Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-02-09

1HE w AY TO DO 1T.-lne SteuDenVllle OR1O7l
urges upon the Legislature the passage of law
which will annul the charter of every Bank in the
State, which shall refuse to pay its taxes in ac-
cordance with the present tax law. This remedy
may seem harsh, but the nature of the case re-
quires the application of stringent measures to
compel them to respect the rights, the power and
authority of the people. A whig legislature con-
fered upon these institutions the privilege of pay
ing taxes upon their profits only, while they pro-
vided that all other property should be taxed upon
its real value in money. The whig press and pol
iticians for some time contended that this tax up
on profits would amount to as much and more
than if taxed as other property; and for time
they succeeded in keeping the people in ignorance
of the gross outrage that had been perpetrated a.
gainst them. But two or three reports from the
whig Auditor of State, called out by resolutions
of the Legislature, served to dispel the deluson,
and the people demanded reform. 1t was then
they were told by the bankers and whig politi-
clans that this law for taxing banks upon their
profits only was a'contract, Uested right, which
neither the legislature nor the people had the
power to revoke or alter. And while they were
and are thus proclaiming that they have establish
ed a privileged order in this Republican Common
wealth. they unbushing]y ask the people to restore
them to place and power. But the people, not
acknowledging the right of their Legislative SER
wants to contract away the sovereign power of tax
alton, demanded that the Banks be placed upon
an equality with themselves; they provided in
their Constitution, which was ratified by an un-
precedented majority of the popular vote, s'that
all property employed in Banking, shall always
bear burden of taxation equal to that imposed
on the property of individuals; and further, that
'sThe General Assembly shall provide, by law, for
ed, moneys loaned, and all other property, effects,
dues, of every description, (wthout deductiou,)
of all Banks, noD eristing, or hereafter created,
and all bankers, SO that all property employed in
banking, shall always bear burthen of taxation,
equal to that imposed on the property of ndividu-
ais" Agreeably to these provisions, and almost
in literal accordance with the latter, the Legsla-
ture last winter passed law providing for taxing
Banks. a number of the banks have arrayed
themselves in open hostility to the demands of
the people and their Constitution and laws Some
have appealed to the Judiciary, and through the
power of whig Judges, have restrained the public
officers from collecting the revenue required by
the State. Others have appealed to the crow
bar, and bid defiance to the peoples servants.
VIII the people submit to the continuance of this
outrage upon their rights-ths defiance of their
authority! Will they continue to foster in their
midst institutions that, not content in the enjoy
ment ofthe privilege of growing rich upon the
toi of the masses, without adding farthing to
the wealth of the State, still further demand that
they be exempt from bearing their just proportion
of the burthens of the government, and seek to
impose them upon the people! Will the people
maintain their sovereignty, or will they permit it
to be usurped by set of soulless Banks!
"Are not laws alike for high and low?
Or shall we bind the poor in his letters?
And let the Banks go revel in their erimes9n