Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-10-05
The True Iussue--"Oppressive Parti-
Zam LaWs--What does it mean.

ZxAM LaWSs-"n6t OOeS HI 4exAMs
The "fuson" organs pertinaciciously insist that
the question Of Bank taxation is not issue in
this contest. The Star says the question is "grog
or no grog.'' Now, we have repeatedly asked OF
those journals what is meant by that part of their
platforms declaring that they are in favor of the
repeal of oppressive, partizan laws,' and what
has been.their reply? Silence, and nothing but
silence. We have charged that they infant by it
the repeal of the law taxing the property of Banks
as the property of individuals is taxed, and how
.has this charge been answered! By playing mann,
and charging US with attempting to bring into the
contest the Bank issue. We repeat again, that
this question is the real issue in this contest, nor
dare the Star or Whig deny that if Caleb Brown
is elected to the Legislature, his vote will be CIV
en- for the repeal of the law taxing the proper ty
of Banks like that of the people. OF this fact
there is an abundance of evidence. Does any
one believe that he could have received the nom
inatlon from a committee at the head OF which
was stockholder, director and member OF the
board of control Of the Bank, and was backed by
the Attorney of the Bank! Is there any one so
exceedingly simple as to believe that every old
rum-sucking bank-stockholder would give him
his COTOldI SuppOEIs IL WVlC HOI PlOAPSCo
by some other motive than a desire for the pas
sage of the Mane Law!-lfhe was not KIN ow
to be entirely subservient to their interests and
wishes in reference to Bank taxation.
Again; The Macarthur Republican, the Bank
organ of Vnton county, in its issue of Sept. 9th
discloses the true issue in this canvass 1t says;
that the question is not aoheher the Banks shall es-
cape taration, BUT IT Is WHETHER THEY CAN BE
TAXED IN ANY OTHER MANNER THAN THAT PRovID-
ED BY THEIR CHARTERS and says the Democrat
ic press knows 'sthat the Banks claim their char
tiers are contracts, and that the constitution
cannot change them until their time expires" :"
This is ture statement of the issue, which these
sfusion'' organs are striving to cover up under
the cry of temperance and thus to steal march
upon the people. 1t is the old exploded doctrine
of ssvested riqhEs,' which has become odious to
the people that the Bankers dare not openly avow
it as the szue, but seek to disguise it by resort
the cry of Maine Law" and by prosttuting the
sacred cause of temperance to their unholy pur-
poses. *s
| Let the reader look back over the files of the
Ohio Star during the Spring and he will want no
further evidence that this is got up in aid OF
the Banks, and is carried on for their benefit. In
that paper April l3, were no less than three arti-
cles upon the subject of s:the Crowbar Law" and
among them leading editorial in which the law
taxing Banks, was denounced as Oppressive and
tyranncal,' and the party that passed it as 4" des-
tructves'' This article closed with the fol-
lowing paragraph.
cit becomes the Free Democracy so to arrange
and exercise their voting power that true voice
may 90 up from the Reserve next winter, to re-
press, rebuke and overthrow mischievous and
mendacious legislation"
At this time that paper thought to subserve the
interests of the Banks by bold game of ofdenounc-
ing the laws, ,passed by the Democrat Legislature,
but it soon found that that game would not work,
and it took new tack. and undertook to cover
up its tracks by preaching Maine Lawism and
striving to make that an issue for the purpose of
deeeiving the people. And this is the way in
which that sheet has undertaken to $50 arrange
the voting poaoer" of"Free Democracy as to SUBJ
server the interests of the Banks by aiding in re-
pealng the Tax Law and Crowbar Law.
The issue is between the money power and the
people. In the adoption of the new constitution
and in sustaining, thus far the law taxing Banks,
the people of all parties have solemnly declared
that the money power shall not enjoy privileges
which are not common to all,-that the Banks
shall be subservent to their will. The Banks
have not since dared to appeal to any political or
ganzation to sustain them in their unjust de-
mands, but uniting in their service set of sore
heads and intrgucrs they seek to accomplish by
fnesse that which they dare not attempt to do
openly. =