Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-05-04
The star ana bank Taxation.

The Star last week. declined entering into any
acontroversyn with on the subjectof the Crow
bar Law" and thinks no good will come of it. |
Would it not have beenweH for the editor of that
sheet to have acted upon that opinion, and with
held the expression Of his denunciaton Of the law
taxing the Banks, and the law to enforce the col
lection of their taxes after they had refused to pay
them, and resisted with force and arms their col
lection by the officers of the people!
That no good can come to the Star from such
discussion, we verify believe to be true, unless it
be to bring its editor to realizing sense of the
false position into which he has unwittingly been
drawn, either by the Bank influence in the ranks
of bis own party or by an inordnate desire to re-
yenge himself upon the Democracy for supposed
grievances received at the hands of certain Off
cials in this county.
The position of the Star in reference to this
matter, is this: First it asserts that the law which
taxes Banks, is unequal, oppressive and unjust
Next, he comes down on the 'sCrowbar law"
which is designed to enforce the collection of the
taxes assessed on the Banks, and upon the Legs-
lature which passed it. with all its power of denun
citation, and backs up its assertions with liberal
clippings from the G7eveland Herald, dyed-in-the-
wool whig paper, especially consecrated to the
service ofthe Banks, and every species of monopo-
ly, with which in days gone-by the whig party
have been wont to curse the State. Thirdly, it
question, and refuses to back up its wholesale
sertions with the least particle of proof
We did suppose that after he had aposted" him
self upon this matter, the editor of the Star would
at least, make an effort to defend the position he
had assumed, or to excuse himself for alludng in
sails only with assertions unsustained by either
facts or arguments. He, certainly, if he declines
defending his position, owes an apology to his
readers for his ridiculous attempt to demolish a
law sanctioned by nine-tenths of the people,
solely by the weight of his denunciation.
But instead of coming up to the defence of his
own position, he very quitely takes the .Sabine
slide" and goes into ecstaces over the prospect of
reforming the next Governor, and gives twenty
six reasons why people drink brandy smashes, and
cody informs his readers that his time and COL
umns can be better bestowed than in the discus
sion of this subject. More proftaby to himself,
doubtless.
But, really, we had supposed that this question
was frought with some little consequence to the
people, and that they have some little feeling upon
it. Of all the questions relative to State policy,
upon which the people are called upon to act, we
can conceive of none to which this is second in
Importance. Nor are we alone in this opinion
for had not the Star agreed with us in this respect,
itwould never have occupied so much of its space
in presenting its opinions in reference to it, nor
would it have volunteered its advice to the Free
Democracy to make its voice heard upon this ques-
ton through the ballot box next fall.
The Star denies all wish, and even the capacity,
to mslead the people on this subject-Very mod
est, but is willing and anxious that the people
should ssread, inwardly digest, and judgefor them
seves,'' and it is for this that it has volun
teered its opinions; and copied extensively those
of a whig contemporary" This was all done to
make it easy for its readers to ssdigest' the sub
ject, and to enable them $50 to arrange and exer
else their voting powers that trae voice may go
up from the Reserve next winter And it is for
this same reason, that nothing upon the other side
the Star shed upon it, and that it graciously de-
clines entering the lists with us to discuss the
matter-for that might place them in the uncom-
Portable position of the Dutch Justice. who, after
hearing the lawyer for the prosecution, decided on
his side, but after hearing the defence, ncin-
ed to suspend Judgment and reverse his former
decision.
tl,o
Star. As a weekly prospectus for :sUncle Toms
Cabin, % &c The Key to Uncle Toms Cabin, %
sAunt Phillis' Cabin,' and every species of color
ed literature, it perhaps stands unrivled; but on
the "Crowbar law," and matters which immedi-
atey concern the people of the State, it is exceed
ingly cautious not to involve itself in any contro-
versy.
But since the Star has been so condescending
as to volunteer its opinion upon the subject, can't
it also furnish its readers with the facts and arg-
ments upon which those opinions are based! If it
is SO important that the Coored Democracy should
$50 arrange and exercise their voting powers that
a true voice may go up from the Reserve next
winter, does it not become his duty to aid in fur
nishing the facts upon which that voice is to be
based!
feFThe Star asserts that, ssome of the most
decided and infexible opponents of this law,' '(the
crowbar law, so called are to be found in the
democratic party, and some of them now in the
highest official position This is news to US
We had supposed that the Democracy were pretty
thoroughly united upon this measure and we are
still of that opinion, the assertion of the Star to
the contrary notwithstanding. No measure ofthe
late Legislature was adopted with more unanimi-
ty. Not Democrat in the Senate, we believe,
voted AGAINST it and but wo OF three in the House,