Newspaper Page Text
Chronicle aub Sentinel.
—— ii
A i; liUS T A . (
FRIDAY MORNING, MAT
(Jj-We must call the nttenlion of (lie proper* c
authorities to the situation of the Hydrants, many (
of which are in such a deranged state, as not to I
furnish the requisite supply of water. I
A .Nation;!i Bank. :
The Memorial of the Board of Trade New i
York, to Congress in 1837, asking a re-chaitcr of a i
National Bank, which will be found in this morn- i
ings paper, we commend to the careful pcuisa' of
our readers. It is a strong document and presents
the subject in lucid style, and it loses none of its
force at the present day. For if the arguments ob
tained m 1837, they apply with ten fold force in
1841, when almost the whole country is laboring
under the curse of an irredeemable paper circula
tion, which seems only to be the farther removed
from a sound currency the longer the suspension of
the Banks is persisted in. We had commenced the
discussion of l ie subject some weeks since, but the
death of tire President fust induced us to defer its
prosecution for a time, since which, our time has
been preoccupied by other engagements. \\ e shall
however, resume it in a few days, when we
shad give our views at length. In the meantime,
we ask our readers to weigh well the matter,
and not suffer themselves to be led into error in
this most important crisis to the well being of so
ciety, by political prejudices, or preconceived
opinions, which may have been foimed without
sufficient deliberation.
(Ic.mulgcc Hunk.
The Savannah Republican, of the 6th instant,
accompany’s the subjoined extract from the Macon
Telegrah, with a comment, which requires a remark
from u-, as it was in Die Exchange table publish
ed in this paper that the words “no sale’’ appeared,
which has excited so much speculation, and as Die
paragraph to which the Pepnbiicnn alludes, appeal
ed also in this paper.
Some time since we published a notice,
upon the authority of a letter written by a citizen
of Macon to a gentleman of this city, slating that
the Ocmnlgee Bank had submitted to a protest of
its bills, and that inhumation of the fact had oeen
forwarded to the Governor. The receipt ts this
information in this city, naturally created some
sensation, and the bills could not he sold at the
rates at w hich they were previously going; and as
hdders were unwilling to heavy discounts, the
transactions in Diem\eascd for a lime, hence the
words “no sole’’ in our Exchange table.” It is,
however, a little remarkable, Hint as the paper |
which contained the Exchange table alluded to, j
contained also the editorial paragraph announcing
the protest of the bills of the Bunk, the editor of
the Telegraph did net notice that. We presume, j
therefore, that the statement as to the protest is |
strictly true, as the Macon editors appear to avoid
any allusion to it so studiously.
This then was the information to which Die Re
publican alludes as tending to the discredit of the
Hank, which it takes so much p’easurc in correct
ing—Verily this is a correction indeed. We never
stated that the Bank had suspended specie pay
ments, we only stated that some of its Bills had
been protested Ac—and when this statement is de
nied by any officer of the Bank we arc prepared to
give up our authority for the statement. The fol
lowing is the paragraph from the Telegraph with
the comment of the Republican.
Ocmolgee Bank.—Wo copy the following
paragraph fromjthc Macon Telegraph;
■<t win oe perceived ny the Exchange tames j
of the Augusta papers, that there is “no sale ” j
for the lulls ol this Bank, in that place. Why is j
thisl Is it because they have become so valuable (
as to preclude all speculation on them? We!
know of no better reason, us that Hank continues i
promptly to redeem its hills with specie; and has !
reduced a circulation of, over two hundred thou- I
sand dollars, to less than thirty thousand, since I
the first of February last.”
A letter received at this office from the Cashier, I
fully confirms the above statement, and as wo
have published information from the Augusta pa
pers to the discredit of the Bank, we lake pleas
ure in making the correction.
Judge Anderson’s Decision.
The decision of Judge A., (which we noticed at |
the time.) at Die late term of the Superior Court
for Oglethorpe county, by which witnesses of the
denomination of Universalists were excluded fnm j
giving testimony’ in i capital ease, has given rise to
much conversation, and we have been famished j
with a communication, from a gentleman who was ;
present and heard the argument and decision, in dc- I
fence of the opinion of the Court, which will be '
foun tin this day’s paper. Whether the decision is
or is not in strict accordance with the letter of our !
statute we shall not here discuss, hut if sue iis the (
law, it is in our opinion a very absurd clause. For t
to our mind all men should he permitted to give t
testimony in our Courts, whose character for vera- !
city in the community in which they reside cannot '
be impeached, without any regard as to their par- (
ticular religious tenets. Our opinion on this sub- ,
jecl is well fortified and formed on the clearest prin- | i
ciples of justice, but we have no disposition to dis- \ >
cuss the question, nor should we have adverted to j <
it again, but to express our views of the absurdity j '
of the law which is relied upon to susfpin the de- |
cision. | f
Maj. A. J. Donolson has writen a letter to the j c
editor of the Nashville Union, stating that Gen j *
Jackson’s estate is “worlhat least sloo,ooo’> c
above all his liabilities. This, of course, corrects c
the inference drawn from a current paragraph
that the General found it inconvenient to pay n |
draft of SIOO. I
The Savannah Republican of Wednesday, tays; 1
—At an election for Directors on the part of Die *
individual Stockholders oi the Bank of the State
of Georgia, held at the ha .king house in that city I
on Monday, the 3d inst., the follow ing gentlemen I
were re elected Directors for Die ensuing year, 1
viz ; f
Wm. B. Bulloch, Henry Iloscr,
John Balfour, Frederick Dcnslcr, I
Horace Smith, Jos. W. Jackson, i
M. H. McAllister, Jno. B. Gaudry. <1
The remaining slock owned by the Stale is rep- J
resented by Simmons Crawford.
And at a meeting of the Boatd held yesterday, n
Wm. B. Bulloch, Esq. was unanimously re-elected s ;
President. p
jQr The completed state Works of X’cnnsylva- J'
nia.cosl originally S2O. 158,791 64. They have |,
thus far yielded an aggregate revenue of $6,131,- r
624 SI, and have cost for repairs, motive power *
superintendence, Re. exclusive of interest, no less
than $6,694,206 SO, or half a million of dollars 1
more than their entire income! So says the.Madi- £
lonian. 11
Important Decision.
Judge Andrew’s, of the Northern Circuit, (Ga )
held at the late term of the Superior Court, oi
Ogletho.rpe county—in a capital case—that a per- <
son could not be sworn as a witness in a Court o: 1
Justice, who did not believe in the existence of a
Cod, the obligations of an oath, and a future slate (
cf rewards and punishments. He maintained with |
the Supreme Court of New York, that “ Religion r
i a subject in which every man has a right to think t
cccotding to the dictates of his understanding It .
is a solemn concern between his conscience and IDs -j
Cod; with which no human tribuuual lias a right to (
meddle. Butin lha development of facts, and Die ;
ascertainment of truth, human tribunals have a i
right to interfere. They arc bound to see that no 1
man’s rights are impaired or taken away, but I
through toe medium of testimony entitled to be-
lief; and no testimony is entitled to credit, unless
delivered under the solemnity of an oath, which ,
comes home to the conscience of the witness, and
will treat a lie arising from his belief, that false
swearing would expose him to punishment in the
life to come. On this great principle rest all our
institutions, and especially the distribution of jus
tice between man.”
This rule lie believed to be fully and clearly set
tled by the Common Law, w hich has been adopted
in th s Slate. Indeed, in this suojcct, there is an
express recognition of Die Common Daw. The act
passed for Die relief of dissenting Protestants, who
entertained scruples in respect to the manner and j
form of administering an oath, declares Dial any !
person may he a witness who will solemnly affirm I
m the following words—“l, A. 8., do swear in the j
presence of Almighty God, «s Ishall answer at the j
area! and awful, dap of judgment, that, (as the
case may be,) so help me God.”
And again, in Die Statute of ISIR, for the trial;
and punishment of slaves and free persons of col- j
or, it is provided, that “on the trial of a slave or \
free person of color, any witness shall ho sworn
who believes in God and a future si. at: of rcwatds
and punishments. Shall one be allowed to testify j
between free white citizens, who believes less ?
The 10th section of the 4th article of the Con
stitution of Die State was quoted, as having a
bearing upon the question, the evident and only
meaning of which was, to “secure entire freedom in
religious profession and worship, and exclusion by
law of any preference to any sect or mode of wor
ship. No man shall be prohibited from professing
wh. t religion he pleases, or worshipping in any
manner he pleases—nor shall there he any reli
gious establishment or approximation towards it
by any law giving any preference to any sect or
i mode of worship.” If, however, the w itness who
| denies all future punishment, cannot he excluded
: without a violation of Die Constitution,neither can
the Atheist, who denies the existence of God and
he immortality of (he soul, and insists that men
die like brutes. Is the country prepared for the
j absurdity of permitting such a person to appeal to
God for the truth of what he asserts > Yet how can
lie be excluded, if this objection is to prevail ■
Then, indeed, would be realized to its fullest ex
tent the fears of the Father of his Countrv, who,
in that mcmoiahli document, his “Faiewell Ad- I
dress,” every paragraph of which ought to be j
written in letters of gold, and its sentiments stereo
typed upon the heart of every man having Dio
least pretensions to patriotism. “ Let it simply be
asked,” says he, “ where is the security for pro
perty—for reputation—for life—if Die sense of
religious obligation —DElTY—the oaths—which
arc the instruments of investigation in Courts of
Justice ?”
| The aggregate oroeuet oC Treasury natoa out
I standing on the Ist inst., was $6,862,990 84.
Fatal OccWbkbce.—The Tallahassee Senti-
I net of the 30th ult. says;—“ Wo regret to stale
j that Gen. Leigh Reid, of tilts place was shot in
S the street on Monday morning last, by Mr. Wil
jUs Alston. He expired in about 14 hours aftcr
j wards. We forbear making any comments, a.
| the afl'air will undergo a legal investigation. Two
other persons were (accidentally, we presume,)
wounded, one severely, though wo trust not mor
tally.”
I Correspondence of the National Intelligencer.
iVew Vobk, May 2.
1 hear Horn Albany, upon what may be const- i
: dered pretty good authority that Alexander Me- 1 \
| Lcod may be expected here to-morrow, lfl.be tried j >
before the Circuit Court. Rumors to this efl'set j ,
have been some days in circulation, and the ,
probability is that the present one is true. It is t
among tiro possibilities, also, that after tho trial r
has commenced a new issue may arise, which ,
will result in the acquittal of McLeod—the United
States, through the District Attorney, appealing t
in Court with the official evidence of the fact that
Great Brittain authorized tho burning of tho j
Caroline, and that McLeod, supposing linn guil
*y acted but as the authorized agent of his Gov- ,
ernment. 1 have but heard and that rather as ,
a suggestion than a fact, that this may be the
course pursued. The effect would bo to make a
new party to an old complaint, and, as the prison- .
er can prove his innocence, the new question
would be one that must result in a prolonged and
unhappy controversy. Belter for all that the law j
should have its course without tho ’nlorposition !
of either of tho United States or Great Britain.
McLeod, if he is tried here under a change of
venue, is tried at his own request. Almost any;
other section of the Union would have been pro- j
ferable, for obvious reasons. There is as much '
of tho Loeofocoism in New York, as there was!
in Franco in the days of the Revolution, and,;
strange to nay, it is kept under rather by a species
of political humhoggery than by any respect for
or terrors of the law.
There is no nows in the city that will interest!
yon; and none of importance brought by the! r
marls from the North or the East. The Colum-1 '
bia saded from Boston yosteiday, punctual toller j i
time,and with fifty-one passengers on hoard; a
good number, hut only halt of the number which <
took passage in the Great Western. I a
The official appointments announced in (he 1 '
Intelligencer of Saturday create a great fluttering , a
here. Iho outs have not been expunged without \ 1
good cause,nor tho ms put into office without!
qualification. The nominations made, I believe, s
are generally very popular. c
An experiment was yesterday made by an Eng- r
lish gentleman, on the notes of one of our city ■ c
hunks, in the presence of the officers, and of sun- j t
dry citizens,by which he demonstrated his ability I i
to efface totally and without leaving a solitary I s
trace, every ink mark existing on the f re oi the 1 i
notes. Tho impressions made by the ink were re-'
moved by the leathers point of a quill imbued with ' C
some chemical preparation compounded by the 1 9
gentleman in question he thus established with !
perfect ease that certificates of deposilc and other ''
bant documents in writing can be altered for pur- i t
poses of counterfeiting. After this experiment, i v
he wrote a few lines on a piece of ordinary wri’ing 1 1
paper, and sent it to the must experienced chemists . j!
in the city, declaring that it was impossible to re-!
move it. 11
We understand he has offered to vend his secret | 0
to the various banking instutions in the city, at a ; 11
reasonable rale. We likewise learn Drat the same jtl
gentleman has made known his discovery to the i ft
Hank of England— N. O, Bee. jj,
From the N, Y. Express.
A National Hank.
We copy in our columns to day the Memorial
of the citizens of New York to Congress in 18:17,
lor a National Bank. The document was repor
ted to the Hoard of Trade by G. P. Disoaway,
from a Committee appointed for the purpose. It
was circulated and obtained mure than twelve
hundred signatures, embracing our principal mer
cantile liou-es without reference, tt will be seen,
to party politics^
Congress was never approached upon any sub
ject from this metropolis with more unanimity
man existed in relation to this,—and the docu
ment was considered one of the most able, clea ,
and convincing of the kind that appeared any
where. Wo think so still. Its argument is un
answerable, and the whole reasoning applies, if
possible, with tenfold more force to the present
times, titan it did to that period. The ariiclc was
extensively published in the United States, and
and at this moment when public attention is gen
erally becoming interested on the necessity of a
National bunk, wo have concluded to present the
memorial and signatures to our readers. The
absolute necessity of a Bank—the irnpossibiliiy
of Slate institutions meeting the difficulty—lire
experience of the nation in fafor of such a plan,
together with the power of the Government to re
organise such an institution—are nil treater! in u
; most triumphant and masterly manner.
! Memorial of the Merchants of Hu' City of
New 1 ork.
| Praying for the establishment us it National
Dank.
[Referred to Lite Committee on Commerce e*
tiro House of Representatives, January, 30,1837.
New Yoiik, January 27. 1837.
Sin : The undersigned were appointed a com
mittee from the Hoard of Trade to memorialize
I Congress for a National Hank, and also to obtain
| signatures from our fellow citizens to a similar
memorial. Out board has already presented one
i to Congress, and by to-day’s mail we forward to
| your charge the document which Iras been circula
! ted in public. Please present it to tire House up
1 on the earliest opportunity.
The memorial has more than twelve hundred
j signatures, embracing, as you will doubtless
notice, the principal mercantile housesofthis city
without reference la any political party what
ever.
Thousands of other names could have been ob
tained, if it were thought necessary. Indeed, we
have never known Congress to be approached up
on any subject from New York with more ol
entire unammi yand harmony than exists in rela
tion to the sentiments and the objects of this
memorial. Wo think we may safely say that,
here, a National Bank is considered as the only
permanent tcmeily for the deranged currency and
j exchanges of the country. Yours, & c .
GABRIEL P. DISCS WAY,
NATHANIEL WEED,
THOMAS DENNEY.
S. DRAPER. Jr.
0. S. ROBBINS,
Hon. F. Gbanoeb,
To the honorable the Senate and House of Hep
resentatives of the United Stales in Congress
assembled ■■
The memorial of tho subscribers, Merchants,
Traders, and other citizens of Now York,
| Respectfully represents:
The subscribers, merchants, traders, and other
| citizens of New York, beg'lcave rcspecllully to in
vite the attention of Congress to the present de
| ringed stale of the currency and exchanges of the
United States, and ask their interposition to rc
j medy it. They do this, not merely in their
\ character as citizens, but because their residence
; and their occupations, necessarily connecting
1 them vvitii the general business of the United
I Stales, make them the earliest witnesses and ihe
j lirst sufferers by any disorder in our monetary
system, and impose upon them the special duly
] of giving llic earliest not ice of its existence.
It is an obvious truth that tho great object of
j commerce is to convey the products of industry
I from the original producer to the ultimate consu
| mor; and that all obstructions and all charges up-
I on their passage, although apparently borne by
■ ilio intermediate agents, must yet fall at last on
. the productive classes and are in fact, only an
j other form of lax on the industry of the country.
J 'file undersigned, therefore, deem it right not
j merely for themselves, but for ail tho advantages
| which the Uniled Stares have for some years
l enjoyed, in regard to their currency ami exchange
; have ceased ; and tbat while every thing in the
i country, all the brandies of its industry, every'
species of.its produce, the rapid extension of its i
interior improvi ments, its relations with foreign)
countries, all indicate a high degree of prosperity; I
yet great inconvenience and disiresa are felt in I
consequence of the uncertain and the vascillating I
condition of the currency and the exchanges.
Tho want of a uniform circulation, of unilorm
and equal value, is a source of constant cmbai ass
mont. The exchanges, the charges upon the
carriage of the produce of the country to its desti
nation, have become so disordered astointerpi sc
commercial ban ter between the different sections
oi the Union, while, as an inevitable consequence
the interest of money lias risen to a rale so
oppressive as to threaten ruin to all branches of
industry. A correct view of the change may bo
obtained by comparing tile rales of exchange be
tween different parts of the U. States and the city
of New York, in tho years 1839 and 1836.
Kates of Exchange.
1529. Isas. iSj.ii.
X York to Portland par }toi Ui it u I ills '
do Portsmouth do t to if do i j 0 j J
do Boston do par to ii do par to 1 do
do Providence do par to I do par to Tdo
do Hartford do par to f do uae to I do
do Baltimore do par to t" do a m .r do
do Washington 4 ills, fto i do ) in r, do
do lltcbmond ,do ilo 3 do r» p, sdo
do Norfolk ;do ilo a do 5 to odo
do Fayetteville par 3to 3 do a to o do
do Charleston par ito 3 do 3 to i do
do Savannah A Cl. ito a ,io 17 io eo do
do Augusta Ado 110 6 do 1 1 |o 20 do
do -Mobile Vdo pi in 7 do 0 io 13 do
do X Orleans 1 do .1,1 to 7 do 5 to (j
da St. Loni; ido J tu 7 do 9 lo to do
do Lexlnc'on *do 2 to 7 no to to it do
do Louisville ;do 3 to 7 do lo to la do
do ( Indnnail ,do 2 to 7 do lo tola do
do Plttkbure ;do 2 to 7 do s io g do
do BillTdo par I to -I do f lo I do
do Florida par 14 lo 5 do Pi to eo do
But low hanks deal in exchanges at the lowest
rates here quoted ; and when they do, it is to a
very limited amount, when compared with the
immense wants of tho mercantile community.
The extent of these evils upon all the opera
tions of industry, Will bo readily seen by Congress
and needs no illustration from your memorialists,
who will proceed lo the more agreeable tu=k of
suggesting what seems to be the appropriate cor
rection ofTlicm. it is this.
The whole moneyed system of tho Uniled
Stales is in the hands of certain corporations
called State banks, who furnish, directly or indi
rectly, all the currency, and negotiate by far the
greater part of tho domestic exchange*. That
their instrumentality haa been eminently useful,
if not necessary, is willingly conceded, but, to their
safe administration, it was early deemed essential
that tho General Government, charged with the
care of the circulating medium, and with the
c rrnmercial regulations between the Stales, should
by moans of its revenue superintend, and. In a
certain degree, control their movemenls. For
tins purpose was devised ti.e National Bank,
which, since the foundation of the Government,
has formed a part of our monetary system except
in a single interval w hen evils produced by its
absence occasioned its re-estublisuncut. The
country was still languishing under the exhaus
tion of the revolutionary war, when tho Bank of
file Uniled Stales, in 1791. re-established its credit,
furnished a sound currency, and gave safely to its
internal exchanges. When it ceased, in 1811,
llic creation of u multitude of Statu banks produ
ced a suspension of specie payment, and a total
derangement of the currency and the exchanges,
which nothing could retrieve but the re-establiih
mcnl of a similar and larger National Bank
smen that institution lias ceased to possess the
power ol control given by the public deposites,
both tho currency and the exchanges have re
lapsed into confusion; and the question now for
ces itscli upon Uongress, by what, process tho
restoration can he accomplished i The rnemori
idisU do not hesitate to recommend, as tho most
easy, simple ami effectual expedient, tho return to
die known and tried system of a National Bank.,
which our own experience, and that of the groat
commercial nations of Europe, concur in recom
mending. That some control mg power is ne
cessary, must be manifest. According lo l.hc re
port of the Secretary of the Treasury to Con
gress at its present session, within less than thioe
years the paper circulation of the banks has in
creased from 76 to 120 millions; the banking
capital increased from 200 to3oo millions; and
tho Legislatures of 27 States and Territories exor
cise the power of augmenting at will their num
eer. Here, then, are 27 sovereignties with an
indefinite power to make banks. Hero are several
hundred banks with an indefinite power to make
, currency. They cannot control each other; the
Slate Governments cannot contiol them, since Ihe
power of the State Governments is fitted more to
repair than prevent the excesses of banking; so
f there is no efficient check on the exercise of a
power upon whrh every man's properly depends
I for its value, and every man's industry for its re
ward.—That such a stale of things can long b)
f endured, is impossible. That it must end in total
derangements, to bo rectified only by a great con
fusion, is manifest; and it seems, therefore, the
part of true wisdom to anticipate, and, if possible,
prevent these excesses. This can oe done by two
, ways only : oy the power of tho Treasury, or by
i a National Hank. But the power of the Trea
s sury over such a multitude of institutions is ne
cessarily very imperfect. (f can operate only on
' oanks which are the depositories of the public re
venue, comparatively few in number, and not able,
however disposed, lo superintend the operations
of other batiks. Thecxtremc penally, too, which
j the Treasury could apply lo any bank negligent
of its credit, would be the refusal of its notes for
revenue—a penally which would bo rather a
benefit, by withdrawing its supervision from the
offender. With every possible respect, 100, for
those who have been, or may hereafter be, at the
head of tho Treasury, it is obvious that thcro is
no peculiar fitness In that department for the su-
I perintcndcncoof banks: and that there may lie
great danger in thus making the moneyed con
' corns of tho country a mere appendage to a sub
s ordinate department of the Executive.—The pro
' sent scheme was examined by Mi. Gallatin, the
Secretary of tho Treasury in 1899, and he said
of it. that the State banks could not transact the
public business as well as the Bank of Ihe United
’ States; “ nor,” added he, “is it desirable that the
General Government should, in respect lo its
own operations, be entirely dependent on institu
tions over which it has no control whatever. A
national In nk, deriving its charier from the Na
tional Legislature, vvili, at all times, and under
every emergency, feel stronger inducements, both
from interest and from a sense of duty, to afford
lo the Union every assistance within its power.”
It was tried by Mr. Dallas, in 1814, and be de
' dared that " the establishment of a national in
stitution, operating upon credit combined with
capital, and regulated by prudence and good faith,
is, after all, the only eflicient remedy for the dis
ordered condition of our circulating medium.” If
this plan of insulated Stale bank *, supervised,by
the ’Treasury, bo insufficient, there remains only
’ one expedient—the national bank—which has the
obvious recommendation that during forty years
of its existence, it succeeded perfectly. Placed
’ at the bead of tho banks of the United States,
with the public revenue to collect and disburse,
coming into constant business contact with all
tho Stuio banks, it, and it alone, can exercise that
' habitual and gentle and salutary supervision,
j. which is at once the check of each, and the se
. curi yof them all. In short, such an establish
ment has existed, and is familiar lo tho habits of
I the country, and your memorialists desire nothing
’ better than to return to that system under which
( tho commerce and currency of the Union so long
prospered.
As to tho power of the government to re-or
' ganize such an institution, It is presumed that no
doubt can now be entertained. It was established
| during tho administration of Washington, and
has received in some form, more or less direct, the
sanction of all his successors. Even in refusing
i bis assent to the act ol Congress passed in 1832,
the present Chief Magistrate said •• that a bank ol
j ihe Uniled States competent to all the duties
j which are required by tho Government, might be |
j so organized as not to infringe on our own delc
| ga'ed powers, or llic reserved rights of the Slates.
| I have no doubt. Had Inc Executive been called
! upon to furnish the proiect of such an institution,
die duty would have been cheerfully performed.”
Your memorialists accordingly request, that as
the moneyed concerns of the country are already
deranged, and arc tending to still greater confu
sion, Congress will, without delay, create such an
institution as is suggested Gy tho Pn sident, by
which great advantages may be conferred on the
country ; wbdo tho rights of tho General Go
vernment, and of the States, may be scrupulously
protected from encroachment and injury.
From the relation which exists between this
city and every seclii u of the United Stales, in
the operations of trade, as well as the receipts ol
the public funds, your memorialisls also request
I lhat tho said institution may be located in New
York.
New Yoke, January 4, 1837,
W e add the table of 1811 for tho purpose of
enabling o>ir readers lo see, byway of comparison,
the continued derangement of the exchange. Edi
tors Express.
New York Memorial for a Notional Dank.
I bo New \ oik papers contain a Memorial
signed by more than 1290 of the principal mer
chants ot that city,of both parties—(or the truth
is becoming better known every day, that vast
numbers of the Loco Focn party arc themselves
the friends of such an institution.
This Memorial is drawn up with ability, and
emanating from so numerous and enlightened a
class of men and embracing all tho arguments
by which a National Bank is supported, it de
serves, particularly at this lime, when lhat ques
tion is about to bo discussed in Congress, to re
ceive the cairn and deliberate consideration of the
country. It was first issued in 1837, but is now
again re produced in anticipation of the early ac
ii in oi Congress upon the subject. Congress eon
venos next Monday five weeks. Tho New Yoik
Express says lhat the argument of 1837 applies
with ten-fold force to the present time.
An important decision has recently been given
in one of our Courts in regard to Bank Notes. In
a case recently before the Court of Common
Picas Dauphin county, Judge Parsons decided
‘ Hie true rule of policy and law to be : That
when bank notes are current at the place in
which they are received without objection, and
paid in good faith, without any km,wedge that
the bank bad failured ; or where, from the facts,
it could no bo inferred that it had, although al
the lime, the notes in the place where the bank
is located, are nut current but utterly worthless,
slid in law, it is a valid payment of a preexisting
debt, and when so received, and tho debt, and
judgment satisfied, it is a payment, and the origi
nal debt is relinquished.’ The case has been re
moved to the supreme court fir revision. Phil
Gas.
The Fatal Whisper.
nr JOHN HALT.
“ Oh the course of marriage I
'dial wo can call these delicate creatures outs
And not their appetites ! I’d ratner be a load
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
’I ban keep a corner in the thing 1 love
For others’use." Othello.
The Marina was crowded with company, and
i ihe most distinguished us the Palermitan nobility
■ nr open caniages were enjoying the gnyety olthc
summer evening, ami the refreshing air that
i breathed gently from tho bay. I had seated my
, self on tho stone bench which runs along tno
i dwarf wall, with my back to the sea, enjoying the
• active and cheerful scene, when a capuchin friar
■ took a place beside mo.
Ho was a middle-aged man, with a pen
• stve castof countenance, and evidcn ly suffering
? from infirmity. His appearance, without being
■ remarkable, had less ecclesiastical gravity than is
r commonly observable among lire monks.
1 In reply to some accidental question which I
- happened to address lo him, he replied in English,
- and immediately rose and went away. Next
i evening I sealed myself on the same spot; ho al-
I so returned and again sat down beside me. In
3 that way our acquaintance began and grew to in
a limacy.
a Bull will relate his story as he told it. At
a the lime it interested me greatly, and often has it
j since returned upon my recollection with an in
i describalile sense of sadness, arising more from
a Ihe feelings which tho incidents awakened than
- the apparent sensibility with which he described
i them. Tho remains of a military manner regu
-1 latcd the tone of his voice, and he spoke of them
- with as much fortilticlo as if ho had been describ
e ing tho adventures of a campaign in which an
i, old companion had perished. Hit voice was firm,
0 but there was a restraint in the utterance that
1’ made the talc impressive, and, without pain,
- deeply affecting.
It was, indeed, singular, and I more than once
1 intimated that ho haa awakened my curiosity ;
• but it was not till one evening, when I happened
i. lo inquire how long ho had worn the garb of a
s friar, that ho deemed me worthy of his confidence,
ii ‘‘lt is convenient,” said he, "but it is not on
I that account 1 have assumed it;” and then he
r abruptly added, as if ihe restraint he had put up
a on himself had suddmiy given way, "1 much pre
e fer the convent to any other lodging. The friars
r are sodaio and good men; and although they
e know lam a Protestant, they never trouble me
s with any sort of religious controversy.”
’Though accustomed to his thoughtful physiog
e nomy, it. seemed to me that in saying this the
• cast of his countenance underwent a change, and
• that lie looked moic than I had ever before remark
- cd, like one whom adversity had touched with no
e gentle hand. Alter a momentary pause he bc-
J gan bis story ;
e On the return of tiio army from Alexandria, —
J said ho, —the transport in which 1 had cnihaiked
e with several other officers became leaky, and we
s bore away for Messina lo repair, or to obtain an
- other vessel. On entering the port, being under
1 quarantine, the passengers disembarked at Ihe
- lazaretto, where they found apartments, and were
r too happy in taking possession ol therfi, alter the
i vile Egyptian rooms and the discomfort we had
1 suffered in the transport.
I lie person who attended to receive our daily
- orders sometimes brought the English newspa
• pers; I rend them wilh an opressivo eagerness,
i exp> cling lo hear something of my friends, but to
, me they were ever barren ; all iny companions,
- one niter the other, me - , with some little notice
I or paragraph which gave them pleasure, but none
I such ever appeared to me.
f The dutness oi the Lazaretto, a square court
a with a cemetery in the urea, would of itself have
s affected the spirts of most men ; but the silence
i of the newspapers toward s me seemed more om
, inous of misfortune, and filled my imagination
, wilh apprehensions and vogue lears lo which
I neither name nor oilier cause c mid be assigned.
I When the period of the quarantine was complete,
, and all my companions were joyous at being re
■ leased, I was irresistibly depressed, and in answer
■ to their raillery could only tell that some unac
I countable burden weighed upon my spirits, and
’ would not lie shaken oil’liy any resolution,
i On tile day wo were at liberty we dined to
: golher, and had several English officers then in
llic garrison as guests, in tho evening we all
went lo the theatre; the house was crowded.—-
Every box was engaged, which obliged us to take
places in the pit. You are aware that owing to
the subdivision of tho benches in the Sicilian the
atres, it sometimes happens that a parly is una
voidably separated, the seats being occupied at in
tervals by other individuals. This look place
tbat night; my friends were dispersed indiffer
ent purls of tho house, and I was by myself in
j °ne of the sittings at lire end of the last bench
1 had not been long seated when several other
officers came in, wilh a gentleman in plain clothes,
who, as I overheard in the course of his conver
sation wilh them, had only that afternoon urriveo
by Ilio packet from England. He had been the
schoolleliow of one of the officers, with whom he
was gay and free, telling him of their old com
panions, and also of Ins own exploits since they
had left Eton. Among other things he mention
ed that the cause of ids coming abroad was an
intrigue, in which he had been engaged with a
married lady. It had been discovered by the
landlady of an inn on tho Bath road, who had
threatened to disclose llic affair lo thofriendslof ins
paramour. "But,” said he, “I bought her silence,
and have for a few months come out of tho way.”
The name of the lady ho uid not disclose, indeed
refused, but boasted of Ids success, and of the
long time that the guilty intercourse had contin
ued.
This story attracted my particular attention,
and yet there was nothing in the circumstances
call u ated lo make any very lasting impro.-sion,
save only the art and cralt of the lady, which ho
described with contempt and derision, as the re
sult of her experience in deception.
On returning to the hotel from the theatre, j
which 1 did alone, before the opera was over, 1 |
found, with letters from my wife, a bundle of
newspapers. Maria had been for some lime, she
said, unwell, and had been advised to try the Bath
waters; it had, however, so happened that my
mi thcr had also been seized wilh a dangerous
illness, which obliged my wife to go hastily to
London, where, after wailing some time, she was
again advised to return to Bath.
As the letter was written with her wonted ten
derness and spirit, I could not but admire tho ar
dour of lhat filial affection widen was so like the
earnestness of her love for myself; but when I
was about to take up quo of tho newspapers—it
strangely, suddenly, and fearfully flashed across
my mind that there was something extraordinary
in that journey. In a word, I was wounded with
a pang of jealousy, and shook tor a time like the
aspen. And yet my heart acknowledged that nev
er was a woman more simple in all her ways than
Maria—more pure in heart and spirit—more en
thusiastic in her affections. Tho thought, as it -
crossed my imagination, was us a black demon
passing between mo and the heavens, eclipsing
the unclouded sun. Still I could not reason my
scll from the horror of the suspicion, which, like i
an envenomed dart, rankled in my bosom. It I
seemed as if tiio augury which had previously i
darkened my spir t was confirmed—l arose from I
my seat—l traversed the room in distraction, and I
abandoned myself, without reason, to the wildest t
imaginations. |
When I had for soma time given scope to ;he t
lull force of tiio dreadful passion which has so i
demoniacally possessed me, tho cloud passed from
my understanding, ami I became more calm. I I;
fell even repugnance at myself for having done r
such injury to my wife in thought; and remoras, h
like drops of molten sulphur, for the injustice, h
dropped in greater anguish than lire upon 1113'
heart. 1 soon after again grow more rational,
and calmly opened the paper.
for some time nothing interesting attracted mv
notice, hut among the gossipping paragraphs 1
discovered two lines evidently inserted by au
thority, tor there was a tint of satire in them
praising the filial devotion of tho lady of a gallant
officer then with the army in Kgypt; and how,
though herself an invalid, she had made a journey
to London to cnmlort his aged mother, who was
less in need ol consolation than herself.
This sentence was as a shower of bullets in my
bosom. Tho paroxysm of jealousy returned,
barbed with a hateful possibility. But I may
spare you and myself tho desenpt,an of any ag
ony which language can never express. That
too, however, after a time, al :o, subsided again. 1
had recourse to another number of tho newspa
per, and in it there was a dignified answer to the
slander imp'icd in the wording and markings of
the paragraph that had so disturbed me.
But it tailed to sooth, for the gentleman had
described the craft ol his paramour.
This made my case worse—no adequate idea
can he given of my thoughts that nignt. I re
tired to my own chamber—l wept, I vowed the
hoarsest revenge. But what could I do—what
proof had I to charge my rival with having dis
honored my family '! Him I could not even ad
dress. Tho night was spent in a whirlwind, and
I could not bring myself to no determination.
At daybieik I went to a convent, where I had
then a friend, who, under the name of Anselmo,
had long resided there. I hod known him when,
previously to tho Egyptian expedition, I had been
quartered in Messina; he was a sensible sedate
character, possessed of a judicious knowledge of
tho world. To him I confided my hideous ap
prehensions—and when I had ended the impas
sioned narrative, ho remained for some lime,
thoughtful, and then said—
“Go to your hotel, let no one have any cause
to suspect your fears, and eome back to me in
tho afternoon, by which time 1 shall be prepar
ed to oiler you some advice.”
I did as ho suggested—fortunately my com
panions, in 1110 gaycty of their spirits, had icsolv
ed lo visit tho environs. I feigned a headache,
declined to go with them, ami thus was left un
disturbed.
Whether Father Anselmo had in the mean
lime consulted with any friend on my unhappy
case was not disclosed, but when, at the lime ap
pointed, I returned to the convent, I met him at
the portal, as ho was taking leave of another el
derly friar, who, as I colored eyed mo with a
melancholy look. I passed, however, on, and
was immediately followed by Anselmo, who, in
stead of ccnuucling me back to his cell, led 1110
into the chapel, which at the time was empty.—
It is a gorgeous sanctuary ; the shrines and mon
uments numerous, and though the lighted altars
sent forth a dim splendour, there was something
in the air and aspect of the place which weighed
upon my heart ns if the tranquility which reign
ed around had been palpable.
When we had walked in silence to a confes
sional, which stood at the east end of the chapel,
nearthc high altar, Father Anselmo went into
the chair—“l am not,” said he, “so ingrained
with our religion as to deem this an occasion that
will not sanction the indecorum—kneel to mo as
if you were a penitent, and I will answer you as
sincerely as if the sin which has brought us here
were of your own commission. Kneel, no one
will then interrupt us, it your agitation master
your fortitude.”
I knelt, scarce knowing what I did. When I
had bent forward about a minute lo the auricalof
the confessional, Father Anselmo said—
“ There is a cause to justify you to suspect.”
I groaned with anguish, and could make no re
ply.
“ Hut let no one still suspect the secret of your
heart—write to your wife as if you never ques
tioned her fidelity—go homo with all tho speed
you can—but betbre you see her, go lo the inn
where the. discovery was made. The landlady
was bribed to silence—a belter price will unlock
her tongue—ami your own sagacity will then di
rect you what should bo done, if it should prove
the adulteress was your wife.”
“•She shall die,” cried I aloud, starting in an
agony on my feot; —at that instant the newly
arrived stranger with his friend the officer entered
• lie church I cannot describe the tempest of my
soul at that moment.
“It is he,” ! exclaimed, pointing him out to the
friar.
“Compose yourself,* was his answer. “ Let
us question him—l am calmer than you ; leave
tne business 10 me,”
I other Anselmo then went towards the strang
er and his friend, ami addressed them as strang
ers, pointing out to their attention several of the
altarpieccs which were considered distinguished
specimens of art; I followed close behind him,
but said nothing, nor was I capable ofjoining two
sentences—l attempted, however, lo enter into,
conversation with llio officer who accompanied
the stranger. What he must have thought of
mo I can n»w well imagine,—my longue al tho
lime gave utterance lo words which had no eon
nexion with my mind. Father Anselmo after
ward inquired what, I had been saying—l had no
remembrance of it, but lie mentioned that be bad
several times observed the officer turn round ab
ruptly, and look at me with an apprehensive eye.
lather Anselmo himself, in the meantime
was particularly courteous to tho stranger, and
alter wo had taken a turn or two in the chapel I
grew more collected, and went closei to him
immediately I perceived that he hud changed his
manner; his eyes became vivid and searching,
and ill conducting the stranger along (he siue-al
lars to look al the pictures particularly, he fre
quo,illy cast upon him a sudden glance, espe
cially when he observed his ailenlion arrested bv
any remarkable figure among the female saints
‘■■■e-c.sd o, rra
Father Anselmo then afibclcd lo be a critic-
I d,BCOUr f d , of colouring of the several
pictures with the adection of a cicerone. It
seemed to me that his object in this was to ascer
tain it 1 c taste ol tho stranger prefened any par
ticular colour, but in this too lie failed, lle coulu
derive nothing to assist his curious metaphysical
investigation, lor I soon perceived that his en
deavor was to find out some key to the associa
tions ol the stranger’s mind such as skilful play -
er. at the game of Twenty Questions sometime,
obtain—and are Incrchy enabled to discover the
raos occult thoughts of their antagonists.
ihc stranger and the officer Ins companion
then went away. 1
“ f suspect,” .aid Father Anselmo, as they left
the church, ‘ that you are disturbing yourself
without cause. The intrigue which that gentle
man has accidentally disclosed has been but a
young man s folly—he has no remorse for what
he has done. Fho woman deserves not your anx
iety, if she proves your Wife; sue must bo bad
and their connexion has been a mere animal in
dulgence, which leaves no sting of guilt behind
I have tried him by all these pictures, and even iii
the one there of the Kon.au lady li.lening to the
«moumlof b thoy T*. P riest ‘ who became on
ameured oflior, an ,J who resisted the temptation
aliXesM Waß mUrr , ieiJ ' l,mtle "'as not in the
Slightest degree moved, even though I interpreted
0 legend as much like .lie story you had over
heard as poauble. Think, therefore, no more of
any offence towards yourself in this affair, but go
■ me "“ d ? et tlle ‘act proved as soon as possible
The words of Father Anselmo seemed oracu
red. !■* ![ ll " t , th r elr ,m P 0 "> m>r the mode ol his
hoffi h COm P. rehen ‘ ip cl the scope of
noth. It was, however, imp .ssible that I could
by any resolution, .hake oil the love which I cher
• I