The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-02-28
THE WAR UPON THE CURRENCY,

THE WAR UPON THE CURkENCf,
The war upon the currency Of the
constitution was commenced soon after
the adoption Of that charter Of our rights
by those who did not believe in the ca
pacity OF man for self government, and
who were not satisfied in the enjoy
ment Of equal privileges with the rest
of their fellow men. The attack was
made by those who desired rights and
privileges above those enjoyed by the
whole people in common; and who
being debarred by the constitution from
obtaining and enjoying the preroga-
tives OF feudal aristocracy, turned their
anxious gnze upon an aristocracy found
ed on banking institutions, and money
ed corporations, as the next best bles-
sing to their first ann, and perhaps the
surest stepping stone to the privilege
Of riding and ruling over the plundered
ploughman and beggared yeomanry.
To aid them in their efforts cIamor
was raised that there was not gold and
silver enough in the world to answer
the purposes of business; and that pa
per must be substituted. The same
clamor is still kept up; and it is not a
little remarkable with what coolness
those rag barons now turn round and
charge those who oppose their unjust
privileges, with making war upon the
currency. War upon the currency, IN.
deed! As well might they, as they vir-
tually do, claim that bank notes are ex
clusively the currency-the only cur
rency! They have made them so, and
by substituting them have banisl,ed
nearly all the gold and silver out of the
hands oft the people, as a circulating me-
dunn.
The Democracy of Ohio are now
striving to restore the constitutional
currency to the people, and how are
they met in their honest efforts? BY
being branded as distructives. AS wish
ing to destroy what? The Institutions
of our country, as the unconstitutional.
rotten and corrupt banks are now term
ed. What recklessness! What hope
less madness! What glaring, and
daring perversior of sense. and the
meaning of words! Do we look TO the
banks to protect US in our lives and
property? Are they the source of lib
erty and equality? Or will they pre-
serve to US and our posterity the en-
ioyment of those rights for which our
fathers perIled their lives and poured
out their blood like water? Will the
banks take up arms and defend US
against the'invason of foreign enemies.
or will they avenge us against the
wrongs and outrages by which we are
daily threatened?
What then are the great benefits de-
rived from the banks, which we enjoy?
We will answer. 1t is the privilege of
being swlndled by their expansions and
contractions, and roboed of our hard
earnings by their explosions. The
privilege of being deluded by the shad-
"" ioi tlIC ouDAtuuCC vi tnC tHillS3 Dt-
cause as general Jackson says. sit is
one Of the GREA TEST HUMBUGS
ever attempted to be imposed upon II
people, that there is not specie enough
in the world to answer ALL the me-
cessary wants Of the community
And it has been shown, by the reports
OF the banks, that there is more gold
and silver in the country, by some fifty
millions, than there is bank notes in
circulation.
We have far more confidence in the
forecast and disinterestedness of such
men as Gen. Jackson, Thomas Jeffer-
son, and others Of the greatest men OF
our country, than we have in the inter
ested clamors of all the bankers, and
their friends united. The first were
impelled by the purest motives Of pa
triotism-the latter are instigated hy
seIfshness, and interest only.-Stark
CounU DenOcrut.