M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-07-23
Letter from Robert j. Atkinson
A History OF the Sub-TTeasuTy
Movement i'm Ohio.

Hon. r. j. Atkinson, who was q
member ofthe Ohio Senate from 1852
to 1854, and whose motives were i'm.
pugned By Breslin aud his co.plun.
derers for urging the passage ola bill
diyorcing the Treasury fromthe banks.
has given the Cincinnati Enquirer Q
history of the s%ub.treasury movement
inaugurated by himself in 1852.
lie demonstrates conclusively 10y
official documents that the Democrats
arc not responsible for the failure Of
the Independent Treasury bill, which,
had it become a law, would have
saved the State from the losses it has
suffered through Breslin and Gibson.
On the Cd Of March, 1853, that bill
passed the Senate by a vote of IS to
-, those voting in the affirmative be-
ing all Democrats. On the last day
Of the session the bill was returned
from the House with several amend.
ments, which the Senate disagreed to.
The House insisted and asked for q
committee OF conference which was
granted, but the report Of that COM
mittee failed to receive the Constitu-
tioaal majority. The vote was re,
scinded and on the morning of the
adjournment another vote resulted as
follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Award, Atkinson,
Cradlebaugh, Ferguson, Gillett, Hill.
Kelbourn, Mack, Rex, Riddle, Smith,
Taylor, Van Buskirk, and Walkup--
IT,, all Democrats.
NAYs--Messrs Burnett, Cor Fudge,
JOHNSTON, Moore, Pardee, RICE, RIcH
and WusoN--9 Wings A., in italics;
Democrats in SMALL CAPS; and Free.
soiler /, in Reconnaissance Journal.
page COZ.
Thus ended the struggle for 1923
Had the four Democrats, who voted
in the negative on the final vote, vo
ted with their Democratic colleagues
in favor Of agreeing to the report 0
the Committee of Conference, it would
have given the constitutional MAORI
ty. eighteen and the bill would have
become a law. The House Of Repre-
E~ontatives was in a condition simila.
to the Senate. A number of mem
bers had left for home, some Of then
presuming that tie bill was safe in
deed, so general was the impression
that it had passed, that the Ohio Stat
Journal announced that it was a law
But the constitutional vote could nc
be obtained the House could not re
cede from its amedments, nor the Ser
ate agree by the constitutional ms
jority the entire opposition, with
few Democrats, held the powerin thei
own hands, and, being determined t
defeat the bill, they succeeded in al
complishing their purpose and til
time for adjournment arrived, leavin
the bill thus incomplete.
At the next session Mr.. Atkinso
was returned to the Senate and wa
appointed chairman Of the Commute
on Finance. Heagain introduced tn
bill which had failed at the previor
session. On the tenth of March
passed the Senate by q vote OF /
yeas to s nays, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Anderson, Atkil
son Bartlett, Convers, Creigh, Davi
Fonett, Hockenberry, Latiin, lie
Morris, Pendleton, Riblet, Schif
Shidcler, Smith of Athens, Stoke
Taylor, and Williams of Columbian
10. AL Democrats.
NAYs--Messrs Allen, Barrier
Foote, Sherman, Smith Of Madiso
Townsend, Epson and Wright-S.
Messrs. Sherman and Townsen
then known as Freesoilers, and Il
balance of those voting in the neg
tive as Wings. Senate Journal, Sc
Bion 1854, page 274.
The bill went to the House and ne
or returned to the Senate. 1t W
kept in possession of the Finan
Committee until late in the sessio
when it was reported back with Su
dry amendments, together with a.ne
bill from a portion of the committe
Ofcourse the amendments killed t
bill. As a last resort Mr.. Atkins.
offered the following amendment
the appropriation bill of1854-5:
st shall not be lawful for
Treasurer of State, or any other o.
Ger or person charged with the sa
keeping or disbursement Of any oft