Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-04-28
TAX PAYERS AH0Y! !
Millions Of additional Debt ahead!

The recklessness with which large
number Of the counties in Ohio are voting
themselves into debt for Rail Road purpo.
ses, justifes the fear that day may come
when there will be general move TO sad.
die these debts upon the shoulders Of the
state. We protest in advance, against
such an outrage, and to guard against its
perpetration, We shall labor with double
zeal in favor Of the New Constitution which
forbids it. The following remarks from
the Cincinnati Enquirer, are so much to
our taste, that We ask their attentive peru
sol by our readers:
In regard 10 the Public Debt the New
Constitution provides that the Slatte may
contract debts to repel invasion, suppress
insurrection,or to redeem our present debt,
and to meet casual deficits or failures in
revenu es, or expenses not otherwise provi-
ded for; but the aggregate amount of such
debts, for the purposes last named. shall
never exceed seven hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars.
In another place, The Constitution pro-
yides:
'sThe State shall never contract any
debt for purposes of internal improve
ments." And except the debts above spec.
flied, its language is: "No debt aOhateuer
shall hereafter be created on behalf Of The
State" ..=.
We have no doubt this great reform will
be ratified with hearty good will by our
people, s.s @ aj.
Ii there is any one practice which free,.
industrious, and comfortable people should
discourage and forbid, as, we are glad to
say, we have now done, it is the practice
Of building up a national debt. In certain
quarters, a national debt may be regarded
as national blessing, but We affirm, that
IN every free and true government, it is
and can only be national curse. Our
own debt is, at this day curse, and felt to
be so throughout the States. ass ls
Eighteen millions Of dollars of State
debt, incurred for what would not bring one
third the amount, and .all secured by
pledge-a gage-a mortgage Of the prop.
erty of our citizens! There is not a farm,
or workshop, or house in the State, that
is not, to all intents and purposes, under
mortgage for its redemption. 5a
1t seems TO US that o practice, which thus
burdens people, is foreign to the true and
legitimate end of government
Government is moi on association of per-
sons TO carry on canal enterprises, nor
enterprises, nor railroad enlerpri- !
ses; or should it take the property of its
people 10 make them, or TO make them up.
Oh credit by Piled ging their property. We
know there are some who would so have il,
and we confess the notion has in times past
been popular; but the last and truesl Judge.
ment of democracy upon this subject is 9th.
erwise. t
Government is no concern for trade or
hazardous speculation or investment of any
kind. Government is not called upon TO
take care of the people and invest their
property for them in great schemes, as il |
they did not know how to take care Of
nor is it guardian and the
people the wards. The people are not
minors, nor helpless like infants; they have
become Of age on all these subjects, and
propose, hereafter, TO act the guardian
We rejoice in the tendency Of the pres.
'nt day to simplify in this thing of human
government. --
What is human government,rightly re-
5arded2 An organization for the better
security Of our individual rights, and its
treat duty is, simply TO declare these rights,
ind effectually to guard them. 1t is
leedful contrivance to keep one man off
nother,and off his neighbours property, ,and
his being done, it should let US all alone,
0 work out our destiny as individual free
nen and equals.
But we proceed to call attention TO one
r two other important provisions in this
rticle: H