Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1853-03-11
A HOmILY,
TO BE READ BY THOSE WHO DESIRE TO KNOW
WHAT'S WHAT.

Fiend, say !, yo1 counsel well."-SHAKs.
"The restraint Of the legislative power, con-
6ning it to the legitimate subjects Of general
legislation and the crowning glory of repeal,
which secures the people, sovereign always,
from ever becoming slaves TO any law or char
ter passed by their servants, ,"-Eighh Of JaR'ry
Convention.
"III. Legislative power includes as well the
power to alter, amend and repeal existing laws,
as the power to enact laws. And the Legsla-
ture at one session cannot by contract OF ar
rangement, restrict or abridge the legislative
power of that body at any future time. ."ASa-
preme Court.
The doctrine set forth and maintained in the
foregoing resolution of the Locofoco Conven-
ton of the 9th of January, and decision of the
Supreme Court of the State of Ohio, is the prin-
cipal dogma in the Locofoco creed.
It is a well asc,rtained and admitted fact,
that for quite number Of years the LOcofsco
party of the State have been anayed against
the banking institutions, and have resorted to
various indirect means for their destruction.-
During the ascendancy of the Wings this doc
trine was ambguously set forth in the resolu-
tions of State conventions, but stoutly denied
and repudiated by editors and stump orators.--
1t was supposed to be an unpopular doctrine
with the people. A majority of them opposed
the ank-destruction policy. But deceit and
fasehood succeeded at last, and the LoCofocos
got the power. There was nothing to prevent
their carrying out the most radical notions Of
the party, and the most Creditable thing that
could have been done was to legislate the OBJ
noxious Institutions out of existence at once
But this obviously honorable and upright course
is not adopted. A system Of tricks and chr
canery are adopted, to accomplish an object
which might be attained by single enactment.
II would have been much more creditable to
the legislature TO have repealed the charter Of
the State Bank Of Ohio at once, than to attempt
to kill it by inches. There can now be oques-
ton among democrats about the power of the
legislature to do so. The highest authority of
the State has declared such to be the case. If
single provision in the law can be repealed,
the whole statute may be repealed.
We have no particular friendship for the
banks. We could get along without them as
well as most locofocos; but for the honor and
credit of the State we would be glad, so long
as they are in existence, that they be honestly
dealt with. That they are great convenience,
and are absolutely indispensable, are PROPOSE
tions which cannot be denied. Why, then, an
initiate them? What is the grand reason of
locofocos for opposing themF These questions
may be answered in a few words.
1t cannot be that bank, in itself, is a moral
or political wrong all countries have them
The loCofccos Of Ohio have passed banking
laws. The grand objection to the State Bank
of Ohio is the fact that it was chartered by a
Wing legislature. If they choose they may
abolish the law authorizing them to do busi-
ness they may enact any law authorizing their
robbery they may require the Treasurer to
collect an army as large as that Of Xerxes, arm
them with ow-bars, cold-chisels and sledges,
and march them upon these citadels of civil
commerce, we do hope they will have
enough respect for the feelings of the good peo-
pie of Ohio, as not to require them to believe
that such proceedings are right, and just, and
proper.
We, as we'll as all other citizens, should hes
tate to attribute dishonesty or corruption to oul
judicial tribunals. They should be respected
as the depositaries of delicate trusts, But they
should not be, and are not, considered above
the scrutiny and watchfulness of those to whose
suffrages they owe their promotion. Better
that the legislature be corrupt. than that the
judiciary be suspected of a taint. We do moi
charge that the present Supreme Court of Ohio
is corrupt. We do not intimate that they were
dishonest in the decision quoted at the com
mencement Of this article but the surrounding
circumstances make it look little strange.
All the Judges on the Supreme Bench are
LOcofocos, os,-violent partisans. Their politica
opinions are adverse to the banks. On the
stump they might, and did, attempt to show
the inexpediency of these institutions; but while
, on the bench, all partisan views should be laiC
aside. The Constitution and the laws shoulC
be their guides; and if they manifested dis
position to disregard these. their official con
. duct should, at once, be suspected. The ques
ton settled by the court, in the decision refer
red to, is no new one. The Supreme Court Q
the United States have determined it long since