The Columbia Democrat

STATE CONVENTION.

We had commenced penning an article upon the subject of a State Convention to recommend to the Legislature a judicious reform in the Banking System of this State, when we met with the following article in that able Democratic paper, the Easton Sentinel. The view it takes of the wishes of the community with regard to a reform in the banking system, coincide so fully with those heretofore expressed by us, that we present it to our readers without any further remarks of our own, merely premising, that we hope soon to see measures taken in the different counties throughout the State to carry into effect the recommendation for the holding a State Convention at the time and place specified.

"The Bedford Gazette of last week, in alluding to a convention to take into consideration the necessary reform in our banking system, suggests the 22d of February as a suitable time, and Harrisburg as a suitable place, for the meeting of that body. The propriety of calling such a convention originally took its rise in the Gazette, and we think the time and place admirably suited for the meeting. It is sufficiently remote to enable the people to discuss the necessary measures of reform, and at a time when no existing political topic will agitate the public mind. It is now agreed that our banking system is radically defective. Even the warmest advocates of banking in its most irresponsible character admit this. In fact the existence of two successive suspensions, in a little more than a year, at a time of peace and when every branch of domestic industry has been successfully conducted, places this beyond all cavil. It is not even urged that the operations of government have had a tendency to produce such a result.

Under all the circumstances, we think the meeting of such a convention, to discuss the matter calmly and rationally, will be productive of the happiest results. But such a discussion to be beneficial, must be conducted upon broad and rational principles, having the welfare of the whole people as a polar star to guide its deliberations. No private interests, or sectional jealousies should be carried into the assembly. A body organized with this view, and composed of men of enlarged and liberal ideas of banking, in all probability would arrive at some wholesome suggestion of reform.

There now appears to be a desire with all parties, that some measure should be adopted to prevent a recurrence of the sudden and frequent revulsions that have recently taken place in the monetary world, causing such wide spread injury and alarm among men of capital and enterprise.

These sudden checks have undoubtedly done incalculable injury, and unless some measures be adopted to prevent their recurrence, must have a tendency to retard the onward march of American enterprise.

We trust we see the dawning of a better day in our fiscal operations; a day in which men will struggle to be foremost in promoting the welfare of their country, rather than for the promotion of this or that measure, at the expense of a rival party.

Even should there not be an entire unanimity as to the best system of banking, proper examination of the subject in a deliberative convention, would be productive of much permanent good.

As we have heretofore said, our banking institutions have become part and parcel of our social system. There are none, we trust, so weak, or vicious as to wish their destruction. That, if possible, would be attended with ruin to thousands of our most useful citizens of all trades and occupations.

All the people ask is a protection from the injuries resulting from mismanagement and the faults of the system itself. Now that the public mind is unagitated and rationally directed to this subject, it may be the best time and place alluded to, have a beneficial influence upon our legislature, for there after all the measure of reform must be adopted. The members will carry back to their constituents the results of their deliberations, and these acting upon the subject at the next general election, will fully prepare a succeeding legislature to act understandingly. With these views we give it as our belief, that the 22nd of February next will be a proper time, and Harrisburg a proper place for holding a bank reform convention."