The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-02-09
For Treasurer of State,
]. W. CHAFFIN,
Of Clinton County.
For Attorney General.
COOPER K. WATSON,
of Seneca County.
For Member of the Board of Public Works,
ALONZO o. BLAIR,
of Licking County.
BANK Taxes.

The Sentinel is disposed 10 bear down upon US,
on account of the remarks made by us week be-
fore last. touching the course pursued by the Co
lumbiana County Treasurer towards the Salem
Bank.
The Sentinel does US injustice in insnuating that
we wish 10 shield the Banks from fair and equal
participation in the payment of taxes. But the
Banks claim that the law is unequal-that by it,
they are required to pay than private citizens
this question is 10 be decided by the legal tribu
mails of the State, and what we claim is, that 1t s
but just and proper the part of the Tax-gather-
ers to await the decisions Of the Courts.
Judge BATES, in granting an injunction 10 the
Franklin Bank of Columbus, iniiInated the opinion
that the Tax law bears unequal'y upon the Banks.
Judge BATES said, " 1t is conceded that the char
ter of this bank is contract 1t is rot to be said
that the constitution of Ohio will be declared un-
constitutional, ii it shall be determined that this
law of the legislature is not unconstitutional.
is law cf the legislature which this court las to
look 10, and this law is au infringement of the
stitution of the United States. But there is an
other question sufficient for this court. The con-
stitution provides that all such taxes shall be laid
so as to be equal to the taxes levied upon private
effects. Now, is this taxation equal In order
10 understand this, let US understand what is a
bank. A bank is certain number of peope sub
scrib;Dg certain amount of stock-that is the
! bank Now here is 100, 900 dollars, the capital
stock of the bank loaned out, and tie bank holds
notes and bills for it, these notes and bills are tax
ed, and the capital sockis taxed, which the notes
and bills are. Now this is controlling clause, the
constitution to provide by it that the bank
shall not pay tax which private individual does
not pay. This law is against that clause it first
taxes the notes and bills, and second, it taxes the
money loaned. of which the notes and bills are the
evidences that it has been loaned. This injunction
will be allowed
Thus Judge B. is reported. He thinks the re-
porter misunderstood him. In note to the
Statesman he says he meant to have been under
stood as saying, 'Thattwas unnecessary to decided
whether the clause in the Bank law which is sup
posed to determine The rate of taxatiop is binding
on future legislatures; or whether the law o.
1852 is in conflict with the Federal Constitution
It is sufficient if it appear by the bill that the
Banks are taxed at a higher rate than other pro
perty. If it does so appear the injunction ough
ton, when rightly understood, requires all property
to be taxed equally.
The property of Bank consi is of its capita
stock The right to receive deposits, discount bi
and promisory notes, deal in exchange and issue
paper money for circulation, are mere powers o.
privileges granted to the corporation and as they
are prudenily or inprudentIy exercised the stool
, is enhanced or depressed in value.
The law of last winter taxes the notes and BILL
discounted, and oil other moneys and effects be
longing to the Bank; and by the bill il appears iha
. the tax SO levied amounts 10 a much higher pc
centum upon the capital stock than is assesse,
upon other property-estmating the stock at it
6 par or real value.'
The following account of Mr.. Qunns explui
looks 10 us very much like ''ourage,' one whicl
can fad no justification either in public or ofcia
necessity. And this we think will be the cain
judgment of community when the excitement ha
blow over.
= 1T will be remembered that Mr.. Quinn, til
Treasurer of Columbana County, made an effor
= on the 81 of JAN, TO collect the tax on Saler
m Bank, and was foed. The following full and W
!, suppose official history of his second and success
,s tni effort to distran the we copy from the N
rs Lisbon Patriot.
Is AN interval OF some days transpired, before th
second attempt Of the Treasurer TO collect The I'm,