[906] Chap. 83, Laws of Ohio, 1818-19, 1st Sess. 190-99.
Section 5 of this act will give the student the spirit of this autocratic law. This section made it the "duty" of the State agent collecting the tax, after demand on and refusal of the bank officers to pay the tax, if he cannot readily find in the bank offices the necessary amount of money, "to go into each and any other room or vault ... and to every closet, chest, box or drawer in such banking house, to open and search," and to levy on everything found. (Ib. 193.)
[907] A private letter to Niles says that when it was found that an injunction had been granted, the friends of the bank rejoiced, "wine was drank freely and mirth abounded." (Niles, xvii, 85.) This explains the otherwise incredible negligence of the bank's attorneys in the proceedings next day.
[908] Niles, xvii, 85-87, reprinting account as published in the Chillicothe Supporter, Sept. 22, 1819, and the Ohio Monitor, Sept. 25, 1819.
[909] Niles, xvii, 147.
[910] Ib. 338.
[911] Report of Committee made to the Ohio Legislature and transmitted to Congress. (Annals, 16th Cong. 2d Sess. 1685 et seq.)
[912] Annals, 16th Cong. 2d Sess. 1691.
[913] Annals, 16th Cong. 2d Sess. 1696-97.
[914] See vol. ii, 72-74, of this work.