Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-08-08

WILLIAM II. WEST, OF Logan.
Far Member board OF Public Works,
PHILIP HERRING, Of Auglaise.
- TIRE COUNTRY GOING to RUM
The Democratic press has been labor.
ing persistently and recklessly, since the
Democraticsparty was driven from pow
or, TO convince the people that the coun-
try, financially and politically, since that
event has been rapidly going to ruiD.-
When the Democratic pasty was In pow
or, slavery existed in one-half Of the
Union, and four millions of the lsboring
population Of the country were held In
abject servitude and deprived Of all po-
litical rights, and the whole power Of
that party was exercised to extend the |
area of slavery and increase the number |
Of its victims. Since then slavery has
been abolished and
"A glory clothes the land from sen to sea,
For the whole land anu atl Its coasts are iree.'
When the Democratic party was in
power, the citizens Of one-half OF the
country did not dare to go into the other
half of it and express their views upon
the subject Of slavery, except at the
peril of their lives. Now, Horace Greeley,
Senator Wilson, or even Wendell Phil
lips, can 60 into the Southern States and
talk as boldly and freely about slavery
and upon political subjects, and to as at
tentive audiences, as could Messrs.
Yancy and Toombs talk about Southern
rights" in the Northern States before the
war; and, for the firpt time in the his
tory of the country, has that constitu-
ticnal provision been Of any force which
provides "that the citizens of each State
shall have all the rights and privileges
Of citizens of the several States" No
man enjoys less political privileges now
than he did seven years ago, unless by en-
gaging in treason and rebellion ho has
forfeited his right 70 enjoy them, and
millions are enjoying political privileges
who never enjoyed them before.
The oft-repeated declaration that the
country was going to ruin, financially,
il, TO every man Of ordinary observation,
very stupid falsehood. The evidences
~ increased wealth and prosperity are
everywhere visible, except where the
rebellion OF the Democratic party desc
lated and laid waste the country. If we
open our eyes, no matter where we are,
iA the city, in the village, or in the coun-
try, wo SOC tho evidanoes of such pros
psrity, as they have never before been
school houses, new churches, new dwell
ling houses, new out-boildings, and new
fences, or the old enes thoroughly re-
paired and painted, are everywhere Wis
ibls, indicating healthy prosperity
These are not the only evidences by
which we are surrounded. The improve
ment and decoration Of farms, gardens,
and the taste displayed In furnishing
dwelling houses and public buildings,
are also, evidences of financial prosperity
a. we'll Us of the development Of re-
fined and elevating taste. But the cal
ollating Yankee, per cent. Jew, or mon
ey-hoarding miser, who looks less to these
out groupings Of wealth for the evidences
os its increase than he does to the me-
dium that more directly represents 1t In
the shape OF merchantable property de-
mAnds some further evidences and we
refer them to the income returns; the
immense wealth invested in non-taz
paying bonds, and the greatly increased
value OF property returned upon The
State duplicate for taxation, for that evi
denco. We have not the data at hant
by which we can demonstrate the in
crease OF incomes in 1866 over those o.
1850, but no observing man doubts tha
sgreat increase has taken place. No
arc we able 10 say just how much ha
teen invested In non-tax paying proper
ty In that time. The following, however
may be taken As very fair approxima
ton:
The amount OF bonds purchased an,
held ~ security for the Issues Of the Ma
tional Banks In the State Of Ohio, up h
che 6rst day OF September, 1865, rs W
learn from the Bankers Magazine, wa
$2o0l0, 400, which Is about six per cent
of the entire amount held by all the Ma
tional Banks in the country. II will b
safe TO estimate that these Banks owl
$5,o35, ,023 of bonds that are held rs securi
Mes for deposltes, &c, which Is just 81!
per cent Of the bonds held by all tn
National Banks for that purpose. Thi
makes $25, ,648, ,422 invested by Ohio Ne
tional Banks In Government bonds.
The aggregate amount OF non-tax-psy
ing bonds outstanding on the Ist q
September, 1866, was little over s., 900
100000. OF this amount, perhaps littl
over $500, ,OoO, 900 are held abroad, leavin
sl,700, ,0O0, 900 held at home. The Ns
tonal Banks hold s42i ,2s7 800 as secur
ty for notes, deposites, DC, and II tn
people Of Ohio hold the same proportio
Of the balance-$l, ,27S, 7l2, ,7OO-as tn
Banks Of Ohio hold of the total amour
OF honda held by all the banks, her pr,
portion would he $7e, 722, 7e2 maxim
the aggregate of bonds held in Ohio b