The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-07-28

EDITOR PLAiNDEALER: Please insert III
| your paper, the following letter from Henry
W. Starr. II is needless To say anything
about the writer. Mr.. Starr is widely and
favorably known throughout the State. lie
hss resided in Iowa for twenty years, aud
always stood in the front rank of her public
men. Although now acting with the Dem
ocratic party, and an ardent supporter Of
Mr.. Buchanan, lie formerly was one Of the
acknov lodged leaders Of the National Wing
party, aud his opinions will be read with
great interest and Difference by oil the old
line whigs Of the State.
Mr.. Starr has ever been one of our most
"asi0sal and Conservative politicians, and be-
ing not only among the first, but The first
lawyer in Iowa, Lis construction Of certain
portion Of the "Bill &c Rights" in the New
Constitution will settle the meaning with all
ceassrvatte. men
This construction u a timely one, for IL is
said that, in addition to that given 10 this
portion Of the New Constitution by some
Of the ultra Democratic presses, certain ratsd
Republicans are now contcnding for the
same construction Il u thus that extremes
will sometimes meet
BURLINGTON, July l4th, 1857.
DEAR SIR:-1 have read the article in the
Piaiadeaier of July 10th, and believe that
il meets every objection made against the
New Constitution. The negro question is
entirely distinct, in the coming election; and
there must be majority Of all the votes
cast, before a negro il installed as citizen.
This IL impossible. But while we deny cit
izcnship 10 this degraded race We should a.
christians allow 10 them those rights neccs-
sary for their protection against wrong and
outrage. To provide schools for heir child
rem u a humane II not a religious object
The provision of the Constitution which
takes from the legislature, and confers upon
distinct tribunal, the management &c our
schools and school fund, commando my spe-
cial favor We have the largest school fun.
OF any State. let il he husbandcd n
legacy for our children, and let il no longer
be the sport Of politicians and Office holders
] have carefully examined the objection,
urged against the Constitution; but find none
! OF any real weight. Ii j. said that il rropo-
ses collision with the General Government
in the provision that in cases involving the
life or liberty Of an individual, the accused
shall have a right to a ~pee,. and public
trial by an impartial jury" This provision
| - found Ia every Constitution, and IL means
to apply only 10 cases arising under orr orn
Constellation aud taEs. As a party to the
Union IL States. we have conceded to the
(.s.s.a
which We can never resume or exercise
and among these we have conceded the
| right VI cxtradition Of ftigitiycs from labor
or crime IL j. idle, then, Ca contend that
any provision Of our Constitution can take
back powers granted in the Constitution 81
the United States
There u nothing in the new Constitution,
which, when properly construed, contra
venes any provision Of the Constitution, laws
or decisions Of the General Government.
In regard to banking and paper money,
should be a hard money man, il it were pos
| sible. But IL seems ridiculous 10 set up an
abstract theory to govern u, which " III pro-
duce no result which we desire. Iowa il
surrounded on four sides By hanks. The
whole Union is mandatory Of bank paper
Iowa excepted. The currency Of every
State circulatcs here, provided our private
bankers will take it, II they do not, tgoes
at discount, which the people must stand
In Judging Of our old Constitution and the
new, let us look back to our early history.
In 1876, when we formed our Constitution
the State o. Illinois, and many Others, were
bankrupt in their schemes Of Internal I'm
provemcnt, and As a natural consequence,
the Bank Of Illinois, and many other Banks,
became insolvent, leaving a large amount Of
worthless paper in circulation in our State.
Our people resolved tiiat they would have
State without Banks, and without internal
improvements, and no State debt. This vas
wise At the time, but experience proves that,
although we prohibited the creation Of
Banks, and our legislature made the issue
and circulation Of Rank paper, Or paper to
be used as money, penal offence, Zone year
imprisonment Ia the county jail, and $1,000
tine, that we are Hooded with Bank paper.
and that oi the least responsible kind. We
arc in the hands Of private bankers Aay-
thing they receive AZ their counters Is cur
rsncy. Tkey supply To our State It's cur
rcncy. They get II where il Is cheapest.
VI course they bring to W irresponsible pa
per. They 20 10 Ncbraska-to the Aericul-
sural Bank OF Tenncssee-the Bank Of Te-
cumsch, &c, wherever there is an out u the
Gay Bank, and where loans can he made NJ
cheap rates. These private Bankers reg,..
late the rate II interest They all demand
ID per cent. a. minimum---and all loans
made outside the banks are at an advance.
ON this minimum. By this kind Of ACCOM-
mediation, the people Of our State lose In
interest and deprecated and rotten paper,
millions every year
Again, every State IN the Union. and cv-
cry nation Of the earth. not only now exist
ing, but backward TO the paimy DAYS Of
,sreecc and Rome, have asserted the sove-
reign powers 81 regulating their currency
II Is the right and duty Of every State 10
do this--to regulate and govern their cur
rency. Iowa resolved TO have no currency,
and therefore had nothing 10 govern. Now
what has been our experience under the old
constitution We are supplied with
currency by private Bankers. generally de
rived from irresponsible Banks, where they
can borrow cheapest. our State j. flooded
with every sort of paper, and no citizen i.
sale in taking bill unless he has a banker
ON hand To take /, on deposit. TRYING 10
rid ourselves Of paper currency We are
Hooded with all sorts u irresponsible paper
Trying 10 get along without Banks, and
prohibiting the issue and circulation 81 pa.
per "tc be used as money every cxpcdient
Is resorted Ca 20 esade the law and 10 create
paper money The public necessity sustains
the issue Of paper money And obedicnt TO
this necessity, the city of Burlington issues
paper 20 circulate n money and new in
stitution, called a Savings Bank, in Burning
ton, is flooding the hack country with lis
bills.
The former policy Of Iowa is a failure
The old Constitution and our laws are a
failure Let the State resume is sovereignty
over the currency The beople arc to con-
troll under the new Constitution and say
whether they will hay. Banks or not Give
me the voice Of the people.
HrSRy ". STARR