davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14
vVhIg systeIn 81 lraxa,,o1.

By reference to the returns made 90 the Audi.
OF State from sundry banking institutions in nj,
State, erclusipe Of the Ohio Life Insurance and
Trust Company, il appears that their aggregate
capital stock Is not far from seven millions of Dol.
lars ($7, ,Ooo,OoO) From the report of the uboss
officer, it appears that the taxable valuation q
their property amounts TO the sum of about t,sea.
ty:fve million of dollars (S25, ,0O0, ,0OO.l
That the business Of banking is more profitable
than any other, we need only to recur to the fac.
that from special report fro,u the Auditor %
State, it willbe found that the average profit, If.
ter dedcting losses and expenses, of ftyone banks
was over sixteen per cent, TO say nothing Of the
surplus laid by to meet contigencesi
Under the thimble-rigging legislation of Kel.
ley's Bank law, and which has been sustained ly
majority of one by The old fogy United States
Court at Washington, those banks are only re-
qured to pay small stipend on their dividends,
and that oaly for Stale purPoses-being exempt
from the payment of single mill for county,
city, town, township, borough, bridge, poor, an /
all other purposes whatever! And then, if FROM
any mismanlgement whatever. they meet with
losses, or choose not to make dividends, even the
miserable stipend designed to be contributed to-
wards the support of the State Government is
withheld!
1t was the design of the new Constitution and
the laws enacted under it, to have corrected this
system of robberyj but the Federal CouA at
Washington has, by majority of one, ruled in Ia
vor OF this egalized bondtti; and the whg press
every where sustans it as right! .t'
The amount of taxes required under this Wing
Bank law and Federal decision, is not FAR from
sixty thousand dollars (S6O,OOOD while if taxed
as the farmer, mechanic and other honest men;
it would not be far from three hundred and ninety
thousand dollars ($39O,oOO.) Now, il this deciss
ion is to rule, this difference between 100000
and $39O,00O, must be made up from other prop
erty, and in many instances from that which
don't pay four per cent, on its valuation. And
the Wing press all over the State is gloryfying
over this decision Such is Whiggery!-O
Statesman.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14
Arrival Of the stcaine HERNIA nm.

NEW YORK. June 8.
The steamer Herman arrived this morning with
200 passengers, among whom are ]. Henriques,
late U. 8. Consul in Australia, and J. w. Bryce,
bearer of dispatches. She brings London papers
of the oath, which were not received by the Arc
tic.
They state that Admiral Napier has, after eight
hours bombardment, destroyed the fortress of
Gustafsweren, at the entrance the Gulfo Fin
land; 1900 Russians were taken prisoners.
The British steamer Tiger was taken by the
Russians near Odessa, and was afterwards burnt
The Paris correspondent of the London Times
says that combined attack on Crmea by sea
and land has been concluded on ut Constantine
pie.
twas reported mt Vienna that Russia had con-
cluded treaties with Persia, Bomharra and Kiva,
and is to keep subsidiary force in those States.
A squadron of Spanish steamers is preparing ut
Cadiz to sail for Cuba in July. Troops are to-
leave in June for the same destination.
The India overland mail brings dates from Ca!H!>
cutta to April Goth, and Australia dates to March
29th.
The Patriot army in China was advancing TO-
wards Pekn. m 80 ".
1t is reported that Commodore Perry has es-
tablished friendly relations with Japan.
The yield of gold in Australia is increasing
The market is overstocked.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

SCHOOL EXAMINATION AND ExmBITIoN.-The
examination of the scholars of the Ravenna In
stitute, under the charge of Mr.. E. c. WILMoT,
took place on Thursday last, at the Town Hall,
and was highly satisfactory to all present The
scholars were mostly quite young, but they mani
tested a proficiency that would have been credit
able for those of ripper years, and showed that
they had been under the charge of faithful and
capable teachers, and had well improved the op-
portunity that had been afforded them
On Friday evening the scholars of the lnsti-
tutc gave an exhibition at the same place to a
large audience. They all sustained their parts
most admirably, and the audience were well pleas
ed with the performance throughout.
This is an excellent school and is worthy of a
liberal patronage. The next term will commence
on Monday, June &c.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

HARD.-The advocates ofspecal privilege think
is mighty hard and unfair to make man pay tax.
es on moneys and credits which he may possess
without being allowed to deduct his Indebtedness,
but if he should exchange his moneys and cred
its for land cattle, sheep, horses, hogs, or any
other kind of property, no one would ever dream
OF allowing deductions to he made from such prop
erty on account of indebtedness. Now, where
is the justice or equality of this distinction! Are
not the moneys and credits as valuable as the
property they will buy! Do they not enjoy equal
ly the protection and benefits of the government!
Surely they do. Then why should the deduc-
tons be allowed to the one and not to the other!
Is it any harder for a man who has money, but is
IN debt, to pay taxes on his money, than it is for
farmer who is in debt to pay taxes on his farm!
And if you allow the money holder to make the
deduction and do not allow the farmer to make it,
Just so far you increase the taxes upon the farmer
for the benefit of the money holder. And this is
what is demanded, thut we shall maintain by law
aprivileged order in this State, by shouldering
the entire burdens of taxation upon the farming
and producing intererts while money mongers and
spectators enjoy an exemption from this bur-
then.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

SMALL NOTE LAVA law similar to that
passed by the Legislature of this State last win
ter is now in force in Virginia, and is said TO work
well, and to be generally observed, The Balti-
more Sun says that, at Richmond during threedays
last week, about $25,OOO in new silver, half and
quarter dollars, were paid out at the Custom
House, in exchange for large gold coin. The
banks and merchants of Wheeling, have resolv-
ed to receive small notes until the 10th inst for
the purpose of sending them home.
A similar law is also In force in Pennsylvania,
and the Philadelphia Ledger says that it has had an
excellent effect upon the currency of the State,
giving it sounder and more reliable currency
than any other State in the Union. Such will
doubtless be the happy effects here if the law is
fully carried out. There is an abundance of gold
and silverin the country, and nothing is wanting
to place it in the hands Of the people, but to drive
out the foreign rags.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

FUsIeE.-The abolitonsts, who have taken an
assignment of the old Wing party, have got the
ropes all laid for grand fusion operation Ia
last fall-a mingiirg Of the white spirits and
black, blue spirits and gray'-a mixing of all the
fag-ends and contradictory elements, in opposi-
ton to the great national Democracy. A great
fusion State Convention is announced to come
ofFut Columbus, on the 18th of July, and the
'fueionists' here announce a great gathering in
this place on the 4th Of July! Wat desecra-
ton Of that day which gave birth to this great,
growing and prosperous nation, for these fanatic
al abolition dsunioRists to get together to raise
up sectional parties and plot the destruction OF
the rich legacy bequeathed us by our fathers.
Of course, this is all to be ''no party" affair!
That game has been tried too often to wn and
the Democrats are scarce who can be dddled by
that kind of clap-trap. 1t is all ruse to which
they always resort when every other hope fails
them. But it won't begin to pay expenses
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

HORRIBLE MURDER ON LONG IsLAND.-One ot
the most atrocous murders ever recorded was
perpetrated at Southold, Long Island, on the
night of Friday, the I'd inst. Mr.. James Wick
ham, farmer, formerly merchant of New York
city, his wife, and negro boy were brutaly mur-
dered while in bed, by un Irishman named Mich
olas Balm, who had formerly been in the employ
of Mr.. Wickham, and was discharged but few
days before. The morning after the murder sew
eral hundred persons turned out in pursuit of the
murderer, and surrounded piece ofwoods which he
was seen to enter; on the morning of the 9Th
he was discovered partly covered with brush wood,
and apparently insensible, having cut his throat
with razor His wound was dressed and he is
now in fair way to recover. 1t was with diff
Guilty that the officers prevented the excited pop
ulace from ynching him on the spot. He made
full confession oc the awful crime, and said he
had contemplated committing the deed for week
previous.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

The Fusion ORGAN on AUDITOR MORGAN
The organ Of the bankers and spectators still
keeps up its contemplate abuse Of Auditor Nor
gan account of his instructions on the tax law.
1t calls him the "despotic State Auditor" barely
because he conformed his instructions to the de-
cision of the Supreme Court. Now will this or
gan of all the isms' and fag ends please to inform
its readers what other course that officer could
have pursued than the one he did without palpa-
Bile violation of his official oath. The Supreme
Court, the highest judicial tribunal of the State,
had decided that the 10th section Of the tax law
was unconstitutional and void, and this fusion edi-
tor, as little as he knows about law, knows that
when that court decides an act of the Legislature
to be unconstitutional and void, that act is no law
and cannot be enforced. Then, when the court
had declared the 10th section Of the tax law un-
CONSTITUTIONAL what was the plain duty of Auditor
but to obey that decision! Has he the power to
revive an act which the court has annuled by its
decision and to enforce it Such a claim is su-
premely ridiculous, and the fusion organ knows
it; yet it continues to reiteratc its abuse of Mr..
Morgan in hopes of destroying the well earned
popularity of that gentleman thereby.
But Auditor did not act unadvisedy in refer
ence to the matter. He advised with the Attor-
ney General of the State, who gave the following
opinion:
"Whether the General Asse nby did or did not
repeal the 10th section, after the decision of the
Court declaring it unconstitutional, it is needless,
so far as the execution of your duties are concen-
ed, to inquire. The section remains on the stat
ute book and under law; and in the mode pro-
vided by law, the question can be again present
ed'to the courts by any person who may feel ag-
greved by assessment in regard TO its propositions.
But until the question has been So presented, and
the decision of the court reversed, il is wholly in
operative, and is mere nullty.
The decision of the Supreme Court, that an act
Of the General Assembly is unconstitutional, must
be the end of controversy to yonrsef and all 9TH
er officers charged with the execution OF the laws.
am, sir, very respectfully, &c,
GEO. w. MORGAN, Atty. Gen.
Hon WM. d. MORGAN, Auditor Of State.
Columbus, May 8, 1854.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14
Constitm.ionality Of the Constitution.

What the Supreme Court, at Washington has
done in the Ohio Tax cases is most difficult to
learn, but the following is put forth by Wash
ington correspondent as authentic:
''It appears that the tax-aw of 1851, so far as
it has application to the State Bank of Ohio, and
other banks organized under the act of 1915, has
been pronounced unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court of the United States--Judges Catren, Dam
iels and Campbell dissenting
"By the same Court, the tax imposed by the
act of 1851 upon the Ohio Life Insurance and
Trust Company, has been pronounced constitu-
tional and valid. Judges Mclean Wayne, Nell
son and Curtis, dissenting.
"ln the replevin suit Of John G Deshler Us.
George c. Dodge, Treasurer Cuyahoga county,
the aame Court reversed the judgement of Judge
Mclean at Columbus, which sustained plea to
The jurisdiction, and ordered the defendants to
answer over-tbe Court being divided as follows;
For reversal Judges McMean, Wayne, Nielsen,
Greene and Curtis For affirming the Judge
ment, were Chief Justice Tanney, and Justices
Catron, Daniels and Campbell. ..
"We are glad to see such manifest signs of
progress in the Federal Court.
"By the time the cases under the tax-law Of
1852 shall be ready for trial in this Court, we
doubt not 'the people," will find themselves "in
the houses of their friends" ....
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

ABOLITION BRAvERY.-We learn from good
authority, says the Boston Journal, that at meet
ing of the citizens of Abingdon, held in that town
on Tuesday evening, a resolve was unanimously
adopted ''to arm themselves, enter Boston, and
take the fugitive. When call was made for
those who were ready and willing to back up the
resolution by enrolling their names, but three
citizens responded.
About the same time Theodore Parker and
Wendell Phillips made infamatory speeches, and
raised mob who went to the Court House and
murdered man, while Parker and Phillips ran
home and called'on the Mayor to protect them.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

OF DIR. Olds has introduced an amendment to
his bill regulating postage providing that the pres
enl rate of letter postage shall remain, and max
charge upon the U. S. Treasury, thus making
tho Post Office Department self-supporting in
stitution. This move will be more favorably re.
ceived than the proposition to increase the postage
rates, introduced in the earlier part of the session
The deficit to be supplied directly from the Treas
ury is about two millions and third, which, it is
said, would hardly pay the expenses on Govern.
ment business and the documents and letters
franked by members of congress.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

6T The Know-Nothings, with the aid of the
Abolitionists and Wings, have elected their can.
didate for Mayor in the consolidated city of Phil
adelphia BY tremendous majority. They have
also triumphed in Washington and in Hartford
The fusionsts who were SO indignant at the Clay.
ton amendment to the Nebraska bill which de.
prived unnaturalized foreigners from voting, will
now split their throats in shouting over the tri.
umPh Of a secret political organization whose oh.
ject s to deprive foreigners Of the rights of cit
izenship altogether!
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14
THE OpJEcr Arowrp.-The New York Ttigrln.

TIE OBJEcT AvowED.-The New York Tribune
lately contained leading article in which it cool
y calculated the value Ofthe Union in dollars and
cents, and undertook to show that the North had
nothing to loose by dissolution. That article in
dicated plainly enough what object the traitors
who follow the lead of Greedy, Garrison, g. Co.
are aiming at. More recently the Tribune pub
fishes letter from Cassius N. Clay, in which he
pronounces republicansm in this country fail
ure, and goes in for the immediate dissolution Of
the Union. This done, he thinks the North could
conquerth South, and iberute its slaves by force
He calculates the chances of the war with great
GOODNESS, and advocates its commencement with
great warmth.
This is the direction in which these traitrous ia
natias lead; this is the end they aim at What
man among us, who loves his country and reveres
the memory of its patriot founders will give coun-
tenance to this base treason against the best in
tercsts of the people ofevery section of the coun-
try, and the hopes of the world!
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

The following candid article upon the subject
of the extension of Slavery is from the New Or
leans Bee, of the 29th ult. Coming from such
a source it is not only remarkable, but cr-
couraging to all who consider slavery an evil, and
would regret its further extension:
{" In the present state of manners and society
Slavery is not destined 10 OpsrStep The limits IN
ii IS nOlo confined. This is Il truth that we must
have the courage to tell to the people OF the
South. They would do wrong to deceive them
selves and give themselves up to fatal Illusions
Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, and three or four
other States will not long endure slavery in their
midst, because the compulsory service of the
blacks is not indispensable to them. 1t is only
needed i'll the cotton and cane growing States.-
We 60 further and declare that no new territory,
applying for admission into the Union, will sub
init to Congress Constitution which recognizes
slavery. California has prohibited it in her Con-
sttution. Oregon and New Mexico will do as
much. Ihepeopie Of Kansas and Nebraska ,oM
certainly forbid ii. Not only is the compulsory
labor of the blacks unnecessary to them, but it
would uct predudicially to tile white laborers
who will compose the population of the two ter
ritories. What matters it then that a line should
be traced, or that it should be said: ON this side
slavery should be for bdden, on the other it shall
be alowed! What is certain is that it will no
longer be decreed. This is seen and felt us the
idea of the day-the dominant fact. Cuba alone, if
that island should be annexed will enter the con-
federacy with constitution like that of the South
ern States. And why! Because slavery alrea.
dy exists in Cuba. And are we quite sure that a
radical change will not take place in that island!
We are assured that Spain, rather than recognize
the independence of her colony, will proclaim
emancipation there. If this eventuality should
be recognized, it would be difficult to foretell the
consequences; for, in admitting that the peo.
pie OF the Island, opposing one decree by an
other, should form provisional government
and maintain slavery, it is not probable that the
representatives OF the free States, called 10 ratily
the annexation will subscribe to such transac-
ton. They will doubtless say that slaves once
freed remain free forever, and that the Spanish
government had the right to lberate those OF her
colony. ...s . as !
"We must learn to submit. Slavery will ex.
ist still long time in the Southern States of the
Union, because it has been transmitted to us from
our fathers, and is bound up with our interests
But it Is not one of those institutions that spread
alar and propagate. Slavery. we say frankly, is
necessity of our situation; if it did not exist no
one would dream OF creating it. Those then who
create agitation and seek to excite public opinion
against US are doubly criminal; they make us re-
sponsible for an institution which has been trans
mitted to US and are compelled to undermine it
by means which honor, loyalty and probty con-
demn."
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

CT The Courier des Etats Unis, very able
French paper in New York, takes the following
just and sensible view of the Nebraska bill:
"To take the Nebraska bill by itself, it repo-
ses on principle SO clear in its moral and con-
stitutitonal equity that its spontaneous adoption
by the moderate men of all parties and of all lat
itudes would in other times not have met with
either doubt or difficulty. To leave to the popu-
laton of the Territories full and entire liberty in
their domestic institutions is evidently much more
consonaDt with the dogma Of popular sovereignty
and the absolute independence of the Statec than
to fetter the future of any portion of the Union
under pretext of its geographical position; it is
also less incontestably the simplest means of put
ting an end to all conflicts between the North and
South, to all pressure of the latter on the former,
and to all distrust between them" ass-
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

0E3"In Cincinnati, on the 9th inst, Judge Finn,
in his charge to the Grand Jury declared the first
and fourth sections of the liquor law unconsttu-
tonal, as being prohibitory whereas the General
Assembly can only regulate the evils arising
from the sale" of the critter. He suggested, how.
ever, that if the Jury deemed it advisable, they
might take action upon some of the larger estab-
lishments of the city. and let the matter come up
before the courts upon test of its constitutional.
ity. The Judge thinks the constitution recogni-
zes intoxicating liquors legitimate subject of
trade, and that, therefore, they cannot be effected
by statute.
Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-14

0T 1t is stated that fillibustering expedition
is organized at or near New Orleans, upon such
plan as will evade the penalties of the law, and
secure sufficient force to invade the island Of
Cuba, with every prospect of success. We pre-
sume President Pierce will take care that the
laws are executed, and ilibustering stopped
There is better way Of settling our difficult
ties with Spain, and acquiring the island of Cuba
It can be bought; and It's sale is probably the
business Of the Spanish Commissioners lately ar.
rived at Washington from Madrid.-PtNs. Pos