The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-05-11
GEO. SMITH S MONEY.

| We find in the Missouri Republican (whig) Of
late date, an article censuring in pretty strong
terms the course Of Geo. Smith, as money
banker and shaver. We like the remarks of the
| Republican and think they are entitled to the
| serious consideration Of the community I'm
less the people of the West adopt rigid course,
with regard TO the imposition of shin plasters up
on them, they will by and by reap the bitter
fruits of their negligence. Smith has never paid
any respect TO the laws and from his present
course it is evident that he does not intend TO-
We say then, in view Of this fact, let the peo.
pie refuse his paper.
The truth is, there should be some check to
this whole sale system of imposition. Geo.
Smith is no more to this community than anv
other man. Who knows any thing about his
responsibility He may be entirely responsi.
Bile, or he may not be worth dollar over and
above his debts. The community are entirely
ignorant Of his responsibility and we say it is
but justice to themselves, that they should look
into this matter and until they become entirely
satisfied that no one will be looser by him, to
refuse his vagrant issues.
The Republican says:
The Chicago Democrat, of the Oath, says that
the notes of the Bank of Atlanta, Ga, intended
to re place the issues Of the Wisconsin Marine
and Fire Insurance Co., have made their appear
ance in Chicago. The plate is similar to that
of the Bank of America, humbug concern
started by Geo. Smith in Washington City, and
which has since closed its business there, be-
cause the people would not tolerate it. The
notes of the Bank of Atlanta are signed by S.
e. Higgnson President, and J. B. Valentine
Cashier. They are principally of the denomi-
nation of $5, all notes under that sum issued for
circulation in Illinois being illegal. The Wis
consin notes have been, or will be, Withdrawn,
and the outstanding notes of the Bank of Amer
lea will be redeemed by Chubb Brothers, and
Selden, Wilhers a. Co, Washington, and Stra-
chan 4 Co., of New York. The business of the
new Bank is to be conducted at Chicago, al
though nominally it is done at Atlanta, Georgia.
No one knows any thing about the charter, the
Bank or lis ownership. The very fact that Geo
Smith refuses to do banking business under
the laws ofhis own State, and goes to distant,
out of the way State, to pick up charter, rails
es violent presumption that all is not fair, and
that he is unwilling to make himself amenable
to the laws of the State in which he lives. He
is either afraid to make himself responsible for
the notes which he may issue, or he seeks an
undue advantage of those who are doing bank
ing business under the laws of the State In
either case, his acts are to be looked upon with
suspicion by the people. He has been engaged
for years in the issue Of currency unknown to
the law, and the last in violation of law, and as
that has been, for prudential reasons, Withdrawn,
the people, if they are wise, will never suffer
these shinplasters to get such a foothold among
them again. George Smith may be rich, but
the people have no guarantee that his riches may
not take to themselves wings and disappear,
whenever he can get one or two millions Of his
foreign paper afoat among them. He does not
deserve the public confidence; because he lives
in the habitual disregard of the law under which
it is attempted to protect the people from illegit
innate and spurious Banking. Now is the time
to stop these questionable issues of paper money.
We have got rid of the vast mass of trash with
which the country was flooded only few months
ago, and gold and silver have taken its place.
Let us keep clear of it. Touch not, therefore,
we say to the people, the notes Of this spurious
concern, which must have been in bad odor
when it could not be used in Georgia, and has
not been improved by its transfer to Illinois, for
the purpose Of finding circulation