American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-07-01
AMERICAN CHARACTER

AMERICAN CHARACTER.
Neal, in the cht-chat Of his Saturday Ga
1et.e,n speaks as follows of the energy and
originality Of the American:
The Amercan-of Alleghana or Yankee
dood!edom-that restless wiry man, balancing
himself upon two legs of his chair, his straw
hat turned up behind, and with his pedal ex
tremlt!es too far through his pantaloons, as he
Aacks the table with keen edged kne-has
trait-the result doubtless Of his parentage-
the confluence Of the energetic and enter
prslng of all nations, nourished into luXuri-
agce by the effect of insttutions--a trait
which distinguishes him from other people
Observe now, as he lodges his heels higher
than his head. Would you cramp him by pre-
cedent, or shackle his action by the control of
rule! Not moment will elapse before his
limbs may be wreathed into new attitude
more outre than any which ingenuity has yet
devised His legs are dangling as human legs,
perhaps, never dangied before-he sits upon
the rail, or lies extended OH a bench, in an end
less variety of experiment in regard to facili-
ties for repose. If he smokes, what power
of suction-if he chews, what an energy in
the performance; and when he eats, how pro-
digous the saving of time! 1t is impossible,
you see, to cast him in a moud-he is not to
De fenced IN 10y fixed ideas, and cannot be in
duced to follow in a beaten path. Ask him
he can do whatever man has done-easly-
there is no merit in that. 1t is what man has
never done, that he proposes to himself. His
commencement affords no clue to that which
may be the end of his efforts. Teach him to
retail needles, he possibly will found an empire
tomorrow. Place the implements of a printer
III his hands, yet the next you hear of him
may be III the leading of armies to battle
Editing little newspaper, very likely, when
nothing else is doing the time will soon arrive
that he will be sweeping EDWARDS to Oregon,
or to participate in "revel in the halls of the
Montezumas.''
There is nothing so small, that he cannot
narrow himselfto it. Nothing so large that he
does not feel competent TO grasp It'd don't
know how" finds no place in his vocabulary,
and ne feels himself ready to be pedlar or
president, as the opportunity affords itself He
is like the cat-throw him as you WILL and the
universal Jonathan alights always upon his
feet. Beware too, how you are harsh towards
that triendless youngster-ventuIe not to treat
an impoverished neighbor with contempt. Who
can tell but that the one who now excites your
scorn-ay, the very urchin not deemed fit to
play with your more nicely nurtured children
the youth to whom your daughters blush to
speak when in the street, and from whom also
ysur eyes are averted when in that what you
deem more choice companionship, not des-
tined soon to tower like an eagle far above
your utmost height, and to cause his once low
ly name to resound drought the world? There
is nothing impractcable to the universal coma
than Of these United States; and if his earlier
years be unstained by vice or crime, be sure to
treat him with respect which is due to humani-
ty, or both he and you may remember the
slight when it is your turn to look up to him.
Tagged enough" remarked lady, in a
Paramount omnibus Ragged enough and
not over Clean" said she with smile as she
glanced at the tow-headed concourse of check
aprons that strove to get ride for nothing;
shut perhaps our childrens president is there
with the statesman of his cabinet, and the he
roes Of his armies And why not? 1t is the
struggle which makes the man; and there may
be-there are-taculties in training all around
us,-perhaps in this very printers devil, who,
with nk-srnrked brow is waiting at our elbow
which will transcend call Greek all Roman
the Office and play not by the way-thou dr.
plomatist or warrior, poet or philosopher, what
ever the future has in store for thee. Thy
face, no doubt would be the fairer for little
soap, and thy chereture needs comb and brush;
but yet the laurel may in time sit even there.
The STAMP Act. The following letter from
r. w. Gill, Esq, Clerk of the Court of APP
peals, gives the decision of that Court upon the
several questions in relation to the construction
of the Stamp act of the last session of the le-
gislatare, which were recently argued before it.
We were confident, and heretofore stated our
conviction, that the act was not designed to
embrace the bonds of trustees, constables, SC.
and we are glad that the Court of Appeals has
so decided.
COURT OF APPEALS, w. S.-SrATE VS.. IA
MIsoN AND oTHERs.-Stamp Cases. Chambers,
Judge, stated the conclusions of the Court as
follows:
The questions brought before US by the diff
ferent records in these cases are in relation to,
lst, a Trustees Bond; I'd, Bonds by Executors
or Administrators; Sd, Check of a Bank in
this State upon Bank in another State, paya-
bic at sight or otherwise; 4th, Certificate of
Deposit given by Bank:
We are of opinion that Stamp is not re-
CURED for either of those instruments under the
act OF 1914, CHI. $50 That "bonds and obliga-
tons" are to be confined to such as are given
for the payment of money; and not for the per-
tornlance of some official or other act of duty.
That the Banks are secured in the privilege OF
issuing checks, whether at sight or otherwise;
oils OF Exchange, whether foreign or domes-
tie; and certificates of depositc; and that this
privilege does not exist only in virtue of the
Act OF 1921, oh. 1871, sec. IL, and is not, there
fore, either confined to the "Old Banks" as