Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-16
EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON:
How Stands the Law.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH Is. 1853.

Is it generally known that at the last ses-
sion of Congress, law was passed by an
overwhelming majority, forbidding the cir
culation in the District of Columbia, of any
bank bills of less denomination than FIVE
dollars? Is it known that this law has
gone already into effect! Is it known that
there are attached to its provisions severe
fines and penalties?
We ask these questions just now because
there is need of it. There are citizens in
this commuRity-otherwis among our most
respectable and worthy inhabitants
appear to take no notice of this existence
and requirements of the above named act of
Congress.
Now are we aw-abiding community {?
Do we mean to respect and obey the laws
that we ourselves have helped to make? Is
it our purpose to rely on the solemn males
ty of the law, for the protection of our lives
and our property?
If SO, why do We make any exceptions I?
Why is not one law as much to be enforced
as another? For if we allow ourselves to
to make an exception of the small note law,
and virtually nulify its necessary and whole
some provisions, may not some other citi-
zens nullify and trample under feet other
laws of still more serious character
Our country is country of public opin.
ion. Our government-the very framework
of society-has no other foundation but in
public opinion. Our Congress, our Army
and Navy, our Supreme Court, are founded
on public opinion. If, then, public opinion
becomes corrupt, 80
-"From man to man the fatal poison qpreads
Till the whole state, unnerved, in ruin snks.'
There is nothing so fearfully ruinous in
Republic as practical disrespect for public
law. We mean that law which the people
have themselves ordained; which they have
authorized and sealed through their own
chosen public servants; and which they, in
their sovereignty, are solemnly bound to
see faithfully and impartially carried into
execution.
1t may be said that the small note law is
merely law of convenience-thatt the peo-
pie did not expect to execute il when it was
passed-that they only asked for it, for the
time being, to see if they could not obtain
more gold dollars to be boarded up against
their rainy days. But we do not believe
this. We believe the small note law is
called for-that the protection of the honest
labor of the community demanded it's pas
sage, and that the welfare of society re-
quires that it should be carried out to the
letter.
We had occas on, only few days since,
to transact some business with the amiable
Clerk of the County Court, and offered him
a one dollar bill we had just received
on the ''Bank of the Republic" The gen.
tleman politely declined to receive it, and
then respectfully informed us that we were
violaters of the law-clssing with the gen.
tlemanly intimation that the Grand Jury
was then in session
Now that's the way to talk. We like
that mans independence, and wish it were
copied universally. It would save the crash
among the laboring classes that must come
sooner or later.
But where was the "Bank of the Renub
hc?" After q strict search and INQUIRY we
found little shin-plaster room, some ten
feet wide by fifteen long, where there were
two little boys-one outside, and one inside.
with lot Of rags lying on the counter
This was the HRo,L ~ IL. D1,. -,