Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-04-20
"The Gr0wbar Law"


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h "The Cr0aybar law
The Ohio Star, which is bidding high to be-
come the Bank organ in this county, is out again
in an article denouncing the crowbar law, and
the tax law of 1869.
The principles of the party, of which the Star
processes to be th organ, are we'll understood by
the people of this county. The Free soil platform
declares that the banks should pay an equal bur-
then Of tax with the citizen. The Star, not only
denonnces the law that enforees the payment of
bank taxes as the taxes of private citizens are
collected, but wages war of extermination,
: against the law that assesses the taxes, and all
those who supported it in the Legislature Or dare
speak in its defence here or elsewhere.
= Now, there are two propositions that the Star
never has discussed, and there is no probability
that it ever will
And first: we have repeated it again and again, =,
that the banks do not bear an unequal turthen of
taxation, nor do they pay as much in proportion to
the property employed in banking, as private cit
Sizen
Second: we assert that the Crowbar law ap-
plies but the rigor to the banks, that the old
law imposed on the honest man, and the same
that has been in force since 1881, in reference to
individuals
Now will the Star the avowed and hired organ
of this eight by ten, Portage county rag-mll, in
stead of filling its columns with buncombe and
clap-trap, wishy-washy abortions of stereotyped
whig doctrines, copied from the Cleveland Herald;
dare to tell its readers, what the Constitution re-
requires in regard to taxing banks, and what the
provisions Of the tax law of 1862 are, and what
twas that brought about the Crowbar law, and
who opposed it in the Legislature.
The law taxing banks was passed and took eff
feet on the 18th ofApril, 1859. Since then, un-
til within the last few weeks, the Star has never
offered an opinion on the subject one way or the
other; but it seems that recently his eyes have
been opened; The law is now assuming to the
.bewildered Imagination of the Star, the terrific
aspect of some 'sghastly, grim, ,ungainly MONSTER "
that has risen up to demosh the cherished institu-
tions of whiggery, as the fat cattle of the Egyp-
tian King, were devoured by the lean, starved
kline, which Pharaoh saw in the land of dreams
Twelve months have rolled away, and the lips of
Of this Star editor, to the justice or injustice of
tuiS AiS6SuEG, nave pSSu Stdteu, anu SilGHC, DuI
by some mysterious revelation, some remarkable
discovery, he is fully enlightened in the premises,
and through the columns of his paper, presents
the hideous picture the subject assumes, when
seen through the medium of second sight
AT present his readers only favored with
mere fancy SKETCH brief outline of the portrait,
which is intended to give very faint idea ofwhat
he designs to paint, and we must say that in this
particular, he has succeeded to admiration
His paragraphs comprise series of wholesale
assertions without one single shadow of proof;
for instance:
"But Bank reform and not Bank destruction
was its aim, and hence when demagogues smitten
with the Bankphobaa succeeded in casting more
than equal burden of taxation upon Banking cap
tal, and resort to unustfable and oppressive leg
islationt to sustain that inequality, the Free De-
2mocracy are bound by their principles to resist
such injustice"
II Here is an assertion, that the Democratic par
ty is aiming at the entire destruction of the banks.
but it is only an assertion.
He alleges that ssmore than an equal burthen
of taxation has been cast upon the banks! How
do you know that there has been! What evi-
dence have you readers of this assertion! Where
is the proof, that the Democratic party have 'sre-
sorted to injustfable, and oppressive legislation
to sustain the law! Again the Star asserts
The democracy in this State in their legisla-
ton Interference to Banks, have departed from
that principle of equality which they profess, and
1t successful they will accomplish the closing of
every Banking house in the State and drive i'm
mense amounts ofcapital away from us, to the Sc
rious injury Of the thrift and prosperity of the
State.
Will the Editor tell his readers, at what time
the democracy "departed from the principle of
equality" in taxation Was it when it framed
the New Constitution which provides that the
property Of banks shallbe burthenof taxation
equal to that imposed on the property of individ-
uals; and all property whether belonging to banks
q individuals, shall be taxed by uniform rule
which was ratified by the voice of the entire par
tysas well as by large majority of that of which
the Star processes to be the organ! Or was i
when, after the banks had refused the payment
and resisted the collection .of their taxes, witt
scroWears and injunctions, the legislature passed
law, for dstraining the property of banks,a as vel
as that Of the citizen, for the of thei
.taxes1 $50
Does it follow that, if the banks are compelle.
to pay their taxesit will accomplish the CLOSING
sof every Banking house in the State, and driy