Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1855-11-13


it stands upon our statute-books and is, in.
fact, the law OF the land. II there were no
other objections to the law, this, of itself,
would call loudly enough for its repeal.
When citizens learn to look upon any law
with contempt, to violate its provisions with
lmpunity, and defy its penalties openly,
and yet escape punishment, they will soon
learn to look with contempt upon all iaw-
anarchy and confusion are the inevitable
consequences. 1t is not the magnitude but
the certainty of punishment which deters
men from the commission Of crime. No
law should be placed upon statute-book,
unless there is strong probability that its
provisions can and will be carried into ef-
feet. The moment this cannot be done,
che law should be repealed or amended.
The safety, peace, and order Of society de-
mand this.
But there are other reasons why this
law should be repealed, It is unjust and
oppressive. If it is wrong 10 pass one
dollar bill on bank out Of the State,
it is ten times as wrong to pass ten dollar
bill OH the same bank. At least, common
sense and justice teach this doctrine. But
according to this law it is no crime for the
man Of wealth to pass and receive as many
tens, twenties, fifties, and hundreds, as he
pleases; but if some poor laborer, mecllan-
ic, or farmer, who scarcely ever sees bill
Of so large denomination happens to pass
a one, two, three, or FIVE, it is crime pun
ishable by law. Suppose law was framed
making it crime to steal anything of less
value than ten dollars, and perfectly lawful
to steal anything of more value, what would
be thought of it? Yet this is precisely Of
the same character.
Again: Sec. 9, declares that anything
less than ten dollars of foreign bills is
'oorthlsss, which is simply falsehood, and
every body knows it. If the ten dollar
bills are good, those Of less denomination
on the same bank are certainly good. If
the bank is able to pay the large bills, it
can certainly pay the smaller ones. And
it bank bill is worth one, three, or five
dollars on the Virginia side of the river, it
cannot be worthless on this side, and no
law can make so, in fact, so long as there is
uninterrupted intercourse between the
States. AS well might we pass a law de-
claring that all horses raised in another
State, under Is hands high, shall become
co,cs on entering Ohio. But it the eyes
Of the law, all such paper is worthless,
"and all contracts in relation thereto null
and uoid, and any disbursements or pay
ments or exchange for other property Of
value, made or attempted to be made there
with of no effect whatever" Now let us
suppose few cases. A. owns a house and
lot in Pomeroy; B. wishes to purchase IT,
He has thousand dollars, in SIS on the
Northwestern Bank Of Virginia. This
money is worth in Pomeroy to any man
who holds it-$1 ,OOO B. offers this to A.
for his property, which A. values at 81 600
A. accepts. and B. pays the money and
gets the deed. B. attempts to take pos.
session; but A. being dishonest man re,
fuses to give him possession or to refund
the money. B. goes to the law for redress
The law declares that the money is worth.
less and the contract null and void. A
keeps the money and property, and B. loses
$1,000. Is this just? Is it wise? Again
G. has 81 900 in money. He goes to the
Virginia bank and obtains 81 900 in five
dollar bills. The assessor finds it out, anC
attempts to tax him on $1,000. G. refuse.
to pay. He admits that he has the money
but insists that the State laws consider i
worthless, and they cannot collect taxes OF
what they consider worthless. He admit
that it is worth 81 900 to him, or anybody
else; but it is not so regarded by the law
and G. cannot be made to pay taxes on it
Once more: D. is counterfeiter. He OBJ
tains one, two, or three thousand dollars il
counterfeit is, 2's, 3's and SIS, on foreigl
banks and passes them freely upon hi
neighbors. He is arrested, and his gull
clearly established. He acknowledges hi
crime, but pleads that he did not counter
felt anything acknowledged by our laws t
be Of valne-that the statute declared a
good bills of the same denomination worth
less. He is acquitted, and goes on in hi
old business Of counterfeiting with impuni
Iy. But his neighbor e. who is an homes
man passes IS which is genuine. and j
fact worth that amount and he commits
crime, punishable by law.
But again; The law is partial and there
fore unjust. 1t makes distinction be
tween offenders. If private individu'