The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-22
Communications.
For the Spirit of Democracy.
Money and Currency"
NUMBER WI.


Money and Currency.D
NUMBER vi.
Ma. EDlroR:-"The Great Unknown,
who subscribes himself a "Na.ive," is an.
cry with me for writing these essays" So
says, the assumed Great Known, and re ad
OF all men, "Ohio." But why should he
shiak sol Were not his essays handed
ont lor the purpose Of enlightening the pub.
iic. on the subject Of the currency; and,
20 such, did they not become public prop.
erty, susceptible Of being investigated, or
anslyzsd. and either approved, or disap.
proved. as g6od policy or sound discre.
HON mightseem to indicate? Or must the
truth Of his doctrines be taken for granted,
without comment or Investigation; and the
multitude be required to shout, "Great is
Diana Of the Ephesians?" Why should
he charge an unknown" opponent with
anger, merely because he has ven,ured to
Investigate the truth Of the doctrines of his
essaysi VIII they not bear the light2 He
says the subscriber, is particularly angry
Auhis quotations from Hume, Smith, Say
md Voltaire; because, he says these writer's
have developed the truth, and the truth is
.Esagreeable to Native" Quite disagree
able; but then he is not to say angry, by
any means. "Ohio" would have per-
&4nss ...,hts,.o 4 a. L.. t., 80 .,,,L.r. 81.
names Of Paine, Volney and Laplace, if
they supported his theories; but the reader
would also have right 10 investigate the
character OF the authors introduced, and
If ii was found that they had been wror.g
on . subject Of vastly more Importance,
shan the one under consideration, there
would b at least possibility that they
might be wrong on one Of less Importance.
But "Ohio" says, "Hnme always denied
,shs charge Of infdelity." We will quote
ssPassage or two from this worthy. and
ietye the reader to judge for himself. In
sPesking of religion, Hume says, "it is
founded on faith, mol on reason; and it is
q sure method of exposing IL 70 put it to
saeh aairial as ii is by no means fitted to
endure" .'And upon the whole we may
conclude thai theIchristian religion even at
this day cannotbe believed by any reason
liable person ,cifho,tt miracle. ."-Hume's
Essays. Vol. 2, pages 1857, Edinb. edit.
1900. Ii his " Theory of Probability he
treats "the oceurrance-of miracles as being
contradictory to uniform experience" and
consequently false. Adam Smith was OF
.ths samo school. and fully endorses Hume.
Voltaire and Paine. were perhaps more
bold than Smith, or Hume, but on that ac-
snunt less dangerous. The settled pur-
pose Of each was TO ridienle the doctrines
Ut ihe Bible. These are 'rhe writer's who
~ rigid indactiens Eon facts, by a large
,Aad acourste acquaintance with men and
.shs sctions and motives of men, have de-
sDsqoped tie hssh.'' and made it appear
that the Chsstian religion was "by no
means fitted to endure the test Of their
.srigid inductiens." and that the scripture
seeepunt Of airaclss was not true. How
&ksn could il be expected that an obscure
skifknewn" '.Naiive'' could stand such
slSSfd .developments Of the truth, "when
;sbsoughs 70 bear agains. the currency. when
-ahe Bible was "by no means fitted TO en-
slufe the test of their reason?"
Ohio has assumed rather complain.
ing spirit in his eighth number. and exhib.
jts;yery evident marks of dissatisfaction, il
sants disa appointment. lie complains thai
ssts5p6ndersigned should s.desire to harrsss
3ahd annoy men, for differences Of opin-
ion, The subscriber has no such desire
sMhatevsr, and has no fault to End with any
one stors mere difference Of opinion; but
swiiers opinions become public property,
Especially where such opinions are likely
"a mislead. the public have right to ana.
JSze them and expose their errors; so has
ssniindividual. without even subjecting him.
asSis 20 the suspicion Of a desire to harrass
hid annoy their author. The gentleman
ANNOUNCES much modified and highly
,jmproyed set Of measures, in number 8,
s~hich he promises TO advocate in future
Isssays. The FIRST reads: II would protect
the Banks Of circulation in their just rights.
and as far as they are useful to the public.
si0oths5 same manner as other citizens" +"
MY own sentiments, neighbor, exactly.
-sss.2d. would Danish the distant small
,peis Trash, which fraud and rilliany have
imported from other States. by sufficient
enaliies, inexorably inflicted"
The language Of this latter measure ap'
pears 70 be rather ambiguous. The gen.
xIeman can have no alIusion, of course, to
.Rsnpine small notes, for these are frequent.
51y brought in by our own citizens, in the
hofdinAry transaction of their business. and
moi in violation of law; where no fraud OF
,;yil)iany is supposed 10 be Perpeirated.-
sssChen he must refer 10 counterfeit bills. Il