Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-09-07
The whig ON Bank Faxes. &c.


weeks issue of that paper contains a half column
leader upon this question, the general features OF
which we propose to notice, and examine its posi-
ton, provided we can discover it has taken any.
It starts out with the assumption that the taxes
" have steadily increased from year to year," leav-
ing it to be inferred that the expenses of the State
government have in creased under Democratic
management, requiring additonl levy of taxes
to meet them. Than this nothing could be far
ther from the truth, as we have heretofore shown.
In 1851, the last year of Auditor Woods admins
tratie n, he levied tax of 36 cents on the 300,
cents of which was appropriated to school pur-
poses, leaving SO cents the 800 for State pur
poses. In 1852, the first year of Auditor Morgan,
he levied 35 cents on the $l0O, 5 cents of which
was appropriated to school purposes, leaving but
80 cents on the $lO0, or 8 cents less than under
Wing management, for State purposes. This
| year the new School law is in force, which re-
quires levy of 81 cents on the 800 for school
purposes, and to which we do not understand the
Wing or Free Foil papers to object Aside from
this school fund, the levy is but 80 cents on the
| 800, which is cents less than was levied in
1851 by Auditor Woods. A reference to the re-
ports of tn Auditor of State for the several years
named will furnish the proof of these facts. Is,
then, the insinuaton that the expenses of the gov
ernment have increased year after year under
Democratic management, either fair or honest!
But had there been an increase in the levy, it
might be easily accounted for; and, in consldera-
ton of the circumstances, it is surprising that the
levy has not been increased instead of diminished.
| When the Democrats came into power there
was deficit in the general revenue fund of
1925, 1000; the Constitution required to be raised
100000 to the payment of the public debt; $780,
900 additional appropriation was made towards
completing the new State House, and $4,000
more for two new Lunatic Asylums; 100000
had been sunk by Wing Fund Commissioner by
being loaned to worthless Insurance company
and $26O,OOO Of taxes due from the Banks have
been withheld from the treasury; making the
sum Of 1876 900 additional amount to be raised
by way of taxes from the people. And yet,
such has been the economical and judicious man
agement under Democratic rule, that the affairs
of the State have been carried on, not only without
an increased levy, but with an actual decrease of
cents on the 500 for legitimate State purposes.
! Again, the Wing says: GO In common with the
people of all parties, we think taxation should be
equal in all cases. the property of the banker, the
merchant, the farmer, and that of other citizens
should be equally assessed for the purpose of
taxation.' Then, pray tell us what is your OBJ
jection to the present law by which the Banks ara
taxed. We claim that to be equal and if it is not,
we desire to stand corrected. To say tn at he is
in favor of ssequal taxation'' means nothing def
mite. Every body says that, and yet who does not
} know it to be untruel The Bankers themselves
) claimed to be in favor of "equal taxation,'' and
in common with the leaders fwhiggery, claimed
that taxing them npon their profits only was equal.
f What we ask of the Wig is to define its position.
!. stick its stakes, and undertake to show wherein
e the present law taxing the Banks is either uncon-
stitutional, unequal, unjust, or oppressive and
e leave off bare assertion and vague, meaningless
e generalites.
Again, the Wing finds fault with the " Crow
car Law" because, in case the injunction that
restrans the collection of Bank taxes is dissolved
the Bank is not permitted to appeal from one
court to another, and thus delay the collection by
long-winded litigation. 1t is sufficient reply to
this objection to say that in this respect, too, are
the Banks placed on the same footing with the in
t dividual The bar to appeal does not hold where
the Injunction is obtained prior to the giving OF
the five days notice by the treasurer, but where
the Injunction is obtained before, as was the case
d with the Bank here the appeal can be taken. We
r apprehend that our neighbor Of the Wing will be
10th to admit that he is in favor Of applying differ
. ent rule to the Banks from that applied to indi-
viduals, and if such rule is adopted as, when
the treasurer is knocking at the doors for the
j. taxes assessed, he may be restrained by injunc.
ton and delayed by appeal and eternal litigation
If by the banks and individuals, the treasury might
s easily be made bankrupt and the State driven to
e repudaten and ruin.
q What is said about Banks, like individuals, de-
q pending upon their acts for their character, &C.
r is entirely foreign to the question in controversy
and is thrown in to divert the attention from the
real point in issue But if it be true thai
their characters depend upon their acts and 'sont
:. are bad" why should legislation be called in tc
It legalize their swndng transactions, and give te
e to the bad character and power to go forth tc
# cheat and defraud the people. Legislation is de-
signed to protect the rights of all, and not to gran
: privileges by which designing bad men may OBJ
: tain the power to prey upon the people.
b FREE SoILERs REJECTING THE MAINE Law
II The New York Free Soil State Convention me
at Syracuse on Wednesday last and nominated
ticket for State officers. John P. Hale presided
k An attempt was made to engraft the Maine Law
:. on the platform, but it was voted down.
o Now, what will our neighbor of the Star sa,
st to this? Will he file off the handle burst his gal
~ bladder and denounce his nolitical bretbren n