:f 111 1IEF iID!S!S THE RAFTSMAff'S JOURS AL. CLEARFIELD, PA., . Welceslay, March 21, 1S53. CJ"If we could get out a paper without staying at home, we would most assuredly go down the river. But we know,wlien our friends get down to the Island, and to Marietta, they will want to bear from' home, and therefore we hare resolved to stay here, and relinquish the plasure of feasting on Mother Moore's "flitch and sour-kront," in order to send our own lit tle ''express craft," down stream, laden with "home news," for our rafting friends, relying upon them to send us in return lots of new aubscribers, and "a pocket full of rocks." Messiah's Throue and Millexiai. Gloet la the title of: a Religious work by the Ret. Dr. Litch. It is designed as a key . to the Scriptures, and traces the development of prohecy, and demonstrates God's great pur pose in Creation. It treats of the signs of the times, including the European "War, and the Chinese Revolution. The work is not Secta rian in its character, ' and the subject com mends itself to every honest inquirer after truth. Dr. LiTcn, who is now on a visit to our town, and is preaching a scries of very able and interesting eermons, maybe found at the residence of M. A. FaAXKEsq, from whom the book can be had, at the low price of $1 TO RAFTSMEN. We hope onr friends on the river will not forget us this spring, but embrace the oppor tunity to procure us "aid and comfort," re membering that while they are down tho riv- . er, making money, we are sitting at home, hard at work, collecting the news and home affairs, to send them at Marietta, Middletown, Lockhaven, and all the other ports, from this to the Chesapeake Bay. Last spring, our friends worked hard, and got us not only a large list of subscribers, but a great deal of advertising. If they succeed as well this season, we can promise them that the Journal, shall be proportionately impro ved, and that tho "Pencil Notes" shall be ten times more "rich rare and racy" than they have ever been. The man that gets ns the largest "advance" list of subscribers, shall ' have a copy of our paper gratis, and a red shirt, with twenty seven dozen buttons on the breast ! Let her flicker, she's all oak. CONTEMPTIBLE SLANDER. We would like to know what right a news paper has to make an attack upon the charac ter of a private citizen, and drag him by name .before the world, when he has no opportunity to reply, and when he has committed no act which concerns either the public press or the community in which it is its province to dis eeminate news. So long as a "democratic pa per" chooses to heap its absurd abuse upon us, it can do so, for wo have a chance to reply, and stop the bellowing of the jack-ass when ever we see proper. But when it undertakes to slander an individual by name, accusing him of being a liar, a deceiver &c., with whom the editor has nothing to do, they not only step beyond the privileges of the press, and subject themselves to a prosecution, but they violate all the rules of decency and honor, laying themselves open to the scorn and con tempt of every intelligent citizen. We care not what the character of the man may be, no newspaper has a right to drag his private relations before the public, and stig matize bim,by name, as a liar, especially, when he has committed no public act. If the gentleman who is thus treated in the last num ber of a "democratic paper," had been an of fice holder, or even if it was in the midst of a political campaign, there might be some ex cuse for their course. But to single out a cit izen of the county by name, and heap upon him charges, which, whether true or false can benefit no individual, and the cause of no par ty, evinces a fiendish, low, groveling, malici ous heart, which can dwell in the breast of no man possessing a spark of honor. It is the conduct of a cowardly slanderer, who is too ignorant to understand the extent of an editor's privileges, and prostitutes the columns of a public print, to the base purposes of envy, hatred, and malice. ' THE NEWS. Nicholas, the Russian Czar, died on Friday the 2nd inst, at one o'clock in the morning, of apoplexy,altbougb surmises were afloat that he was assassinated. His illness, however, was known in England before the news of his death were received: The . event has created the greatest excitement throughout Europe, and the question of the succession may convulse the Empire. "What its effect may be upon the War it is at present impossible to say, lie was born July 6th, 1796, and ascended the throne, December 1st 1825, at 29 years of age. On the 19th of February 40,000 Russians,1 command oy Gen.- Liprandi, with seventy pieces of artillery, attacked the Turkish army at Eupatoria, commanded by Omar Pacha, and after four hours' battle were repulsed with loss of 500 men. At Sevastopol no impor tant changes have occurred. Some thousands of Russians who bad marched toward that place,' had keen frozen to death. About 35,000 Rus sian soldiers were sick. . Lord Raclaw is re ported to have, resigned, and the Earl of Lp a to j,tve fetn reCalIeL. v'i . - -IMMIGRATION. Political, : like : scientific discoveries,' are generally heralded by precursive signs, and on the subject of promiscuous immigration we have already had those dawn lights which prognosticate the day. ' All those indications of alarm and newly awakened interest, which usually, precede some important political event, have been exhibited; -nor can we won der at the growing interest with which the top ic is regarded. The sea is no longer a barrier, but a great highway, more easily crossed thau to travel from our eastern to our western states. The immense emigration, then, constantly ar riving upon our shores, may justly lead us to inquire what are to be its effects, and how far should it be encouraged or restrained? Ardent as are our sympathies for the down trodden and oppressed of every nation and of every people, we should never forget that our highest allegiance is first to our God then to our native land; and while we mourn for the oppressed of other climes, yet all the affec tions of our hearts and all the sympathies of our nature should cling with undying fondness around the altars of our country. If we should find, therefore, that this constantly increasing tide cf immigration is destructive to the spirit and genius of our institutions, our course is plain, and our duty manifest, however harsh may seem the means, We may be compelled to adopt. "Self preservation is the first law of nature," and duty to our Country, to ourselves and to posterity, requires that we should guard the inheritance which has been transmitted to us by our forefathers, from the incursions of all enemies, whether political or social, with 'our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.' Among the most serious evils which this un bounded immigration is inflicting upon us, is the increase of pauperism and crime, turning our country into a pest-house of moral disease, and saturating the sources from whence count less generations are yet to spring, with cor ruption. Its social effect is to vitiate and en feeble the energies of our people, and to re verse the domestic relations from their natural offices. The evils that flow from it are contagi ous, nor is it possible to be in constant inter course with societies in which they predomin ate without catching their corruption. Thus the prospects of our country are blighted by these rank deposits left upon our shores, uni ting in one fermenting mass the follies and vi ces of the Old and the New World. But if its social effects are to be deprecated, how much greater cause have we lor alarm, when we view its political aspects. It produ ces a decline of patriotism, which is destruct ive of man's capacity for self-government. The severance of the tie which binds a man to his country is a severe trial, and although he leaves it for another, stiil his mind clings with tenacity to the image of his childhood's home. The love for his fatherland, the charities of neighborly life, the genial enjoyments of his relative's society, the amenities of hill and dale, the beauties of shaded nooks, the man ners, language, and traditions of his country all enter into his constitution like his mother s milk, and penetrate the remotest channels of his being. It is next to impossible, therefore, that he should regard another land, with whose institutions, history, and traditions he is unac quainted, with that degree of amor pairia, which is necessary in a people holding in their hands the perpetuity of a republic. Habits and opinions once established are not soon sup planted, and we well know that it is in the hu man sympathies alone that a foundation can be laid, not? only for the moral virtues, but for the preservation of peace, and a reverence for law. Not only does it produce a decline of patriotism, which, of itself, is a most deplora ble evil, but it is destructive to a great extent ol the fundamental principles of our govern ment. So large a class of persons as are now pouring into our country, and in a few years exercising the rights of citizenship, without comprehending the history, policy, or nature of our institutions, must necessarily have a detrimental effect, notnly upon our own citi zens from association, but upon the policy and principles of the Government. And when we remember that they are not only ignorant of our history and institutions, but imbued with sentiments and instincts antagonistic repub licanism, we may, with still greater reason, be alarmed for the purity of our American Insti tutions. Although we commenced with the intention of discussing this interesting subject at length, we find that it is impossible to do so in a news paper article. It becomes us, however, to be ware of the too great expansion of the blight ing stream now pouring into our land, whose inevitable tendency is to corrupt the commu nity and consume its substance. "SAM" IN SPAIN. Scarcely have we received the news that the little state of Sardinia, has called forth the ire of the Holy Father by "destroying, almost totally, all the religious associations of both sexes, the collegiate churches and simple ben efices, and delivering over their property to the administration of the civil power," when we hear from Spain, (the native country of Loyola, and the very cradle of Jesuitism,) that the Ministry are now carrying through a bill for the selling of all ecclesiastical proper ty, and making the clergy dependent for sup port upon money-saleries! The Holy Father has not yet fspoken upon the new profanity,' bnt we may ere long expect that he will -Inflict upon that devoted country the awful cas tigation of an interdict! "Sam," just now, is a 'ubiquitus indiwidual.' ; know nothing'nominations. The Know Nothing. State Convention of Virginia has nominated the following ticket, which will no doubt be elected by a trium phant majority : r -For Governor Thomas S. Flournoy. " ' For Lieut. Governor J; M; H. Beale. " -. For Attorney General John M. Patton, Before the Convention' adjourned, or the nominations were made public, despatches were received from all the nominees signify ing their acceptance. .- ... .. THE BANK QUESTION. ,- In another column will be found an able ar ticle on the subject of "Banks and Banking,' which will well repay a perusal. Although we do not agree with our correspondent in all his positions, we are yet willing to concede that to the present extent of banking monop oly is to be attributed much of the embarrass ment in the money market for the last six months. We are opposed to the present sys tem of banking, and believe it to be a curse rather than a benefit, yet there are some local ities, which, from the nature of the business in which the inhabitants are employed,, actu ally require institutions of this character,' and we think Clearfield is one of them. Certainly if there is any portion of the Commonwealth in which a bank is "indispensibly necessary" it is Clearfield. The lumbering business, in which all our people are engaged, requires, not only a vast amount of Capital, but facili ties for pecuniary accommodation, such as are necessary in no other calling. These are not, and cannot now be afforded. Our people are therefore compelled,' not only to suffer se rious inconvenience, but to stand "shaves of twenty and thirty percent, when they might, and ought to be . able to get the amount of money they need for six. We are strongly of the opinion, though it is a matter in which, personally, we have no con cern, that Clearfield should have a bank, if any portion of the state is entitled to such an institution. On examination we were aston ished to find, that the amount of capital in vested in the lumbering business, was really greater, than that of any other interest in the State, the manufacture of Iron included. And yet we have no banking facilities whatever. Our business men are compelled to make their deposits ia Eastern banks, three or four hun dred miles distant from the scene of their op erations. The inconvenience of such an ar rangement, must at once be apparent. There are many other reasons why, if banks' are to be incorporated anywhere, we should have one in Clearfield, and we hope that some of those gentlemen who are better acquainted with the matter than us, will prepare an ar ticle upon the subject. Our columns are open to both sides, and we wish to see the subject farly discussed. . THE OS TEND CONFERENCE. Our readers no doubt recollect the fact that a conference of '-our Ministers to England, France and Spain, was held in October last, at stend, in the Netherlands.- Until very re-, cently the people both of Europe and America, were puzzled to know what it was for, the pre vailing opinion being that its object was to determine what part the United States was to. take in the present war. This, however, has turned out to be erroneous,and the documents recently produced on the call of Congress "let the cat out of the bag." The meeting was held by direction of President Pierce, to. adopt measures for a concert of actiou in aid of Socle's negotiations at the Court of Spain, , for the acquisition of Cuba. In the report of these "three wise men of Gotham who went to sea in a bowl," we have tho question consid ered in all its various phases. Peaceable purchase, at a munificent price, is the first suggestion, and if a sale be refused, then the forcible means by which the Island is to be come ours, are boldly avowed. The actual price offered to Spain is not named in the official documents, but is attemp ted to be kept secret, and where it would oc cur blanks arc used. But the administration has not been sufficiently cautious, and has in advertently told the whole story. The report says "Whilst tu-o-ihirds of the price of the Island would be ample for the completion of her (Spain's) most important public improve ments, she might, with the remaining forty thousand satisfy the demands now pressing so heavily upon her credit," &c. This would make the offer $120,000, which however, would be absurd. But if we interpret the ''for ty thousand" to mean millions, we have no doubt the correct solution of tho secret.' And the offer of one hundred and twenty millions, seems to be in accordance with the following passage of the report "Under no probable circumstances can Cuba ever yield to Spain one per cent, on the large amount which the United States arc willing to pay for its acqui sition." Thus the secrets of the "Know Nothing" conference have been developed, and after all what does it amount to ? Nothing but bluster and buncombe. It seems, notwithstanding his exertions, as if Pierce, was destined to achieve no greater victory than the bombardment of Greytown, which, we fear,he must still permit to stand as the crowning glory of his brilliant, administration! DECIDEDLY RICH. Week before last a "democratic paper." published in glaring capitals, the startling in telligence that fifteen hundred members of the Know Nothing Order, had withdrawn in the State of New Hampshire ! But, unfortunate ly for the editor's veracity, the election was held in that State on the following Tuesday, which resulted in the most signal and over whelming defeat, which the locofoco party has yet received. The Know Nothing Gov ernor, and in fact their entire ticket was elect ed by a triumphant majority. Of the Repre sentatives they elected 123, and the Demo crats 29! If the editor's story of the withdrawals at New Washington is based on no better author ity, than that of New Hampshire, we may safely predict, that Burnside, at the next elec tion, will be found just where she was last fall, and last spring. The editor, like his "Depu ty Instructor" Mahaffey,' must have been dreaming. . -. . When we reflect that New Hampshire is Pierce's own State, that it has always been Democratic, and that Frank himself was al ways its chief political wire-puller, we may well be astonished at this signal and unparal- ! leled rebuke of his Administration.: . I is, be yond all odds, the most brilliant victory, the ! American party has yet achieved. .."Sam" has walked into the Administration "about a ' feet," notwithstanding the 1600 withdrawals! j 5rntil Sloifs. Dead the Russian Czar. ' . Busy our lumbermen, 'rafting in. . . Plenty 'red shirts and 'cant-hooks. " ' ' Left a number of our citizens for 'the Island.' Gou-e the ice, and " number of rafts, down the river. Left town the Deputy Liquor Inspector. We suppose he's on duty. A farce Pennsylvania legislation. There's more gas than brains about the capitol. Mizzled the man with the turnip head and short tailed coat. It was about time. Final adjournment. The State Senate proposes to adjourn finally on the 20th of April litre, again winter. Things looked, yesterday, more fit for hauling timber, than rafting it in. Don't correspond red shirts and satin vests. Looks as if the wearers "wanted to, and couldn't." A fact. When you hear an editor quarreling and making threats infer that his genius lies in the scissors. In town the '-Ducth bell-ringers'' on Saturday last. -. They gave a public exhibition '"free gratis for nothing." Abound burglars in Brookville. On Saturday last a store, a grist mill, and a hotel were robbed. The town's improving undoubtedly. Alsqtuttidated John 1$. Vrmy, ex-book-kecper of the Pacific Bank in New York, after cnibcziling some 518,000 of the funds of the bank. An inference. When you hear a subscriber to tho Journal declare that it is not worth reading infer that he ha? not paid his subscription. The Poole excitement. It is currently stated that 2.000 have been raised in New Jersey Poole's native State for the arrest of Baker. Passed the House the bill to repeal the license laws. We intended to publish an article on the subject this week, but deem it now unnecessary. Religious The Kcv. Dr. Litch of Philadelphia, has been preaching a scries of most excellent ser mons, in the Court House, for the past few days. Another secretsocietif. The liquor dcalors ot'Jer sey City hold secret mcetiugs nightly, and have adopted a regular system at pass-worJj. signs. Ac. Destroyed by fire the College building at Prince ton. New Jersey. It was insured for aboutSltJ.COO, which will probably cover the greater partof the loss. Up in the figures. In Tuscaloosa, Ga., the city councils have raised the pricoof licences to 55.000! In Lexington, Ky., the price has been fixed at SiOO ! Sound on the goote question Danville. Tho whole American ticket elected, at the borough election on Saturday. Surrendered Reading, the stronghold of Berk? County Democracy, to the invincible "Sam." At the municipal election for city officers the whole. Kdow Nothing ticket was elected. "Slightly various'" the weather. One moment it rains, the next the sunshines, and the next it snows. The mud is -about a feet" deep, and tho river rising. . . To he jmUishcd life of Pill Toole. With Barnuin and Wijkoff, it will form a splendid galaxy ! The whole of them are a valuiole addi tion to American Literature ! The Lt Kingston County IS'cirs is the came of a paper published by Jo?. trance. .5q.. formerly of this place. We suppose '-pigs feet" are a '-legal tender" in payment of Subscription. UToved his quarters the "Cghting-ccek'? last week. Ho is now on the premises and under tho immediate eye of hisgraud "instrnrto!-,'' and we may lock for some ricU and racy productions. The auction is not now 'who struck Billy Pat terson?" bnt':whoi.J the Adjutant General of tho Pennsylvania Nlilitia?" a question that seems ve ry difhcult to settle, notwithstanding the records. One of the Jt-iUers David, with the red shirt and velvet trimmings. The Marietta gals will have to keep a sharp lookout, or they'll be goncrs; before they know it. - David' emphatically a fancy man. Unhtrly. The first raft, which left on Monday, belonging to JIossop & .rottaiff, was staved at the rock above Grimes' landing. They succeeded in recovering all but four sticks. The crew re turned, to try it over. ... Bavk Dills. Cuite a number of these institu tions arc being ground out by our Legislature. A few of them may be all right, but if passed with out discrimination, we hope Governor Pollock will not hesitate to pile veto upon veto. ICilled a Methodist preacher by the name of Scott, by a man named llickman, at Lewisvuie, about 45 miles east of Indiauapolis, on the Cen tral . Railroad. The murdered man was knocked down with a club, and then stabbed. r Fire.-'K 'abantee,' belonging to some of our friends from the country, who were 'rafting in' on the other side of the river, caught fire and burned down on Sabbath evening last, while they were at church. No serious damage was done. Fire in Curwensville. The kitchen of Mr. John Thompson, was destroyed by fire, last week in Cur wensville. The citizens deserve great credit for saving the frame house to which it was attached. To look at it. we would suppose it impossibc to have done so. Queer that while there are three or four church es in town unoccupied, Dr. Litch, an orthodox preacher, and one known to be in good standing, is compelled to preach in the Court House. It speaks badly for the christian harmony and charity of our religious denominations. ' Amusing to hear those who assisted Thomas, of Know Nothing celebrity, in getting up his bril liant Exposition, stigmatise him as a "perjured traitor!" He has betrayed somebody, that's evi dent, either them or the Know Nothings, and it's mighty little difference which. Agriculture. We intend, in a short time, to de vote a small portion of our paper each week to the Agricultural interest, believing that more atten tion should be paid to it in Clearfield county. We shall be glad to reccivecontributions on the subject, lrom tiiose wno mako it tneir study. Cherry Tree Academy. The summer term of this excellent and flourishing institution. located near Newman's Mills, will commence on the 23d of April. It is under the charge of the Rev. John Moore, Principal, and is situated in a pleasant, healthful, and retired locality. See card. hope they will not forget to call and leave us a lit tle of tho 'oil of gladness,' or, vulgarly speaking, a few of the 'rocks.' which they may know to becom ing to us for subscription and advertising. Dad policy for a man who is dependent upon the Protestant public for support, to assert publicly that all communications published by Protestant periodicals, such as the Christian Advocate, Lu theran Observer, Presbyterian, Ac, are base fabri cations, Look sharp, Gcorgey, there's more mills, in the country. Good appointment. The Governor has appoint ed John Penn Jones, Esq., editor of the llollidaya burg Register, an Associate Judge of Blair county. No better appointment could have been made. Wo congratulate you, Judge, on your deserved promo tion, and advise you to go at once and buy Mrs. Jones a new bonnet. . A grand discovery. Pat Cams, who has been Eoddling Mahaffey's exposition in the neighbor ood of Curwensville, says "bejapers. it'sall thrue. for it's the dyin' confission of one of the men that had his neck broke on tho train of cars from Balte moor the last fourth of July, as published in the Pennsylvanian-!',', Pat can have our 'tile.' A message. Will some of our friends on the riv er be kind enough to give our compliments to Mo ther Mdorc, and tell her we regret exceedinelvt!) that we cannot call this Spring and try her 'light cakes't!) and 'sour-krout!" Will they just step be hind the house, and look if the chickens are roost ing on the barrell yet, and tell us which is in wards, ' heads or tails ; A Know Nothing victory . We are credibly in formed that the Catholic Priest on last Sabbath, proclaimed from the pulpit that the award of the Arbitrators for 515. in favor or the. church, in a case tried on Saturday, was a victory over the Know Nothings! We consider thai rather rich, from the fact that the suit was brought by the Church ftgaojBBt.an tnsnman, and a Catholic: -Verily, if that's a victory over the 'Know-Nothings," 'Sam' has been caught in bad company.- For the Rtfisman's Journal . . ; . - BAJiKS AND BANKING. : V 'r Application ha been made to the present Legislature for numerous Bank Charters, I do not knew how inauy, their name is Legion. The work is begun some of the charters have been granted by the Senate, whether many or all of these will pass we cannot at present say, but it is much to be feared that, by the appli cation of. the "log rolling" system, all, or nearly aii, of the charters asked for may be granted. It becomes us therefore, toieason calmly ar.J seriously, and taking past experi ence and the late report of the Banks made to the Auditor General, in some measure for our guide, asks the questions are more banks needed 1 Have we not too many already ? Can banks afford relief to the business commu nity in a time of difficulty and general scarcity of monsy ? Is not the 'tightness' in the mon ey market made more iight' at such times by the banks ? I have the bank 'returns' before me, and from them I take the following facts or rather figures: there are in the City and County of Philadelphia sixteen banks with an aggregate capital of $10,818,600, circulation in Mav $6,390,838, in Nov. S5,16S,28o Bills and notes discounted in May $25,278,324, and in Xov. bills and notes discounted $22,677,230. These figures show a reduction in the circula tion of these banks in six months of $1,231, 612 and in bills discounted S2.b01,09l. Why this great reduction 1 What could have caus ed this sudden contraction ? . The answer is simple and plain. Bank directors and stockhol ders are as greedy, and will venture as much to make money as any body else, and when times are good, when exchange with foreign countries is in our favor, when there is no de mand for coin for shipment to pay debts abroad, then ail is 'confidence. Thtn was "the good time coming," then the banks loaned money. No they didn't ; they loaned b notes ; they loaned their promises to pay, and in abundance. Everybody who could furnish a good, or supposed to be good endorser, could get these loans, the more notes discounted the larger the dividends to the stockholders. Need it be asked what is to be the consequence of this sudden expansion, thin making of mon ey plenty? Prices of all kinds of property go up ; extravagance is encouraged ; people seek to grow rich without labor ; and every conceivable and inconceivable project of spec ulation is entered into, the importation of foreign goods is excessive, we build and live in palaces, and dress in the most costly fabrics that the world can furnish. But in a few short months, 'presto' all -is changed. We are called on to pay our debts abroad. Exchange is against us. Heavy drafts are made on the banks which cannot be paid with bank notes, but must be . paid in specie. They become alarmed and must take care of themselves, must trim the vessel to meet the storm. They call in their loan3, they refuse to discount, they contract, thoy put on the screws, and they are obliged to take this course to save themselves from suspen sion or failure. In short, they must do as any prudent individual would, under like circum stances, collect their debts and refuse to make new loans. Let the man of business who may be in dif ficulty go to a bank cow for assistance, he is told ho can't hare it, it's impossible, we have to day refused to "Jo" the best paper in the city. They arc powerless to aid, when aid is needed, and with bankruptcy and ruin staring the man in the fica lie can't get a dollar. Ha is obliged to go elsewhere to procure the monev he must have, and here again he is prevented by the Uauus. Iney were the trst to see the trouble coming. They have been c.vliing in their loans, contracting, and have been the cause of the 'stringency' in the money market. Finally after running about until he is worn and weary, he is obliged to resort to the Bill Broker, and stand a shave of two or three percent, a month,to stve a protest on his note, held by one of these banks. (For let it be re membered, and to our shame and disgrace be it said, that our beautiful 'usury l.iws' prevent him from making a direct loan at a less rate of interest.) But to resume ; the bitter fruits cf this ex cessive banking arc seen in the wide spread failures, bankruptcy and ruin which ensue, only more or less gcniral in proportion to the number of banks, and their expansion and con traction. But it is said more bank capital is needed in Philadelphia, because they cannot discount all the good paper that is offered. Let us. suppose for a moment that that City had its bank capital doubled, that the liabili ties in the shape of circulation and deposits in place of being 520,114,682 in November last was twice as much, or $40,229,361 and double tho amount of loans which at the same date was 322;G77,230, we have $45,3-31,460. What the:i, I ask, would have been the conse quence of this increase 1 Things would have been immeasurably worse the'eonuence man' much wanted. "Confidence" could not be maintained, protests and failures would follow thick and fast, and perhaps an almost general bankruptcy, and suspension of specie payment by the banks. This is no fancy picture, it has happened before. Let experience then teach wisdom. The bank returns show that in November last there was on deposit in the Philadelphia banks the enormous sum of $14,946,396 being $4,127,796 more than their whole capital stock. Banks I believe very seldom pay in terest to depositors. Now why this amount should lie idle when money was worth from one to two per cent, per month, I cannot pre teud to know, and leave for some one else to explain. There was specie and "specie funds'" in the banks aforesaid as returned in Novem ber, to the amount of $5,046,82-5 and the cir culation and deposits as already stated were $20,114,6S2. Here is a considerable difference, but "contience"may keep this all right. What "specie funds" consist of, we are not informed; it means something other however than gold and silver. In making up the above amount I didn't add in the odd cents, though it would seem the banks have been very particular, for example, ono of them returns $348,057 and eight cents in specie, this shows the exactness of their returns. Let us now look at the County banks. There are thirty-three banks of issue in the State (besides those in Philadelphia) with an aggre gate capital stock of $8,785,151. Their cir culation in May was $14,161,611. In Nov. $11,539,094, deposits $5,145,301. Total de posits and circulation $16,684,395 against $2,227,910 of specie. Here "confidence" is certainly very necessary. If a run was made on these banks how long would some of them stand it? Just as long as it would take them to pay out what specie they might have and no longer. Bnt with a full measure of 'confi dence they go on swimmingly for" a time, and pay perhaps from ten to twelve per cent, in terest to the stockholders in the shape of div idends, with an occasional extra. -The returns from these banks show a reduction in the cir culation, from May to November, of $2,022, 517, to which, add reduction by the Philadel phia banks, and we have $3,854,129 withdrawn from circulation in six months ! The same process has been going on in other States as well as in our own, thus money, or rather bank notes, is made, scarce hard times come property depreciates in price, keeps going down, down, so long as the bank contraction rnntinn9. ' After they have iIaiir fha miaMitAf andhanled in until they feel pretty safe, the j lesson they have had is forgotten, they want to make larger profits, they expand, thev let out. Again property goes up and up and it is but down and up, and up and down all tho time. There is no stability in prices or in busi ness, and cannot be under our present banking system. Any considerable addition to the present banking capital, or to the number" of banks would be an evil much and long to be deplor ed. 1 The many don't want them the 'few' do. But these 'few' are active and busy, and pur sue their object with untiring energy. The Legislature is beseiged year af ter year by paid or interested 'bank borers.' With this out side prcssure,aided by the log rolling' system, of "help me get my bank" and "I'll help you get yours," the danger is imminent and great. We may have a rag money manufactory in ev ery town, village and hamlet in the State and cities might count them by dozens. But there is-oue remedy, and we hope it rnay not fail us in time of need; that remedy is the rr to power The Governor will prove recreant to his duty if he fails to exercise that constitutional pre rogative, lie should set his face like flint, against this iniquity. If he does sign a batch of these bank Charters he might as well siga his own political death warraut. ne would be called by the people to give an account of his 'Stewardship.' The sentence would be "thou art weighed in balance and found wanting." I hope f or better things, a short time will de termine whether that hope is 'well founded' or not. On principle I am opposed to the whole system, and believe that we have too many banks already, and that the number should be lessened rether than increased. No banknote should be issued under ten dollars, and better still if none under twenty dollars. But a law of this kind at present would not, or could not be enforced, b-jcause notes of a smaller de nomination issued by the banks of other States would be forced iiito circulation here, as is now the case in some parts of the State not withstanding the present small note law. The plan conceived by the Hon. Thomas II. Benton would if carried ont,atonce put a stop to an- further issue of small notes. He advo cates the passage of a law by Congress fixing a stamp duty on every piece of paper intend ed to be issued as a bank note of small denom ination. The smaller the note, the higher the tax. Mr. Benton does and says some very good things, and is more ofXen right than wrong. He is reported as having recently said : "If I were President of the United States, sir, I would keep beside me a pile of blank vetoes, and as fast as the plundering bills passed Con gress I would send in a veto ! veto ! ! veto ! ! sir, send in a veto." And here "Old Bullion" is right. I think Gov. Pollock should have his pile ready and veto ! veto ! ! veto ! ! ! every new bank' bill that passes the Legislature "re gardless cf denunciation from any quarter." I have seen the 'Card' published in both the Clearfield papers in favor of a Lank at that place. The signers to the card call them selves 'denwcraJs." Well mlijht we exclaim, How are the mighty fallen How is it that the "great democratic party" which has always heretofore claimed to have been the uncom promising foe of bir.ks, has thus been brought to bow down at the foot stool of Mammon f Jc-ru-sa-leru what will Ex-Governor Bigler say when he s?es that "Card t " Wonder if they could get his signature I The Whig paity has been heretofore stigma tized as the 'bank party.' 'Whiggcry' and 'banking' were considered synonymous, and so unpopular was the name that when Mr. Banks ran for Governor in 1S41, he couldn?t touch bottom. On the eve of that, and other elections it was prociaimcd''froin Dan to Ber sheba," that all the sins of all the lan'v;, from the United States bank dr.wn to f ie little sha ving shop, were charge ible to this party. The whig party was made the 'sc ipe goat' to bear these sins not '-into the wilderness," but to the end that their opponents might ride into power on this hobby. It answered the pur pose, for it was known, then as now, that a laige majority of the people were and are op posed to these exclusive banking privileges. But the signers to the card doubtless had a reason for designating the political party to which they belonged. . They may have suppo sed it would serve to prevent any opposition as coming from 'democrats' in the Legislature, and that tho Whigs in that body would go for the bill because it was their nature, they couldn't help it; that it would go through with a rush, and that a '-bank Whig" Governor would sign it. Now be it understood that I am not opposed to a bank to ba located in the Borough of Clearfield, any more than I am to one at Lock haven, or anywhere else. J am against all alike, and if a Charter is granted for a bank ia Clearfield, the friends of each and every par ticular bank that is asked for would claim the same privilege, because they will all say that a bank is "indispensably necessary" to the business community where such bank is to bo located. Would it not be wiser and better on the part of the people of Clearfield to do with out their bank even if they could get it, than that they should by their example and influ ence encourage and promote the passage of all the bank bills that may come up before the Legislature, and thus inflict on the country a most grievous and irrepairable injury. In that portion of the Governor's inaugural which treats of currency and banks we have the following: "Nor will I refuse to sanction the incorporation of new banks when indis pensably necessary and clearly demanded by the actual business wants and interests of the community in which they may be located." From this it is infered that the Governor will not, or cannot consistently refuse to sign Charters for "new banks," and the language used may have afTorded some ground for the inference. But if none of these banks are "indispensably necessary" if the "interests of the community" would be best protected by witholding the Executive sanction, then there would be no inconsistency in such refu sal, because the contingency under which the Governor might 'consent' would not have ta ken place. Now I insist that banks are not "indispen sably necessary" and that the "interests of tho business community" do not require any ad dition to tho number of banks we already have. If this position is correct then the Governor does not stand uncommitted. He is pledged to withhold the Executive consent from one and all of these "new bank" bills and the people will expect the pledge to bo redeemed. A True "Democrat." Curwensville, March 15, 1855. CF" Thomas Mahaffey of Clearfield county has been demolishing the Know Nothings in that region. , He has evidently never read Heathen Mythology, or the story of Bnareua would at once have occurred to him- Lewis town Gazette. ' - Briareus made war on Jupiter, but J upiter bound him under Mount Etna, with a hundred chains. Thomas had better be "scabua" that he don't meet a similar fate.' "Sani'i" an ug ly customer, when he gets his mad up. JET" Many applications have been made to the Governor for pardons, but he has thus far refused to grant them unless accompanied by evidence sufficiently strong to satisfy him of the innocence of the parties, or of some error ia tho trial and conviction clearly and radically wrong .
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