The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-08-04
raxe. IN aoIa and snver.


Taxes I'm Gold and silver.
The independent Treasury law pass
ed last winter, requires all county or
ders for the sum of Eve dollars or less,
to be paid only in gold and silver. 1t
was the provision in tho new law, that
led our neighbor of the Zapesville Times
to iufer that the County Treasures
were required to demand a payment of
a portion of each years taxes in gold
and silver. This inference, however,
was wrong. County T%reasurers have
always had the legal right to refuse any
IREng except gold ana silver. They
can do this now if they think proper,
but the law does not require it. As
well might it be claimed that the man
who is required to pay gold on a
private contract, is therefore obliged
TO demand specie from those who
owe him. He could do this if he
chose, just as a Treasurer can, but there
is nothing to compel it in Que case more
than in the other. We know a county
in this State, where during six consecu-
tive years, nothing was paid on county
orders except gold and silver, and yet
the Taxpayers were allowed to pay their
entire dues in the notes of specie paying
banks. At convenient intervals, the
Treasurer acting on behalf of the peo-
pie of his county, furnished the banks
an opportunity to- make good their
pledges to redeem their notes in gold
aud silver on demand. In this way the
bankers got back what they professod
to think was just as good as gold, and
the people got the gold itself.-NeaoGrk
Advocate.
Esz The county referred to in the
above was Columbiana, and the period
was during the official terms as Treasur-
err of WIN. D. MORGAN and his Demo
cratic successor. They collected of tax
payers the notes of specie,paying Banks
assorted them-sent them homo for
redemption. and were thus enabled to
meet all the claims against tie County
in gold and silver. Mr.. Morgan's mod
esty would not permit him to say this.
The practical effect of the new law,
in those counties where its execution is
confded to the hands of its friends, will
be to largely increase the circulation
of coin without imposing tho slightest
inconvenience or burden upon the tax
payers.
The new law may have been properly
entitled san act to impose additional
labor upon State and county Treasurers
TO secure the treasures against loss by
paper money-aud to give to the Peo-
pie of Ohio a largely increased currency
of gold and silver"
Neither should Bakers or their
friends complain of the law. The effect
of it will strengthen, ultimately, the
Banks. The withdrawal of coin from
their vaults to meet the requirements Of
the new law, will undoubtedly create q
demand for specie, and this demand will
at once be supplied from those States
where their legislation has been less wise:
and where, consequently, a gold and sill
yer currency is less appreciated. Thus
when the next paper money storm arises
both Banks and People will have more
strength to resist its force. Banks thai
arc now lettering, and that viii be una
able to redeem their paper when present
led by the County T~reasurers, will o
course oppose the Democratic Legislation
of last wInter-and hence the clamor o
their friends against the new law. TIL
louder they protest, however, the NOR
heartily will the people approve. Th'
Republican Treasurer of Seneca count.
saw this, aud other stringent provisions
and hence the resignation of his office.