davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
The Working Of our Government.

The French gentleman, who was al
Washington when Congoess passed through
the transition state of of elecling Speaker,
thus expressed himself in regard to the NOR
al to be drawn from the spectacle:
"Americans are evidently intended for
self-government, and the last twenty days
passed in an abnormal state, support this
opinion. Yet admire the foresight of the
trainers of the constitution who placed the
seat Of the empire far above the opera
tions Of the mob. Had the Congress been
held in New York, Paris, or London, it
would have been impossible to prevent the
mob from assembling around the building,
and the deliberations would hnve been in
fuenced by the strong pressure from with.
out.
'sIndeed the members went to Congress
as to a scientific meeting; they stoically
bore the tediousness Of sixty-four ballot.
ings, and ended by organizing the House.
To an unpreiudiced mind, the calm and
perfect quietness of all The citizens of the
Union during that little struggle, shows the
marked difference betmeen the people of
the United States and those of Europea
Governments. The President waited pa
tiently the organization efthe House, and
the country did the same; so certain are
the Americans that they are masters OF
themselves, and that the noble and gigan.
tic structure of the vessel of State cannot
be wrecked on grain of sand,''
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11

The 'chig Idea O Equality.-The wings
are always great sticklers for equality not
withstanding they have given into the hands
of the capitalists powers which are not en-
ioyed by the @rest of mankind" +" The fol-
lowing from the published proceedings of the
Ohio Senate on the 22nd of January shows
the whig idea of equal rights:
eMr. Wilson offered the following:
sResotred, That the General Assembly
of each session has the full power to legislate
upon the rights and duties Of all incorporat-
ed companies, the same as upon the rights
and duties Of citizens and their property and
interests.
sThe question being taken thereon, was
decided in the negative, by tie and party
vote, as follows:
"YEAs-M Messrs Blocksom, Burns, By
ers, Chase. Cunningham, Dimmock, Dubbs,
Ferguson, Howard, Myers, Patterson, Payne,
Swift, Simpson, Whitman and Wilson-l6
being all Democrats.
sNAYs-Messrs. Barker, Beaver, Beeson,
Blake, Conklin, Dennison, Eckley, Harlan,
Hendricks, Horton, Lawrence, Lewis. Olds,
Randall, salter and Speaker-l6"-all
aohigs.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11

5HE KATURALt RleHp eF MAN. II is
Fight which overrides all others. Il is ON
Riposenls irresistible. 1t acknowledges an
e9ans right, bat no superior. Ii goes hand
in hand With lis equal, but noa with The
slave. Il hreaihes and lives ia the pure
ais .af freedom, bot suf1oca,es in the atmos.
Rhere of slavery. Il asserts only the great
princiele of life, that Of self.preservation,
when 4 says that the fertile plains and
smiling vaihes Of our new lands, shall BE-
free.
IL the South is content with slavery
where it now exists, we are. All we ask,
is, that it shalf refnairs where it is. Ii, in
grasping io1 more, they shall lose ALL, the
people Of the South will have only them
selves to blame. BY their Unreasonable
demands in Congress and through the
press, they are begetting spirit in the
North, which is to be regretted, but not
condemned. Arrogance must be met by
firmness; and if in the conflict hate is en-
gendered, arrogance has only itself to
blqme.
10. sreaking thus, We are confident that
wa bu, sleak the sentlmen Of nineteen
sweutie,hs Of the citizens OF the free States.
they will yield much, have yielded much,
10 the caprice OF the South; but when their
snssi sacred rights are demanded as the
s,crifca 10 peace, they will not yield,-
Will The Sousif be warned in time4
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
Gen. Taylor and the WiImot Pr0yiso.

The Mississippian publishes letter
from Senator JEFFERSON DAVIS, addressed
to C. ]. SEARLEs, of Vicksburgh, dated
Washington, goth ult., from which We
make the following extract. 1t will be
seen that Senator DAVIS is of the opinion
the Wilmot Proviso, or some equivalent
measure, will pass Congress, and that the
President will veto ii:
have little doubt now of the passage of
the Wilmot Proviso, or some equivalent
measure. Dickinson will vote for it, and
this is, believe,lh the whole opposition which
will be offered by the senators of the non-
slaveholdiDg States. But if my observa-
lions here have destroyed my hopes in
Congress, they have, on the other hand,
created some confidence, that the President
will veto the bill. AsI have often told
you, his heart is with US; and if he be-.
ieves the measure will be destructive 10 the
Union, which he can scarcely doubt | am
sure the homes. old patriot will cast prece-
dent and northern advice far from hin, land
meet the emergency as becomes his station
and heroic fame. II he does so, it will be
like his acts on the battle field, the result
of his own will, and not the fruit Of his
advisers counsel and support
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
Biology.

Dr.. R. ]. PORE & C. D. Whitney lec-
tured and performed some amusing and as
tonishing experiments in this truly wonder
full science in this plane on Friday evening
last. The frequent failure in the attempted
experiments has led many to pronounce the
science sall humbug and base decep-
tion;' but we venture to say that no one
who witnessed the experiments of these gen
tlemen but was perfectly satisfied that there
is something in it, and not humbuggery eli
ther. They had some six or eight subjects
entirely under their control and whose minds
they could direct at wills suspanding their
power of recollection so that they could not
even remember their own names; and, in
deed, suspending or perverting all their fac
ulties, mental and physical, as they pleased.
We understand that they are to give Sc.
ries of lectures and experiments in this place,
commencing this evening, at the Disciples
Church.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
The Nhigs and Non-Interference.

It is amusing to see with what ease the
whig papers bout face and change front
upon the question Of slavery in the terrific
ries. But one short year ago the entire
whig press of the North was arrayed a.
gainst Gen. Cass for having presumed to
advance and advocate the doctrine of nom
Intervention, and the whole vocabulary of
the English language was ransacked to find
words sufficiently bitter in which to ex-
press their hatred and contempt of that doc.
trine. But very sudden change has come
over them-a new light has opened upon
them in regard to this question. Gen. Tay-
lor, the abolitionist, has plaaked himself
upon the non-interference platform, and de-
clared himself in favor of giving to the peo-
pie of the territories the right to settle the
slavery question for themselves, and all at
the entire stock of whig contempt for that
hated doctrine has vanished and they shout
aloud with an united voice, "Amen!" and
their papers come laden with praise of the
wisdom and patriotism Of Gen. Taylor!
But some Of the, ,whjg papers affect to be a.
BILE to discover disparity between the views
of Gen Taylor as expressed in his annual
and special messages and those of Gen Cass'
Nicholson letter. If there be any differ
ence it is so slight as 10 be imperceptible.
Gen. Taylor takes most decided and unques-
tionable ground in opposition to the interfer-
ence by Congress with the question of sla-
yery in the territories, and in favor of leav-
ing that question to be determined by the
people of those territories for themselves.
This is essentially the position Of Gen. Cass,
and is the same as that which the wings
denounced as Southern" @pro slavery" !"
but few short months ago. And what
has wrought this sudden and mighty
change in the minds of the universal Wing
party? What has led them so soon to
commend this doctrine Of non-interference,
which heretofore they have treated with such
adherence? Has it grown up out of a
sense of duty to the country, from regard
for the peace, harmony and perpetuity of
the Union? No one need be at loss for
an answer; it will suggest itself to every
mind. Subserviency to party, which has
shown itself to be the ruling motive of their
action, has prompted them to commend in
Gen. Taylor the same doctrine they SO We
hemently denounced in political opponent.
Such is the course Of this consistency-loving
| party.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
Bank Taxation-The Prilciple Tested!

The wings have always claimed that
they were in favor Of equal tastion, at the
same time they are great sticklers for the
present tax-law, which imposes taxes upon
the property of the farmer, the mechanic,
the laborer and the professional man accor-
ding to its value whether it yields a profit
to its owner or not, while the banks are
taxed alone upon their profits after deduct
ing all their expenses. This difference in the
method of taxing the property of the mass
of the people and that of the capitalists who
have invested it in banks would seem to re-
quire no labored effort to prove its gross in
justice; and yet volumes almost have been
written upon the subject, and it has been
pretty thoroughly discussed in every part
Of the State. The advocates of the present
unequal tax law contending that, though the
bank were taxed in different manner,
still they pay as much if not more tax than
other kinds of property. The House of
Representatives have compelledJohn Woods
to disclose some facts which are not in har-
mony with whig theory, and which cannot
fail to open the eyes OF people to the gross
inequality and injustice of the present meth
cd Of taxing Banks.
SPECIAL REPORT
Of the Auditor of State-In relation to the Ohio
Life Insurance and Trust Company.-In
House-Jan. g. 1850.
AUDITOR OF STATE's OFFICE,
Columbus, Jan. 25, 1850. +
SIR, The resolution passed by the House Of
Representatives on the Oath inst, is before me
by which am requested to report to the House,
the amount of capital of the Ohio Life insurance
and Trust Co., exclusive of its banking depart
ments, and the amount of taxes paid by said in
stitution, for the year 1s49; also, the amount
which said institution would have paid for the
year 1S49 if taxed upon its capital, exclusive of
its banking department, for all purposes the same
as other property was taxed in the City of Gin
cinnati.
In answer to said resolution, Isubmit the fol-
lowing statement:
1st. The amount of the capital stock of the
Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Co. exclusive of
its banking department, is two millions OF dol
lars
ed. The Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Co..
paid no taxes to the State during the year ls49,
except the taxes assessed upon the real property
owned by the company, the amount of which
have no means of ascertaining.
Sd. The taxes upon property in Cincinnati
for the year 1s4s, amounted to 1a4 mills on the
dollar, consequently, the tax which said company
would have paid, if taxed upon its capital stock
of two millions, the same as property was taxed
in 1s49, in the City of Cincinnati, would have
been TwENTY-sIx THOUSAND FIvE-HUNDRED DOL
LARS. Respectfully,
JOHN WOODS,
Auditor of State.
Hon. B. F. LETTER,
Speaker of House Of Representative.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11

DEATH OF PENA Y PsNA.-In the Mex
lean papers received lately, the death Of
Pena Pena is announced. The N. o
Delta says:
He.was one the mos. eminent lawyers
his country ever produced. Pena y Pena
became President at the close Of the war
with the United States. 1t was under his
auspices the treaty of peace was made, and
it was by him it was ratified, after Herra-
ra, the President elect, fearing popular in.
digna,ion and the cabals of the Satanists,
Stunned the responsibility of advocating or
signing it, and obtained the election of Pena
y Pena as President, ad interim, by Con-
gress. .l
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
Gbe 20 rtage Sentinel.
Court of common Pleas.

A bill has passed the Legislature fixing
the following as the times Of holding the
Courts Of Common Pleas in this (the third
Circuit:
Mahoaing-second Tuesday in Februa-
ry, second Tuesday in May, and the fourth
Tuesday in September
Portags-The 4th Tuesday in February
4th Tuesday in May. and I'd Tuesday in
November.
Sunsnsit-The Cd tuesday in March,
the 1st Tuesday id ia and the 4th Tues
day in November.
Ashta5ma-The lst Tuesday in April,
the Sd Tuesday in June, and the 4th Tues
day in September.
Trum5uH-Tthe Sd Tuesday in April
the 4th Tuesday in June, and the I'd Wed.
nesday in October.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11

BUFFALO, Fobrnaxy Q.
This city has again been visited by quite
an extensive FIRE. About half past iour
o'clock this morning, Rrs was discovered
in the upper par. of the store No. ale
Main street, next adjoining Coleman's Drug
store, corner of main and Swan sirseis.-
Four three story brick stores belonging to
the heirs Of George Coyt, and the hsiss OF
the late Judge Townsend. The buildings
were insured for six thousand dollars
three thousand in the Moth West Cemps.
ny and three thousand in the Hartford
Company. This will partly cover the loss.
No. 220 corner of Man and Swan streets,
occupied by John n. Coleman and the as-
signees Of S. L. Reynolds, as drug store.
Tbs former was insured for eighteen hum
dred dollars, eight in the Buffalo Mutual,
and one thousand in the Howard, Now
York; the latter were insured for eight
thousand dollars-,hree in the Buffalo Mu-
tual, and five in the Delaware. In the
second stories were the Offices of Drs. Wall
lace and Wilcox whose loss is not large.
No. 2l6 was occupied by M. Compton
as dry goods store, whose loss Is total,
amounting to about $15, 600. He is insur.
ed for about two thirds-$2, 900 oil which
was insured in the Lexington Company;
the second and third stories were occupied
| by Evans Daguerrean gallery, which was
insured in the Gsnesee Mutual company.
for one thousand dollars which will nor
| cover the loss.
y No, 216 Whitman Il Beckwith's crocke.
ry and glassware store. Their loss is con.
siderable; insured for $s, 900 in the Lex.
ington company. In the second story
was the Law Office of George Coyt, u,
who lost his library and fixtures, no insur-
ance. In the third story was s. Ludsask's
Paint hop, everything burned.
No. 2l4 was occupied by. r. J.. Sher.
mans extensive dry goods store, the stock
Of which amounted TO about $40, 900 or
As, 900 was injured by water and removal.
They were insured for $40, e0g-S2, 600
in the Howard; S., 900 in the Union M.
,aal; 3, 500 in the Hartford Protection; g..
600 in The Etna; 800 in Hartford, and s..
600 in the Columbus. 1t is impossible
now 10 make correct estimate of the en-
tire loss. Whole amount Of insurance.
was about $4,000 dollars. The loss ~
mounts to nearly $4,000. The weather
was excessively cold, which much retarded
the operations of the 6re departmsnt.-
The usual note Of alarm was not sounded
by the bells, and for this reason many OF
the fremen were not made aware Of the
fre.-CommeTcial Journal.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
Gen. Jackson's first appearance in Con-
greco

When Mr.. Gallaiin was member OF
Congress, in the year l796, Tennessee
was admitted as n State into the Union,
and sent her first member to Washington.
One day, when III his seal in the House,
Mr.. Gallatin noticed tall, and, uncouth
individual, with long locks Of hair hanging
over his brow and face, while queue hung
down his back tied in an eelskin. The
dress of the individual was singular-his
manner and department that of a back
woodsman. The appearance Of SO singu.
lar character on the floor of the House Of
Representatives, naturally attracted atten.
ton, and member at his side asked who
he was? Mr. Gallatin replied that il was
the member for the new State swell, y
soid his friend, she seems just the sort of a
chap one might expect from such an un.
civilized region as Tennessee" The in.
diyidual in question was Andrew Jackson.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
SATURDAY, Feb. 2.

The bill TO repeal so much Of the appor-
tionment scheme as divides the county Of
Hamilton, passed the Senate, with an
amendment which being agreed TO by the
House of Representatives, requires now
but the signatures of the Speaker Of the
Senate and House of Representatives, TO
make it the law of the land.
The attempt to divide the county of
Hamilton was conceived in sin, for the vii
est OF political purposes, and brought forth
in inequlty. From first to last, 1t has cost
the State an immense amount Of money,
and come near arming citizen against cit.
zen. For six weeks Of the present session,
and for four weeks of the past session, ii
KEEP. the Legislature in a'state Of disorgan.
ization. After having remained on the
statute book for three years, without ever
having been passed as a law, is now wiped
therefrom, and by the aid of men who aid
ed in halching the infamous measure.
BesiGe the repeal of this scheme,' moth.
ing of interest transpired in either House.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
ONE HunDnED DoLLARs REwARD.-M

ONE HUNDRED DoLLARs REWARD MIR
ALFRED WRIGHT, the Postmaster at New
Alexander, Columbia county. Ohio, offers
one hundred dollars reward to any person
who will furnish him with information that
will lead TO the arrest and conviction of
one GEORGE TUCKER, a Yankee pedlar,
who, he says, fe oniously stole his only
daughter, girl Is years of nge, named
SARAH JANE WRlGHT. She is small
sized girl, light hair and blue eyes. She
was stolen on the night of the 9th ofSept.
last.
TUCKER is about 80 years of age, thick
set, about S fee, inches high. dark com.
plexion and dark hair. He lett wife and
two children in distress. We hope the
scamp, as well as the girl, may be discov-
ered.'
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11
TuEspAY. Feb. 5.

In Senate last night, Mr.. Dennison in
troduced q new set of resolutions in relation
20 Mr.. Clay, in modified form. Mr.. Ny
ers wished action taken on the non-inter-
vention course of Gen. Taylor, but Mr..
Dennison would not consent to that. He
did not wish to denoance the President of
his party, but was only willing to denounce
the man that wanted TO be President.
Mr. Beaver, the proessed leader of free
soilism, rallied 10 the assistance Of Mr..
Dennison, but he shared the fate of s'pool
Tray" and was most numerically casti
gated for being found in bad company
During the debate, Mr. Johnson stripped
the FREQ soil robes from the Trumbull Sen
ator, and left him without covering to his
hypocrisy. The scene was decidedly rich
Statesman.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11

C. Many have made the remark, in this
question, that President TAYLOR has taken
the CAss ground Of non-interyention. For
our part we cannot see that be has, for CAss
denies the constitutional right of the Gene
raj Government to legislate for the Terrific
ries at all, Gen. TAYLOR does mot deny this
right, but asks, if it would not be well to
allow the people Of the Territories to settle
this matter for themselves.-Portags Co.
Wing.
This is attempting to creep out at a very
cramped corner. That Gen. Taylor is Op-
posed to the Wilmot Proviso and manifests
his hostility to It in his late message, will
not be denied; that he recommends that this
question be left to the settlement of the peo-
pie of the Territories is equally certain. And
what more is there of the @Cass ground of
non-intervention" that the man of the Wing
SO recently denounced as dangerous to the
cause of freedom? What is there wanting
to make the recommendations of President
Taylol's message practically all there is Of
the doctrine of nen-intsrvention? But our
neighbor sees, or thinks he sees wide diff
ference between the Cass doctrine and that
of Gen. Taylor, afor Cass denies the consti-
tutional right of the General Government
to legislate for the Territories at at all, Gen.
Taylor does not. And the editor Of the
Wing probably regards it as evidence that
Gen. Taylor is anti-slavery in sentiment
because he does not deny the cons titutional
right to legislate upon the subject, notwith-
standing he claims Congress should not ex-
ercise that right! This telling that Gen.
Taylor does not deny Mis right is but an
effort longer to deceive the people with The
belief that, should the Wilmot Proviso pass
Congress it will receive the sanction of the
President; but this effort at deception will
not take, for the President in his message
has given ample evidence Of his disrelish of
that measure, if, indeed, he has not declar-
ed that Congress has not the right to exer-
else such power. In speaking of the admis-
sion of California into the Union and of the
attempt by Congress to restrict Slavery
therein, Gen Taylor says:
aAny attempt to deny to the
people of the State the right of self-govern-
ment an matter aehich peculiarly affects
themselves, soil iyalibly BE- regarded by
them as an invasiom Of their rights; and,
upon the principles laid dowm in oar Dec
laration Of Independence, they aciH GER
tainly be sustained By the great mass Of
the American people.
This comes very near denying the right
of Congress to restrict slavery. But it may
be said that this is only in reference to Cali
fornia. And what rights has California
that is not common to all the territories? OF
what right has Congress to impose restric.
tions upon New Mexico or Deasert which
may not be imposed upon California withou
violating the rights of her people and in
fringing upon the sprinciples laid down il
our Declaration of independence" Witt
4 all their efforts the yhigs are not able t
keep hid the position Of their President up
on this question, nor can observing mel
entertain rational doubt as to his course il
the event of the passage Of the Proviso.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11

HAsTY LEGIsLAT1oN.-A striking in.
stance Of the propriety ef the veto power
occurred lately in the proceedings Of the
Alabama Legislature A few days ago
an act 10 incorporate the Alabama and
Georgia Railroad Company was passed
The Governor vetoed il from some consti-
tutional reasons, which were SO obvious
after they were pointed out that the House
of Representatives turned right over, head
and heels, and voted 80 to against the
hill
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-02-11

@ The "compromise" resolutions offer
ed by Mr.. Clay in the U. S. Senate have
produced profound sensation in the whig
camp. A meeting was held in Columbus
on Monday last, pursuant to previous call,
for the purpose of denouncing the resolutions,
at which there was an exhibition of char
mony" rarely witnessed even in political
meetings. The fight was between the Old
Hunker Wings and the Young Wings, in
which the former. triunbhed, and Mr.. Clay
is condemned man. It is said that the
Young Wigs are to have a meeting of their
own in which they may express their opin-
ions freely and fully.