The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-08

the currency was weakened, diluted, infla-
ted. &C., and that it destroyed our manu-.
factures by making. and keeping wages
and materials high-higher than in hard
money countries. On the other hand it
may easily be made to mean. that our pa.
per money circulation is quite too diminu.
tive, that we need such an establishment
as the Bank of England in each State of
the Union. except perhaps California. with
a Ro,hschi!d. Barring. steinberger, or a
Law in each town and village, 10 give
strength to the currency. and make it COM
pare favorably .with that of the CONNER
cial wcrld.'
], was hoped in the commencement of
these numbers, that the writer weuld have
no difficulty in defining the true position
Of 'Ohio" on the subjec: of the currency;
that he meant what he said, and said what
he meant, without mystifcation or equivo.
catioa; cud that he would stand up to the
rack, let the consequences be what they
might; but how very different. When his
position and arguments were fairly stated,
with copious quotations, and their legltI'
mate deductions drawn, does he Still stand
up and argue, "that as users of metallic
money the community is in no way inter.
ested in the abundance or scarcity Of the
metallic medium, that if money was
made scarce, so that horse which pre-
viously brought 100 ounces Of silver would
only bring SO ounces, that the owner Of the
horse would be none the worse of, that
other things would be in the same proper
ton and that the assertion, ''that gold
and silver are not plenty enough for cur
rency, was false as the Alcoran. false as
the Book of Mormon" No, very differ
ent tone is assumed in his number 6, which
must be admitted however, TO be decided
improvement upon his former productions;
he would even touch the small note system
with extreme caution. ''as 10 time. place,
circumstances" &c An evident design
is quite apparent with the gentleman TO
slide out of difficulty in as quiet man
ner as possible. He remarks that the sub
scriber. "by garbling quotations, by bring.
ing together sentences and parts Of SEN
tences, which are wide apart in the orig
nal, makes me supper, doctrines, that not
only disavow but abhor." AS to garbling
quotations, so as to change their meaning
in the smallest degree, the gentleman would
be totally at loss to make out case; nor
has he attempted so TO do. That sentences
were brought together which were wide a
par, in the original, is true, for hard money
sentences abound, both close together ant
wide apart, throughout the first five num-
bers. But "Ohio" disavows the doctrine
This is very convenient method of get.
ing clear Of an offensive deduction. drawn
from favorite theory, but is in some in.
stances perhaps allowable.
A standard author says: ''If an absurd
consequence be fairly deducible from m.any
doctrine it is rightly concluded that the
doctrine itself is false; but it is not rightly
concluded, that he, who advances it, sup
ports the absurd consequence. The char
table presumption, in such a case, woult
be, that he had never made the deduction
and that, if he had made it. he would have
abandoned the original doctrine" The
illustrations given by "Ohio'' on this sub
ject, which are somewhat lengthy, are de
cidedly rich. He says, "suppose heated
disputant were to charge our evangelica
churches, Presbyterians, Methodists, Bap
lists, &C., &C., with being Antinomians
friends of sin and abettors of vice; hi
would be justly regarded as an unfair ant
candid controversialist, because thos'
worthy Christians deny and disavow sucl
sentiments"
Is it not astonishing that the gentleman
with his acknowledged talent and shrewd
!, |ness, should resort to an illustration 81
manifestly lame and unjust as the above
Can it be possible, that the most conclusive
evidence which those worthy Christian
can offer, to refute the charge OF beini
friends of sin and abettors Of vice." i
simply, that ''they deny and disauoac sucl
sen,i,nenls?" Yet "Ohio" puts their de
Ience upon this ground alone. and say
1.-The charge, though false, is supported b.
appearances" That is, .'those worth,
Christians" appear to be friends OF sin AM
abettors of vice. though they are not. be
: cause they deny ii. very convenien
: method truly of getting clear of Difficult
Ity; but it is one which ''those worth
, Christians are not at all under the neces
, si,y Of resorting to. or depending on. I
> get clear Of those alledged appearances.
t "Ohio' says, "he not only disavows tn
f doctrines which he is made to support, bu
r he abhors them.'' Now according to
. well.known rule Of logic. the gentlema
, might with propriety be discharged, if h
$ had not expressly avowed some OF tn