The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-29
For the Spirit Of Democracy.


Mr.. EpIToR-Truth is always favorable 10 hu-
happiness In this short apothegm must be found
my apology for offering some structures on the dis
course delivered at this place by the Honorable
John Woods, Auditor of State on the goth inst.
A number of petty accidents, unnecessary to be
detailed to the public, prolonged my stay Vir.
ginia, and prevented my attendance in person to
hear his discourse. But according to the repre-
sentstions Of numerous friends, he labored the
three following propositions. lst. That the ONE
MAN POWER Of taxation as existing in this State,
is good thing; that its opponents are highly blame
worthy and censurable for attempting TO get it
abolished, and that such an attempt is equivalent
to an attempt to repudiate the State debt. 3D.
That the whis party of this State is clear and i'm
maculate and free from all blame and censure for
the admitted frauds, peculations, swindlings and
egalized plunderings carried on under the name
and pretence Of internal Improvements. Perhaps
the gentleman did not announce this second prop
osit ion in direct terms but he labored to impress it
upon his hearers by argument, nnuendo, intend
ment and inference. 3d. That the present whig
banking system is good, safe and sound system,
calculated to promote, the welfare and happiness
of the people,
Now to the subscriber these propositions appear
to be entirely erroneous and perncious, and of
course it is but dictate of duty TO endeavor to
convince my fellow-citizens of their fallacy AS
duty then the attempt shall be made. And it
will easily be believed that it must require such
stmulant as sense Of duty, to engage man in
such an undertaking in addition to the cares of
family and the labors of his ordinary calling. A
calling in itself so labonous as to leave very little
time for manly recreation or mental improvement,
which of course become entirely incompatible with
the additional burthen of political controversy.
Very different is the situati of the State Au-
ditor. That gentleman is politician by trade
While working in that field he is but laboring in
his ordinary VOCATION II the people adopt the
line of policy which he recommends, his private
and personal interests are thereby promoted and
secured, and he is relieved from the labor and
drudgery of attending to them It is not intended
to say any thing harsh of that gentleman. He may
have arrived at such happy pitch of mental hal
lucnstion as to believe that his private interests
and those of his political and financial friends
identical with those Of the PEOPLE; but it would
lily become one of the latter to given to the same
deluson. Nothing therefore wilfully false or dis
ingenious will be imputed TO him. but can not
even SO far give countenance to the statements Of
last Thursday as to suffer single number your
paper to issue without entering my protest against
them. The task proposed, will require search
Of old jo urnals and musty documents, an employ
ment net very agreeable in itself and not very vel
come to man in the humble walks of private life,
whose pursuits are widely different from politics.
But what friend Of truth will tamely stand by and
see her overhrown and trampled upon, because
her vindication will involve some labor and self de-
nia! l shall therefore, by your consent prepare
series of essays for your paper, on the matters IN
question, in Lumbers longer or shorter may suit
my leisure and convenience. These essays will be
devoted to the careful and diligen examination of
the three propositions, herein aforementioned,
together with some other propositions announced
by the Honorable gentleman in his late oration.--
With these preliminary observa atoms Ishall dismiss
the subject for the present
Most Respectfully, &c
EDWARD ARCHBOLD.
Woods6eld, Aug "a, 1916.