The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-01-28
BANKS-SPECJE.

In the New York Semi-W Weekly Tribune
OF Jan. lst, on the subject Of Banking the
editor of that paper says:
awe would like especially to see n begin
ming made somewhere in regard to this mat
ter Of compelling the banks that issue paper
money, to preserve given proportion of spe-
Gle. The banking laws of the several States
| so far as we are aware, are very defective in
this respect Nowhere is any provision made
| that the circulation shall bear fixed propor-
ton to the specie. The circulation is usual
ly under no practical limit whatever. For
proportioning the amount to the Capital Of the
Bank as is generally done amounts to moth
| ing at ALL"
We will inform Mr.. GREELY that this be-
ginning wOs made in Ohio, in IS45, and our
Banks, organized under the Bank law of that
year, have been banking, so far as has been
discovered, in strict compliance with the re-
quirements OF that act in relation to spccie
and specie funds, from the time of organiza-
ton.
0SFThe following article, from the w. Y.
Semi Weekly Tribune, shows very briefly, and
very clearly, what the leading facts are, in
the pending controversy in the U. S. Senate,
relative to the Clayton Central American
Treaty: .g -
-s BALIZE.
OF the five States composing the somc-
times united but as often disunited sRepub-
lie of Central America Guatemala, in the
North East, is like most of the Others, but
thinly peopled, rudely civilized, and very
much of its territory possessed by bands of
savages who acknowledge no government
but that of their own tribes respectively.
The bands of Society are very much relaxed
in all respects throughout Central America;
though in Honduras, lying south oe Guatc-
mala, they are probably worn more loosely
than elsewhere. 1t has not very powerful
Political existence, and its population is gen.
orally concentrated in the rich valleys and
around the gold mines of the interior, leaving
its coasts nearly uninhabited, except by row.
ing bands Of unclvlized Indians
The British commenced their rrrptions
from Jamaica on the North North-Eastern
| coast of this scarcely peopled wilderness
nearly two centuries ago, being attracted
mainly by the valuable Dye-woods SO abund-
ant in Central America. These have since
became scarce in their vicinity, but the dis
covery of the value of Mahogany has given
increased activity to the industry and trade
of the British settlement, and increased value
to the possession. Spain early and long pro-
! tested against the encroachment, repeatedlv
| assaied the British colony, twice expelled it;
and as often obtained formal assurances that
the British claimed no other than possessory
or temporary rights there; but all to no pur-
pose-the British wanted Dye-woods and
Mahogany, which the Spaniurds were too
indoent and unenterprsing to supply-so it
always turned up British colony again af-
| ter brief hiatus. IL was last assaled by
the Spanards (unsuccess fully) in 1898, and
has not since been molested. But it il with
in the claimed limits of the State Of Guate-
! mala, at the North end of that State next to
Yucatan, and neither Guatemala as a sepa-
rate State, nor Central America as a Con-
federation, has ever reinquished the title
The British are now said to be negotiating
with Spain for title, which we should think
rather late in the day. Spain of course will
sell cheap what to her is not only worthless
but hopeless; but as England has recognized
the Central American States, we cannot be-
| lieve this will amount to much. That, how.
ever, is not exactly our business. British
Honduras may or may not belong to Great
Britain; it certainly does not belong to as.
Down to Mr.. Polk's Presidency, the Uni
ted States had carefully refrained from re-
cognizing in any manner the British title to
the Balize. But while Mr.. Polk was Presi-
dent and Mr.. Buchanan his Foreign Secre-
tary, the latter applied to the British Gov
ernment to authorize and receive u S. Con-
sui there, which was accorded. Gen. Tuy-
lor and Mr.. Clayton withdrew the Consul:
but the official explcation will be an awkard
circumstance if our Government shall Sc
riousy take issue against the British preten-
sions. ...-....
Mr.. Clayton was required to negotiate with
the British Minister Treaty which should
facilitate and reasonably guaranty the con.
struction of Ship Canal from the Atlantic
to the Pacific through Central America, and
he executed the task ably and successfully.
That Treaty affirms principles and contains