davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
VeIcane Of the Salt Lake.

A correspondent, Of the Buffalo CONNER.
cial Advertiser gives the following descriP-
.ion Of volcano in the vicinity of the
great Salt Lake. -
This volcano is in plain Of mud, and
on the borders of the Lake. 1t 10 com
posed Of mud, and covers several acres
Steam and water are escaping from some
half dozen apertures. Tho mad is raised
up into cones, the highest not five feet from
the general surface. They are terminated
by tubes, some hardened and lined with
crystals of sulphur and other substances.
One of tho cones throws steam and water
10 or Is feet into the air. 1t escapes rap
idly and with sound resembling the es.
cape Of steam from the pipe Of a small
steam engine; and it ejects hot and cold
water at short intervals. Ono cauldron,
some four feet across, boils up until il over
flows. Nothing 10 seen but u mass Of
foam; the water is strongly imprssnatsd
with sal ammonia.
There are other cauldrons from 10 10 20
feet in dirms,er, filled TO within or 4 feel
with boiling mud, which is occasionally
thrown Out in every direction. 4
About mile further off is another col.
lection of mud cones and on the opposite
side an island of volcanic rock rises to the
height Of about SO feet; at the foot Of it is
salt in sheets, strongly impregnated with
sal ammonia; that from the Lake is pure,
and used by the Californians. In the vi.
cinity Of the volcano we saw several ledg.
es covered with punice, and we met with
it in various other places on the plains.
+ believe we were the first white men
who had ever visited the place, and we had
great difficulty ia persuading the Indians
to guide as to il. They have legend
that when you approach it, it commences
hallooing, and if you go nearer, birds re
sernbling vultures or buzzards fly out Of il
and falling upon your head, are sure to
make you forfeit your life for your temeri-
ty.
The mirage was SO great that we could
not see Salt Lake distinctly. The mud
was very soh, and owing to the condition
Of our horses we could no. venture to it,
The Salt in the vicinity is found in crys.
talized layers, from the thickness of half
an inch down. 1t is in common use among
the natives.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17

SILVER CoiN.-The scarcity Of silver
coin, articular OF the small denominations,
is beginning to be extensively felt among
all classes OF our citizens. Business men
are subjected to very great inconvenience
by the difficulty of making change. Vari-
ous reasons have been assigned for this de.
crease, and 1t is said that the lats enact.
ment in Belgium, BY which silvsr slona y
made the legal currency, has addad large
amounts to the quantity exported IN cons
sequence Of the Belgian law, gold deprscia.
ted from l to II per cent, and to take its
place in the currency, silver was demand.
cd. Another cause is the increased guam.
tity Of gold bullion, from California, aud
tho largely increased consumption Of oil.
yer 10 manufactures for domestic purposes.
Silver has increased in value, as compar.
ed with gold, three per cent. The result
Of this is that gold for the payment Of
debts is preferred BY the debtor, and he a.
we'll as the banks and money dealers usss 1t
to meet his liabilities, Withholding the silver
coin from circulation. fthe capacities OF
the United States mint for coming small
pieces were increased, the Inconvenience
might in great degree be removed. tf
the gold was coined into one dollar and
twenty shilling pieces, In quantities TO meet
the demands Of trade, we should hear less
complaint. As lis, the gold coined at the
mint, is in large pieces, not ft for circula.
| ton. fs r,
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17

A Mistake.-The paragraph has been
going the rounds Of the press, purporting to
an extract of letter from Gen. Cass to Mr..
Stevenson, of virginia, declining, in any
event, to again be candidate for the Pres
idency. The Detroit Free Press says the
paragraph is taken from Gen. Cass' letter
of acceptance of the nomination for Presi-
dent to Mr.. Stevenson, chairman Of the
Democratic Convention Of lS48, and mere
ly expressed general Cass' determination to
serve but for one term. 1t bears, of course,
no relation whatever to the present position
Of General Cass and the Democratic party.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
The Missing steamer Atlantic.

The Philadelphia Bulletin contains tho
following facts in relation 10 the steamer
Atlantic, whose non appearance is the sub.
ject of so much anxiety and gloomy FORE
boding. Speculation is the only thing
which can be INDUCED in, and those Of the
Bulletins informant may be as good as
any thing else in that way, in the absence
Of certain information: I zr srsif gr
A gentleman of this city, who has friends
OH board OF the Atlantic, has just returned
from visit to New York, made with tho
especial object Of ascertainlng from the
owners the probabilities in regard to her
safety. Wsore enabledie lay before our
readers, lefty, the Information thus Oh
tained, and we have 40 doubt it will mater.
lily ullay the general anxiety. Il il not
generally known that some time since, tho
steamer Arctic, of the Collins line, took
fire during yoy nge, and was in danger
for time. Ia view Of this, on the cay
before the Atlapiic smiled from New York,
Captain West had the whole OF lhe FIRE
apparatus thoroughly over lhauled and put
! into the most perfect order. II is also she
ordinary custem 10 Try this ar paraius every
day, so ,ha. j. may always be IN good GEN.
dilion. THIS renders the destruction by
fire altnos. impossible. Another TACT Of
! importance is that the ship, when she sail.
cd from Liverpool, was prosisiened for
ninety days, which removes all fear Of q
lack of provisions. Another peice Of ID
formal on was obtained from an experience
ed sea captain Of Bosten, who is familiar
with tho Azores, to which islands The Al
lanlic is generally supposed 10 have gone.
1t is that, although there 10 nbandancs ot
coal there, yet the mode Of coaling-by
means ef ligh:ers-is SO tedious, ,he, i
would require ten or twelve days fer such
a ship as the Atlantic to take on board a
sufficient supply to bring her to New York,
and we could noi hear form her by the
Canada, and probably cannot hear Of her
by the Africa, due next week. II is mos,
reasonably TO suppose that the AilaBiic
will report herself a, New York bsiaEe sbe
is heard Of from Liverpool. and thai, con-
sdering ali the delay at the Azores, or
from on accident TO her engine, she may
net arrive Cor some time 10 come.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
The Administration and Prince Albert's
Sh0V

"There was ship, in The olden time."
said Daniel Webster al the New England
dinner, (which bore jason 10 the acquisi
ton Of the Golden Fleace" There is a
ship say We in the Brooklyn Navy Yard,
destined to bear Johnaihan, n 10 the &C.
quis,tion Of O fence but to be 1eased.-
That ship is The U. s. Frigate ST. Law
renee. designed to convey TO the shores OF
England, Americas contributions to
Prince Alber,'s show To aggrandizs
England, to impress foreigners with an
idea Of her power, her greatness, and her
wealth; to make the world tributary to her
glory, aud mankind minister to the tastes
o. her luxrious aristoeracy-sucha are the
objects for which this 50 much talked OF
w orld's Fair was planed and conssiyed.
Throughout the world, how many no.
bic brain, which the system OF which this
English aristocraey is the man support,
has condemned to obscuri,y. 10 now taxing
its exhausted energies in order to produce
something which may attract the eye oil
royalty, or win the empty apPaulse OF
guilty fashion. Within the realm OF Eng.
land herself how many a brave mechanic,
is dshied the right Of mankind-ho~ ma
ny a gentle maiden, who, surrounded by
luxury, is unconscious Of y comfort-are
now toiling and struggling from msrn till
night, 10 order that some articles from their
hands may be placed upon the coun,srs Of
the Chrys,al Palace as offerings at the
shrine Of vanity and power,
From this monster exhibition what good,
what glory, can result to the toilers, the
worksrsl None. A few prizes will be
distributed among thsm-no more; but
England's aristocracy will be gra,i6ed. and
their greatness glorifed throughout the
earth. From the four corners of the
world, mesey win flow in ono continuous
stream to London, during the existence OF
the Fair, and, for time, The vail OF the
distressed, and the angry threats Of The en-.
shaved, will be drownded, and the proud and
the privileged may hold their revels in Sc
curity and peace. Blu. Humanity, what
can it gain from all this? and, what is there
above all. in this prineely show, which
can attract the admiration, or should tax
the energies of a free and enlighted people
We Cannot find anything; and therefore,
felt it our duty 10 protest against the con-
duct Of our government in taxing the
American people for the benefit Of the
aristocricy Of England IN Y. Sun.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17

The Cosr OF PAPER MoNEY.-The
opponents of a gold currency, saysan ex-
change, never fai: to express their horror
atthe revulsions of trade, which they fam
cy would be caused by the withdrawal of
bank money from circulation. 1t can be
shown by good reason and proved by ex-
perience, that no such disasters would re-
suli; but that the metal would come into
use as rapidly as it is possible to withdraw
the paper. However, even if it were as
they say, even if it would be SO inconveni
ent TO change from bad to a good curren-
cy how slight this would bo when compar-
ed with the periodical losses resulting from
the use of paper money:
Bank Failures in England and the
United States. 1T is stated in Brande's
Encyclopedia, that mo fewer than two
hundred and forty of the country banks
failed in England and Wales during the
years 1914, 1915. and 1918, occasioning
nearly as much distress, loss, bankruptcy,
and suffering, as the great Mississippi
scheme in France, in 1919. During the
years 1916, and 1917, great number of
banks failed in the United States; many.
failed in 1925 also; and the failures in the
United States during the revulsion from
1881 10 1s42, amounted to over one hun.
dred ano sixty, with a nominal and pretend
ed capital of over S1s2, 900, 900. and cir.
culatlon Of over $43, 900, 900.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17

c. The project Of constructing Rail-
Road from Hudson, Summit county, to
pass through Cuyahoga Falls and Akron,
to Wooster or some other point on the Penn
sy1vania and Ohio Railroad, is progressing
with considerable energy. We learn from
the Akron papers that $4,000 of the capi-
fal stock Of the Road has been subscribed
at Cuyahoga Falls. $4,000 at Hudson.
The amount subscribed at Akron we do not
know, though the papers at that place sx-
press regrets that it has not yet reached
$50 900.
A bill amendatory of the act to incorpo-
rate the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Rail-
road, authorizing the construction of this
Road, has passed the Senate, and we are
assured that it will also pass the House.
We learn by letter from DR.. Bigelow,
that bill has been sent down from the
Senate to incorporate company to con-
struct Railroad from Franklin to Warren,
with power TO extend the same east and
west, and that the bill will pass.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
Repeal-Wenderfu Change!

The House, this morning, voted to re-
peal the act of last winter, to authorize the
commissioners Of Jackson county. to sub
scribe to the capital stock OF the Ironton
Railroad Company, and that, too. after the
people OF said county had voted for said
subscription. What can be the matter Of
the Wings? Are they coming around TO
the Democratic side off the question: Well,
well, we have some hopes for the new
Constitution yet. What is becoming OF
their doctrine Of vested rights and special
privileges. if they change so! We do not
pretend to know much about the merits OF
the question on which they voted for re-
peal, but it has caused hard struggle in
the House for the last two days.-Ohio
FEB. 7.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
Summer Arrangements Between Qeye-
land and Pittsburgh.

CLARK, PARKS & Co., of Beaver, will
put on line of Packets q, the opening of
the canal. to run in connection with the
Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad, from
Ravenna to Beaver, and from thence up
the Ohio river to Pittsburgh by steamboat.
The Railroad will be in operation from
Cleveland to Ravenna, thus atfording q
most expeditlous and comfortable way of
communication from Cleveland to Pitts.
burgh, and at considerably reduced rates.
Messrs. CLARK, PARKS & Co, have fit.
ted up their packets in the best style for
the accommodation of the travelling COM
munity, and will make good time from Ra-
VIENNA ,hrough.-Portage County Whis.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
From California.
Arrival Of the Empirs City With 81, ,0oo,.
600 in Gold. .s

dfTstds " sue EWPTTe IHy NHN @A,ooVs.
600 in Gold. ..s
. New YoRk, Feb Z.
She brings adyices from SAP Francisco
to January LIST. The mails are not on
board. Cs-t- .
About 80 houses were destroyed oil Cor.
gona on the 26th. aI
There is great deal Of political excite
ment and eleclieneering in California
The candidates for U. S Senator are Ed
ward Bryant and John Wethersd. wings;
are John B. Weller. II. w. .Halleck, John
w. Greary and John t. Fremont Demo.
Gratis. The rest have dropped of, and it
is probable that two Of these above named,
will Withdraw before the election.
1t is impossible to surmise the result of
the contest. Should the Legislature decide
that the plurality rule shall govern, whig
must be elected, otherwise there will be
many ballotings before any choice
The mines yield less than last year, but
it is doubtful whether the yield of the next
will not equal that Of the past.
Quartz gold will be mined the coming
season by the aid of steam and machine.
~.
The Indians have commenced depreda-
tlons and all efforts to pacify them are un.
availing.
There is q greater amount Of crime than
heretofore. An organized band exists of
convicts from British colonies whose trade
is pillage and murder
Considerable apprehension is sntertain-
ed for the safety Of the steamer Panama,
which left Panama on the 5th of December,
and has not been heard of since.
The weather is lovely in the extreme.
Scarcely cloud has obscured the sun for
two or three weeks.
The health in California is generally
good ,E
Steamer Caroline leaves San Francisco
on the 24th for Panama, and the Coluns-
bus was to follow in few days.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
Whig Thunder.

The Republic, one of the whig org; D,
at Washington City, wishes il 10 be dis.
linctly nnders,eon tha. the % called cora
promise measures Of The last session Of
Congress were whig measures. J. says.
"The parliamentary father ofdhe COM
promise bills was the Hon. Henry Clay,
whose "whig policy" for some half . CEN
tury, few wings have been accustomed to
doubt. They were advocated and dsfsLd.
ed as measures Of settlement BY no less u
whig than the present Secretary Of State
The President, himself, in his I exas mes
suge, boldly took the most difficult and oan-
gerous item Of adjustment-ths purchase
from Texas of her claim to New Mexico
under his own special patronage. The
adjustment, therefore, il such signs mean
anything, was part Of tho whig policyi
and, if it were not, the recommendation
of The President approved by oil the sabi.
net, and by large msjority OF the whig
members Of Congress, that these msasurss
be regarded as ''hnal settlement" !" Ger.
tainly makes the peace measures whig
measures" sIfa -4lsss ei'8F
We hope the whig party will soon set.
tie the authorship and responsibility OF the
compremiss measures passed MS the last
session of Congress. The foregoing para.
graph is taken from the columns of the csp-
trail organ of the party at Washington and
the recognized mouth-piecs Of the present
administration. 1t claims the series OF
"peacs measures" as the offspring Of whig
leaders and Of the whig adminis.re:ion.- >
Without disputing the point, We only rs-
quest that the small organs of that party
throughout ihs northern portion Of the
country, who have repudiated the idea OF 2
the compromise settlement belonging *.
clusiyely to the wing party, to walk up 70 /,
tho rack, fodder or no fodder. and either
acknowledge the correctness Of the Rspab-
lie. or else dispute ito authority and posi-.
tion. They pirate often and loudly Of the
various positions held by different portions
of the democratic party on the subject Of
they please remove that
mote from their own eye, which is beeom.
ing monster in the sight Of all eoneisisnt
men.-Ohio Republican. ,ss s4o s1tod
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
"Tho PEOPLES Line. "

We copy, the following from the pro-
ceedings of the Senate Of the 9th inst.
Mr.. Geiger presented two petitions
signed by w. Creighton, Milton L. Clark,
W. H. Douglass, R. R. Seymour, Charles
l.. Martin, Arthur Watts, Allen G, Nc.
Arthur, John R. Anderson, F. Campbell,
John F. w addle, w. Marshall Anderson,
VIM. R. Eckhart, w. w. Madeira, Wm.
n. Skerrett, D. Meade Creighton and 95
others, citizens of Ross county, for Peo.
pies Line, which was read at the Clerks
desk.
"THE UNION FOREVER ~1-
Girs as the Peoples Linei"
To the General assembly Of the State Of
Ohio:-
"The undersigned, citizens of the State
of Ohio, and members Of the whig and
democratic parties in said State, being now
satisfied that neither Of the said parties in
the Legislature can succeed by itself, in fill.
ing the vacant offices and thus discharge
the imperative duty Of carrying on the
Government; being utterly opposed to any
combination by either party, with the pet.
ty faction OF Abolitionists, selfstiled Stree
soiIers," and much desiring on the contra.
rary to starre out from, their present han.
cry position Of bargaining for the princi.
pal honors and Offices Of the State; and be-
ing furthermore firmly convinced, that
there is no longer such real ground of DIFF
ference between the two main parties,
(Which represent the great body of our peo.
pie, and whose joint representatives ought
there fore to fill oil the offices, Us 10 pre-.
vent, at least suspension Of hoslili.iss,
for the purpose Of putting down forever,the
miserable and contemplate faction. whose
bread of life is national and social discord:
do therefore, earnestly request our res
pectative Representatives in the present
General Assembly, to unite in any equit-
able division ofsaid offices between The
whig and democratic parties and to pro-
ceed at once, and unitedly; to fill them
with pure and ancontananatsd dsmocrnt.
and wings, who are honest in their politi.
cal differences, but who warmly agree IN
their love of Institutions and our Union. "
Mr.. Geiger moved the reference Of the
petition 10 select committee oftwo.
After some debate, the petitions wer'
| laid on The table.
In the House,o on the same day, Mr.. Cool
presented the petitions of Rober, McCrack
en- (whlg,) John Hanawatt, democrat,
and thirty seven other wings and democrats
citizens Of Ross County; asking the Leg
islature to adopt the ''Peoples Line" il
the elections to be made by this Legisla
ture.
Also, of William Filzwilliam, whig, an
VIM. Davidson, democrat, and - other
on the same subject.
Also, of J. G. White. democrat, an
John Brown, whig, and 50 others on III
same subject.
Mr.. Gilcresl, also, presented petition
same as above. All were laid on the table
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
Constitutional Convention.

The Convention. we hope, 10 bringing its
work to close, and the sooner that event
happens The better for the people and tho
State. The people, and especially the
democracy, looked to the Convention for
the farming of Constitution that should
embrace some radical reforms-that should
establish the doctrines of equality and jus'
tice. They had right to expect reform
On tho currency question, for there was no
question which entered more largely into
the consideration for which the Convention
was called than that. The Democracy
had long before taken decided stand in
State and County Conventions against the
"perilous use of paper moneys" and hav-
ing majority Of professed Democrats in
the Convention, they had right to expect
that their wishes would be carried out by
that body. They had also right to
expect that the Convention would assert the
supremacy Of the people over corporate
power and privileged orders, by declaring
in the supreme law of the State, the right
of the peoples representatives to repeal
acts conferring special privileges. But there
is little hopes of reform in these measures
The Democracy have been betrayed, and
the friends Of progress are now in minori.
ty in the convention.
On the 4th inst, Mr.. Hawkins moved tc
reconsider the vote by which the amend.
ment of Mr.. Lawrence to the I'd section ol
the Bill of Rights was adopted, which CON
fsrred the right Ito alter, revoke, repeal OIL
abolish, by act Of the general assembly, any
grant or law conferring special privilege.
or immunitiss upon any portion Of the peo
pie which cannot reasonably be enjoyed BY
ALL" and, after considerable debate, the mo
tion to reconsider prevailed by a vote o
81 yeas, to 45 nays. Those who voted ts
reconsider who had before voted for Mr.
Lawrence's amendment. were Messrs Arch
UOlu, COOh3 A4an hius1 SOuASOA, Sh 0u1 0AN
Warren.
Mr.. Archbold then moved to amend th'
the said second section by inserting to th
effect that, sno special privileges or immu
mites shall ever be granted injurious to tn
public, and which cannot reasonably be en-
joyed by ALL" This proposition, after oc
cupying most Of the time of the Convention
for three days, was finally adopted on th
9Th, by 81 yeas, TO "a nays.
Thus has this question Of repeal beel
metamorphosed into an animal of entirel,
different stripe. The proposition of Mr.. A
as an abstract proposition may be well c
nough; but it amounts to nothiDg-ssttle
nothing; it leaves the whole question ops
to dispute, to be construed as may suit dill
ferent individuals and interests. 1t is no
what the people want in relation to the pow
er of the Legislature over corporations, bu
we fear it is about all they will be able t
| pet.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-02-17
Another Shin Plaster Era,

Notwithstanding every arrival from Cal
ifornia adds largely to the quantity Of gold
in the country, yet the circulation Of gold
and silver coin among the people is daily
diminishing, while the circulation Of bank
paper is as constantly increasing. This
might not occasion any alarm if at the same
time that the "currency tinksrers" are food
ing the country with their promises to pay
they should also increase their facilities to
redeem those promises. But such is not the
case. The Banks of Ohio have six dollars
Of paper in circulation to one dollar in spe-
Gle with which to redeem the same. This
fact shows the influence of bank paper in
driving from circulation the specie curren-
ey. But the present banking system Of
this State is not doing up the business suf-
6cisntly clean-it does net enable the pa
per-mongers of the State to issue a sufficient
amount of their promises to make paper
the exclusive curreney-and so a new svs-
TEN Of Banking, called sFree Banking" has
been gotten up in the Legislature this win
tsr-and is said will probably pass-which
will entirely do up the bu siness and place
the control Of the entire currency of the State
in the hands of the rag barens. Ohio has
had some experience in banking, and her
people have suffered something of its
wrongs; but they are destined yet to have
sufeit of the blessings which an exclu-
sive rag currency confers.