The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-12-17

simple and expressive. u ne suoleeto ueat
ed are Of the grstest Importance, and the
manner in which they are discussed is calm,
clear and statesman.like. To attempt any
thing like a review Of the message would
exceed The limits OF the present article
We propose. however, to glance at some Of
the leading features, and leave others to
discussion hereafter.
1HK CURRENCY.
The frat topic treated is The question of
currency. He siiudcs to The widespread
arrangement OF the finances in The different
States. Helvery justly charges the evils Of
The money crisis to the injudicous and ire
sponsibls systems oi banking which have
been established. The facts which he sug-
gssts, are themselves mighty arguments, and
they need but little comment. There are,
he says, more tlan fourteen hundred State
Banks issuing bills, ard these bills are and
have been used us circulating medium
These banks had in cirruia.ion on the first
OfJabusry, 1857, $2i4,77s, ,S29. and their
deposits amounted to $3.50. 357 ,s53, making
their total liabilities the enormous sum OF
-FOUR HUNDRED AND FoRrY-FIyE MILLIONS
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THOUSAND oNE
HUNDRED AND sEyESTY-FoUR DOLLARS -
The total amount Of specie in the vaults Of
these banks, with which to meet these Ii.
abilities is S5s .s4s .sss. By simple com.
putation, Il will be seen thai their liabiliti s
ife hedriy eight times as greet as their sbil.
ty to fray. or in other words, their bills are
worth in money only about thirteen cents
on the dollar. Is it any wonder that the
banking institutions Of the country have sus.
pended and failed by hundreds! The Pre-.
sident is right when he suys the only won.
der is that they have stood SO long.
CUR ToKErsS RELATIONS.
Accordingly to the message, VIC are at
peace win all the Mcrld sand tile rest OF
mankind" nearly.
The disagreement between the United
States and Great Britain as to the proper
construction OF tho Clayton aud Bulwer
! Treaty, and the rights Of the respective par
ties under it, seems likely TO result in umi.
cable adjustment. The con>ti uctions put
upon It by the TWO governments are directly
antagonistic. In This case, the Prcsiden,
seems to thin the proper course is 10 a6ulist
the old treaty aud bcgih snd m ke new
DdFEsin entirely. Wehrve full confidence
in the ability and wisdom Of Iu' government
lin the infringement Of Dur foreign Affairs
dnd especially in regard to the difference
with Great Britain. Our relations viii
France are friendly. SO, also, with'Russ:a "a
In regard to Spain, there 'are difficulties no
yet satisfactorily settled.
THE rILLiErTERs.
Tie President condemns, in strong an
emphatic language, all expeditions originu
ting or 6>ted Gu, in the United Stdtcs b
reckless ddvcntu'crs, against other govern
INT nt., al especially against the Centre
American States. The projects of Wake
, to inrOde Nicaragua and subjugate aud con
troll the people there, meets with his unqual
fed condemnation. He intimates that
such an expedition were Planned by lh
citizens of any other government against u,
the government within whose province an
Aundfr whose sanction it WIS started, woul
'bc held 10 stern at d strict accountability
This is sound and who doctrine, on
one Which will meet with a cordial upprovu
on the part Of 'dll the candid ard reliabl
friends Of good government in the country.
There may be sort Of romantic interet
attaching itself To the career and destiny @
General Walker, and many 'BrGve dnd gen
, erons youth has been lured by his 'persa1
sion 10 lin his standard. But the secon
sober thcu. ht Of every honest citizen mu:
Z be That at'best he is bold, bad, dangerdu
, and irresponsible ad; enturer, who, th
moment he leaves the American shote, wit
an '6rh ed force to invade o neighb6rin
State, loses hts right and litle to protectio
frdm the American Government.
: KASsAs.
The uffairs of Kansas are treated 6f I
considerable length. The Prcsden, seem
o'thiuk thu, IL tile question of slavery i
fully and fairly submitted to tie people {
Kansas, and decided by fair vote, it woul
perhops be better fer the quiet and peace {
. the country, and that territory, particular!
to admit Kansas as o State-evcn tLoug
the balance OF the Constitution be not sui
mitted to The people. He does not, howeve
recommend actipn either one way Of othc
but seems Content to leave the settlemer
Of the question entirely with Congress. =
/, Great pains have been taken blythe Reput
licon press to represent Nlr. Buchan h ,
J.. having taken ground against the do trine {
popular sovereignty, and against The 'Kam;
4 and Nebraska ait; and they seem to slor
:. in the idea that there is wide split betwec
. Judge Douglas and the President. None
h these representations are true. There is +
!, rplit between Judge Douslns ard Mr.. Bucl
> ansn. There is no difference in pr,ncir
!, between them. Tho latter of these gentI
men may possibly hold tina, as the que.tic
q OF slavery is the only ono about which the
rs any discussion or difference, either in
| II "a q. IL