by law, in which
the mass have no participation. The unpnvileged
class are the slaves and the privileged class the
masters-and in this State g slaves to the most
ignoble masters, toa low-minded order of money.
changers"
We appeal to facts ..
|. Mr.. Powell in the Senate acknowledged that
the Wing leaders had addressed circulars to the
Bankers asking their consent to be tared, and he
believed that most of them would consent. The
legislature possesses the delegated sovereignty
of the people-and have proceeded to tax the
farmer, the mechanic, the trader, and every class
OF society at their own discretion without asking
their consent, but the banker-his must first be
obtained! Here lisa privilege that nobility-ridden
Europe has not bestowed on her haughtiest aris-
tocracy-they can be taxed in spite of their refu-
sal of consent. Not so with our privileged order.
Nor is this the reault of accident. The last lie.
gislature refused to insert a clause in the Bank
law, which would reserve the power Of alteration
or repeal, by any future Legislature. They relied
upon a construction by which the Courts usurp
the power to control legislation, and now they
present the humiliating spectacle of having Gre
ated class above the laws, and secure in privi-
eges to which the mass Of the people are stran-
gers.
@ The Clerks of the Banks are titled 4" Board
Of Control" and by an act pas ed this winter, can
restrain any new corporation from exercising bank
privileges, at their discretion. If currency-making
is Legitimate husress, the legislature might,
with equal justice, give che power to the agents
of the different steamboats, or canal boats, plying
on the waters within the boundaries Of Ohio, to
declare that shall hereafter build any water-
craft but as permitted by the board of agents.
Or they might by law constitute board to de-
clare who should hereafter become -four dealers,
millers, manufacturers builders, or engage in
any particular branch of industry. Here again is
privilege which no European nobility enjoy in
an equal degree,
3. g To be an American Bank Director or other
officer, is to be an American nobleman without
the publicity and disadvantage Of the visible dec
oration-is to be raised high above the heads OF
the unchartered million-is to exercise prero-
gative, vast at all times, but at this time princey
1t is to WELD power, that if it peases, may sub
due the proud to the most humiliating sacrifices,
buy over by timely largesses the venal and weak,
and terrify into submission the gentle and the
good 1t is to held the purse-strngs Of trade
and commerce, and to sell drop by drop, the ma
tural nutrment of trade" 1t is to hold the
means of acquiring wealth with small capacity
to open the honors and political power of the
State to men like Speaker Drake and Alfred
Kelley. in trust that they will abuse public conf
dence for the benefit of this upstart nobility.
We might pursue this matter further, but it is
not essential. Equality cannot exist, and special
favors and privileges be granted to any class
Yet we are saddled with them TO such an extent
that many suppose them to be necessity, instead
of cancerous ulcer on the body polite.