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VOL. t. BANKING. from Niles’ 'weekly register. Wc commence the publication of a scries of numbers on “ the Paper System.” They arc from the pen of a master, in the hand of a gentleman. The evils of this system must be checked. Look at the state of our conn- try' !—It is overrun with claii9 of bank-ma kers, bank-note counterfeiters and bank rob bers ; a terrible trio of characters, operat ing by different means to produce a like frau dulent end. We can hardly take up a news paper without seeing an account of the spec ulations or effects of one or another of these modern associations of money-makers and money-getters. The soul is sickened in re flecting on the prostration of morals which the late system has caused ; and its conse quences, on the best classes of society, is e- qual to the deliberate baseness and cruelty of the actors in it. It is time to look dis honesty in the fare, and frown tiiosc who seem to he above the law into a respect for the law. Some of the effects of the paper system are disclosed in the report made to the legis lature of New-York. Four banks in tins state, whose promises to pay are selling in tin money market at from d to to percent, discount, have eight hundred suits on the dockets of our courts, making glorious work for our sheriffs and lawyers. In Penn sylvania, the like evils prevail; and, in lit tle Delaware, the suits of her banks against individuals are hardly loss than seven hun dred ! Every where—whilst the hank man agers are adding farm to farm and house to house, tin* laboring classes arc driven from their homes, the seats of their fathers, to seek a subsistence in the regions of the wesi. I am justified in saying that the operation 01 a certain hank in Maryland, has compelled the emigration of an eighth part of the pro ductive white population ol the county in which it is located, within the last four or five years—and the causes of such banishment is still raging as violently as ever. Let any dispassionate man look at the workings of these paper-money-making-shops scattered through the country, and call to mind the revolutiousof property that they have brought about, to estimate the object and the end of banking, lie that but yesterday did not own land enough for a grave, is the possessor ol extensive farms—and they that yesterday held such farms are dispossessed even of their family burying ground !—■Management is too much for honest industry—the latter kicks the beam when opposed by the former. Speculation is seated in the parlor, hut labor is refused repose on the dung-lull. I have a letter from an honest man who was coaxed to his ruin by a hank (w hich, like a Cyprian goddess, exposed its polluted bo som and smiled to destroy,) and driven to the wilds of the west. lie laments the friends of his youth and loss of society—de tails the hardships that belong to a new set tler and enumerates many privations—hut blesses God that he is out of the reach of a bank.” The hanks that pay, or affect to pay, spe cie, are, in some measure, under the public confront—but what is the morality of the managers of those that do not pay any of their debts ? Do they not tell a falsehood, a most deliberate and mischievous falsehood, on every bill which they issue ? What de gree of reputation is an individual entitled to, who renews and reiterates a promise to do a certain thing w hich he himself knows that he is neither able nor willing to do ? The best men may be unable, sometimes, to come up to their promises—yet they will not tell voluntary lies, as is done on behalf of non paying and bankrupt hanks. I5ut, as lias been observed by me before, such lies being divided among the directors, and again sub divided among the stockholders at large, the share of each is so small that the most con scientious does not feel the weight of it! And these as they who vex the country, and break up families by sails at law against persons for not paying their debts ! 0. that my pow er were equal to my will, to retaliate cm ini quity the pangs it inflicts, and learn hank di rectors mercy through a suffering of the pains they impose !— flic sheriff should pene trate their vaults—the “ beggarly account of empty boxes” should he exposed—and their paper, their bank paper, should be burnt liy the common hangman, as forgeries on honor and honesty. The excuse why tiie hanks should not pay their debts, if ever well founded, no longer exists—it is the base principle of avarice and speculation that prevents nine out of ten of them from doing justice to their creditors. What impudence is it in them to make high dividends of profits, when they do not pay their debts ?—It is superlative assurance and unrivalled brazenness ; were it committed by an individual it would cause all men to call him villian. [Heaven grant me patience to spsak of such transactions in words fitted for the cars of my roaders !] If the banks have not money, (I do not mean rags) to meet 1 licit* engagements, let their dividends, at least, he sacrificed to purchase it—nay, the capital itself should lie boldly touched to ac complish such an honorable purpose. Why should it not he—do not they demand it of their debtors ? They may be forced to this as they force others—the people, the labor ing, productive classes, must refuse the bills of any bank that will not pay its debts ; or. if they receive them, they ought to protest and sue them, just like the banks are accus tomed to protest and sue the meanest men of the, community. Justice is—justice ; and the speculators should he taught that the law is equally for the benefit of all. Nay, I am inclined to believe, or at least to hope, that the managers of such banks as I have de scribed, may be indicted, and, to a happy is sue, be prosecuted as combinations for frau dulent purposes. I am very strong in the belief that we shall get to this point by and bye ; these associa tions will he convinced they arc not above ,hc law. One or two independent upright men in every town and village, might cause our papdT banks to disappear like shadows— Let them perish, that the people may he sav ed ! The welfare of the two is incompatible ; mil the interest of the unproductive crafty should sink for the good of the industrious 'indesigning. But. <o the hanks that, with courtesy and good faith, really exert themselves to meet heir obligations, let every facility and aid be extended ! They should never be pressed, except of necessity—-just as a good man would press an honest one struggling with adversity. The fitness of things, as well as the public interest, is deeply concerned in supporting such institutions—wo shall have to rely upon them to stand between us and the general distress that must follow the hank ing explosion, that will inevitably, and very shortly, take place. There is not one reflect ing man in the United States who believes that the present hanking mania can rage and increase as it does without producing bank ing death-~\m\ I say, the sooner it comes to pass the better. Our country, in every point of view, is every day wasting the strength needful for the blow up. Let it come, before the vigor of the laboring classes (who only can he relied upon to resuscitate credit by production) is blasted by speculation—the Upas, not fabulous, to destroy all within its atmospheric range. A remnant shall he saved—as a living testimony that “ honesty is the best policy.” A few words of exhortation, and I shall close this article. I assure the distant read er that the banks of Baltimore are as solvent as any in oar country—even as the bank of the United States. But several of them (as is the case every where else,) are managed by directors who traffic with each other for seats al their hoards, and really buy and sell votes like common merchandize. To two of the Baltimore hanks I give this serious caution—•that, if they do not refrain from discounting for a certain shaver, the very notes that they refuse to steady mechanics and moderate dealers, I will ear-lug them forth before the public, by name, and bring the, case to issue, if they please, before a ju ry of my fellow-citizens.—I dare do this— and I pledge myself that I will do it, if this harpy is much longer enabled to influence the hanks alluded to in the course just stated. If the people will not support me in this—let them he shaved ! Some tilings I have said may he rough — hut they arc wholesome, and suited to the occasion. THE PAPER SYSTEM—NO. 1. Sir,—L have read with much satisfaction your late papers on the subject of the pre sent system of banking, as by courtesy it is called, and heartily wisli you success in the arduous task you have undertaken. I am a- ware of the opposition you will encounter from the mighty myriads that are wallowing in the lilth of this corrupt system, and of the abuse which you will probably be fated to encounter. I know also that plain down right truth must ever in the end prove an o- vcrmatch for interested falsehood, and ferret it from all those secret vaults and obscure re treats, where it is accustomed to hide itself from the eyes of mankind ; above all, I feel assured, that whateverAnaniy firmness, plain unanswerable reasoning, and clearness of detail can perform, will lie accomplished by j ou. But as the task will be laborious, and as your other duties must necessarily inter fere, at times with this great undertaking, 1 have thought it possible the offer of aid from a plain well meaning man like myself might be acceptable. I therefore propose to con sider the system of banking, as it is nowiu operation in the United States, in relation to the various classes of the community—to trace its effects on the prosperity of the mer chant, the manufacturer, the agriculturalist, the mechanic, the laborer, and the class of people drawing their support from regular , and stationary incomes. In the second place, I propose, unless you and I should botii become tired ol the sub ject, to demonstrate the impossibility of such a system remaining-permanent in any coun try, and the certainty that its lailnrc will in volve the ruin of a large portion of the com munity, together with the revolution of one half of the real property of the people of the United States. With your permission, I will then trace its effects on the morals and habits of the peo ple, and the certain consequences that will result from creating a mass of monied-—-or rather paper institutions, that will, and ill fact already do, pollute the fountains of jus tice, and poison the sources of legislative pu rity. I prefer this method of considering the subject, because it enables me to bring it home to every man's business and bosom. E- nough, and more than enough has been writ ten by economists and financiers, to puzzle and confound the human understanding, and envelope the elements of this science, which like those of all others are simple in their nature, in an obscurity which even the bright est rays of intellect cannot enlighten, and through which the most penetrating genius fears to grope its way. Where first princi ples are involved in darkness, the. truth must he sought in practical results. I have ano ther reason for pursuing this method of in quiry—my object is a plain appeal to the un derstandings of the people, with whom alone the remedy of this great evil now rests.— Statesmen and legislatures have, of late be come, confounded with banks and bank di rectors—and sad experience has convinced me that it is in vain to appeal either to the reason of statesmen or the feelings of legis lators. In seeking for one or the other, no thing is more common than to find each, com bined in the form of a director of some pa per bank, so that the important personage unites within himself ali the constituents of greatness.—In his capacity as statesman, lie devices expedients for the national happi ness— in his character of legislator, lie. makes laws to carry these into effect—and in his station of bank director, it is both his duty and his interest to make both the expedient and the law subservient to the interests of the hanking-system of which he is a member. It is therefore, 1 repeat, too late to turn our eyes to this quarter for relief. The le gislatures have forged chains, not only for the people, hot for themselves, and are now in miserable duran. e to corporations of their own creation ! They have built up a struc ture which they lia/e not power to pull down, and which they have not the will, if they had the power to destroy. To the, people then I make the last appeal, and earnestly desire their attention to the plain, practical, matter of fact statements and reasonings 1 shall propose for their consideration. To you, Mr. Niles, I tender my thanks, that, at length, through your means, there is one sober, respectable and patriotic paper o- pen to the voice of truth and the just com plaints of the people. I am aware of the risks you run by this honest intrepidity. Veil will, I fear, never get another discount —you will become unpopular on ’change— voij will he denounced at the boards of di rectors—and. above all, you will assuredly get the ill-will of all the numerous descend ants of those honest people who were driven out of the temple of Jerusalem—you will, in short, he persecuted by (lie money-changers, money-brokers and lottery-office, men, that fatten into portent ions maturity in the cor ruption of the banking system—-the one will shave y ou terribly if you ever want to bor row money—and the others will, I fear, ne ver sell you any of their high prizes. Still, sir, under the most multiplied suffer ings, an honest heart is not devoid of conso lations that bank directors cannot give, nor brokers take away. There are always u few worthy people, even in the most corrupt times, whose silent approbation is worth having, and which is always given to under takings like yours. But there is a yet more independent gratification ; the silent testi mony of an approving conscience, which makes ample amends for the ridicule of such exalted personages as bank directors, money brokers and lottery-office men. That they may not, however, have all the laugh to them selves, I purpose, with the blessing of Hea ven, in the course of these letters to draw a full length likeness of each of these profes sions ; and if there should he found in the general features a striking likeness of any individual of either tribe, although I really mean to avoid all formal allusions, I shall certainly not disclaim any application of the picture to the original, let it he what it may. They are all of the same blood, and of course there will he a family likeness. With these observations I shall conclude this letter, as I am fearful of encroaching on your limits. In iny next, I shall treat of the effects of the present system of hanking, on the merchants, for whose especial benefit and convenience banks were originally sup posed to be constituted, but who, 1 trust I shall demonstrate pretty clearly, arc in afaji way of becoming victims of the mun$t»/ that was once their abject slave. Banks ai*o like the evil genius in Arabian stories, whirl, was a useful dannon, while held in servitude, but a most unfeeling task master, wtenevei' lie broke his chains. AGRICULTURAL. ON THE CULTIVATION OF VINkI' The cultivation if Pumpkins, Squashes, Melons and Cucumbers, is yet very itnper. feet. People will plant and hoe as their grandfathers, fathers and neighbors have done before, not trusting to their own judg ment, or being willing to risk the least by way of experiment. Pumpkins are gener. ally considered inferior in quality, name, he. although there arc many of them that are really better than the squash, and possessed of richer qualities. The best kind are of an ovel shape, soft shelled, thick, ineated, fine grained, and are uiost convenient and much the best for house use. They are planted among corn, and if the corn he cultivated right, (viz. the ground rich and nearly level, and always free from weeds) they will pro duce very well; but it must be expected they will exhaust the ground in some mea sure and lessen the stock of corn. If they are planted free from other vegetables, they should he thin. One vine to remain to each rod is sufficient. The ground should beroa- uured and pulverised well. Good warm loam of any description will suit them. A particular attention to harrowing and hoeing should be paid them, and the ground always kept loose and free from weeds. In this mode of cultivation they will never suffer from drought; the vine will flourish best in the hottest and dryest weather. Pumpkin vines cultivated in this manner in a favora ble season will run a great distance, n-it less tuan SO to 50 feet ; they will root at every joint or leaf, and will shoot for vine as often and will receive so much nourishment from those roots that if a leading vine well routed, with a growing pumpkin, he cut off near the stump, it will not appear materially affected; not even to wilt in a hot day. Be sure tn take off the two or three first crops when a- bout as large as a goose egg ; in taking off the first it will cause immediately a number instead, and the second time in proportion, and may he continued until danger of being too late for a growth to ripen. This mode of cultivating pumpkins may be considered extravagant as to the ground, but if I wan on a wager to get the greatestcrop from four rods, I would have but one vine, and that in the centre. If pumpkins are planted as thick as Indian corn, on the best and highest cultivated ground, they will produce but a small crop, and those of a small size. The rooti. extend a great distance in a horizon tal direction if there are no obstructions. They keep some distance before the vine. I have cultivated a large kind, much famed for their size in particular, hut with little success^ they r would produce but few and those green and watery. This method of the culture of pumpkins will apply to squashes with little exception. There are many of the small kind of summer squash, Ace. will not occupy so much ground. Ma ny kinds will tint root at the joint as they run. Never have hut one' vine to a hill, large or small. Never scrape the e-irh a- bout the stump but have it all levi i, and al ways loose especially on top. The ground will retain its moisture thereby, ami the vines will never suffer for rain in the. dry sea sons. Do not forget to pluck off the first two or three crops when small, as observed. In this way you may obtain almost any quan tity, and those of a full size, from a vine. Sandy loam is best suited to squashes, hut they will do well on any rich warm ground. I’, irismoi'ch O-.cte —j i i _ i, HAT’S. TTpHE subscriber, wishing to close his business, will sell at reduced prices, his extensive as sortment of Hats, consisting ol Ladies’ Beavers of the latest fashion, Gentlemen's superfine Bea- ver hats, common and low priced Fur do. Men’s and Boy's Wool do. Children’s Fur and Morocco do. &c. 8cc. all of which will be sold either at wholesale or retail,'much lower than have ever been sold in this place. All persons indebted to the subscriber art earnestly requested to make payment imincdi- ately ; and those having any demands against him, to present them for payment. A. hanscom. Milledgeville, March 10, 1818. HEALTHY SITLATIOnT T HOMAS HUSON, from Charlotte, (N- C.) has opened a boarding house in Jackson county, at Jefferson. Families removing lion' the low counties, and travellers, may he assured of" comfort and convenience. , NOTICE. A LL persons who have any demands again*! i\_ the estate of Daniel Kengrey, late of Wil kinson, deceased, are hereby required to bring their accounts duly authenticated—and those in debted to said estate are requested to make im mediate payment. william mu-neh, adui’r- THE REFLECTOR. "i MILLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 18H. NO.