Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-21
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

States where there Is 80 little law and where that
little is 30 openly and shamelessly violated. When
Mr.. Henry May expatriated himself 10 avoid con.
tact with what he considered an ill-ordered Judi
cary, and was subsequently returned TO Congress
by constituency Of sister city, which had some
consideration of our grievances, it was supposed
that he would and at once set on foot the proposed
means for attaining such legal integrity as other
communities boast. Some years have elapsed and
the only progress made has been the appointment
Of two or three gentlemen to codify our laws who,
getting good salaries for light work, will probably
be in no hurry to report and when the code Is re-
ported it may lnger in Congress for years, or for
ever.
This being the state Of the case, il rests upon
the public press particularly and to all good citi-
zens, besides yielding obedience to the laws as
they exist 10 give no countenance to such as break
them Two-thirds of all the acts of Congress, since
the District was ceded. and ninetenths of those in
force In Maryland at the time, may be said to be
a dead letter. And as 20 the Corporation laws, it
Is conceded generally that they are not only en-
forced, but actually conceived in Pickwickian
sense having just enough Of earnestness to prop
tate particular political personal interests and
always saving clause or underlined power, by
which opposite interests cannot be seriously in
volved. Thus we have gradually relapsed into vir
tui lawlessness
Inc eXlsung Statute On usify feauS. = All NOTES,
bonds, contracts, &c for more than six per cent
interest, are void; and every person charging, or
taking, directly or indirectly, more than six per
cent. interest, shall forfeit treble the amount so
lent or contracted; one-half to 60 to the United
States and the other half to any person who shall
sue for It."
How many people in the District are aware of
the existence of this laws How many usurers ply
their equivocal calling, and how many little fish
yearly made victims to the sharks that rule the
financial currentg Who can estimate the wasteful
extravaganza that the facilities for getting money
has engendered, and who can estimate the suffer-
ing that has fallen on helpless womanhood and in
fancy from their rightful support having gone to
swell the bloated Golfers of shayers? Why, We
have but two classes--the shavers and the shaved!
OF the morality Of usury we need not discourse.
Scripture Holy Writ, and public opinion in every
age, have decided the question, if question there
be any. There may possibly be circumstances to
relieve all the parties to usurious transaction
from fault, but most generally from its inception,
in desire to get something for nothngih trans
action, almost always involving deceit and actual
living on one side or the other-and its results in
the certain ruin and probable disgrace of at least
one party, the system as whole may be set down
as vicious.
A all prohibtory laws have failed to arrest the
evil, the only hope is in public opinion which tri-
bunal has never acquiesced If it has tolerated.
There is hardly case that can justify its resort
Better beg better go without the neceRsaries Of
life for time, better anything but the violation of
some paramount law, than forge single link in
the chain of public decentralization. All! the SER
vitude more calling than iron chains, that binds
the man Of honor to fnty, cod-heartcd usurer!
Young men beware! Let the present generation
Of victims and vicmizers 60 out together. Com
pound your virtues not your dimes!
CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTIONAL convention of
Jala nf tha M marty n n
candidate for Congress from the Sixth Congress
sional District met at the American Hotel, in this
city, August Goth, and was organized by the ap-
pointment of the following ge temen:
]. A. Cassidy OF Howard, President.
j. J. Dalrymple, of Calvert, Vice President.
7. j. Wilson, of Anne Arundel; Peter Simpson,
of Montgomery Secretaries
Nominations were made rs follows
DR.. w. w. Watkins, Of Howard.
James S. Morsell, Jr., of Prince George.
DR.. Joseph J. Duvall, of Prince George.
George Wells, of Anne Arundel.
Dr. W w. Watkins having received a majority
of all tn, votes cast on the first ballot, declar
ed the choice of the convention.
Every county in the District was fully represent
ed, excepting st. Mary's, and the greatest unanm-
~ prevailed throughout the entire proceedings.
We congratulate the Americans of the District
upon the selection of DIR. Watkins, and predict
handsome majority in his favor in the coming con.
test.
PIE-siSd--Passing through Centre Market yes
terday morning, when near the cook-shops, saw
bne, large kitten laid out cold Wondering
whether this was left "a a specimen, Mr.. Weer's
experience In the feline way forcibly REQUIRED :
lodged in the same house with pie-man once
sir, and very nice man he was; reglar clever
chap, too; make pies cut of anything he could"
What a number Of cats you keep, Mr.. Brooks"
says /, wher got intimate with him. "Ah, says
l.. L. hn
fond o. cats" says !. Other people l., Gays he,
winkin at me !" they amt in season till the winter
though" says he. Not in season." says |. NO.
says he fruits il In, cats is out" "Why what
do you mean" says l. Mean" sayshc I" that Ill
never be party TO the combination Of butchers
to keep mp tho prices OF meat, says he. Mr.
Weller" says he squeezing my hand very hard, and
visperng in my ear, don't mention this here again.
but its the scasonin as does il. They're all made
O them noble animals" says he, pointing to a very
nice little tabby kitten, "and ! seasons EN- for
beefsteak, veal, or kidney cordin to the demand ;
and, more than that, says he, can make veal
a beefsteak; or a beefsteak kidney or any one Of
'em a mutton, at a minutes notice, just as the
market changes, and appetites wary"
SISsuLAR--Uncle Fuller very observing old
man indeed, who walks around the markets, not
to see what his neghbors buy, but how people
sell remarks the most singular capacity Of guess
logical or other sympathy between the man and
scales Thus, in observing some forty-seven scales
this morning. in which pounds and all sorts Of
fractions Of pounds of meat, butter, &c. were
made in fortyiour, the seller guessed the exact
quantity no more and no less, than called for.
Now that's what Uncle Fuller calls "iufernal
clever" lie has often heard Of people being a.
smart steel trap" bnt il il the first time he ever
saw steal trap exactly smart as people.
HonsE.wHIPPISG AND WHIPPING HoRsEs.-
Things that sound alike are not always the same,
as several can testify. Yesterday there came of
on street quite q scene Of the one character,
arising il IL said from Of the other. Though
IL happened "after went to PRESS" thing that
never ought to happen, we have not been able to
discover all the parties, but we have the satsiac.
ton to hear that both operations were well done,
and done quickly as " IL were done at all
PoLTcK CouRr-CESTRAL STATIoS.--Befors JHs-
tees Birch and Hoilinqshead.-Tanley Metre