Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-01-11

The une1pended bslance OF the appropriation
Of 1857 was Si25 IA. which, added to the bSlanee
from 1855, makes total balance Of S725 "a
which will be needed for additional purchases be-
fore the next annual appropriation will be availa-
Bile.
Gov. CHAsE's MEssAeE.-We have received
a copy of the message of Governor Chase, OF
OhiO, delivered to the Legislature of that
| State, at the commencement of its regular
session, on the 4th instant. 1t is an able doc
ument, and the portions of it which refer
to the questions of currency and federal rela-
tons, will be read by persons outside the
State, with an interest as dRsp as is fsls in the
minds Of the immediate constituents Of this
able and accomplished statesman.
Upon currency and banking, we are happy
to see such coincidence of views with those
expressed in the recent message Of Governor
Banks to the Legislature OF our own State.
In expressing his views upon this subject, Mr..
Chase says:
| ''In a former communication to the General
| Assembly, while admitting the convenience
| of mixed currency Of coin and convertible
notes, and the improbabllity that a currency
entirely of coin will be soon adopted in the
| country, expressed my own opinion in favor
| OF currency of coin for ordinary transac-
| tons, and OF large notes for the convenience
| OF commerce, and at the same time urged the
necessity of the most stringent legislative
| guards against suspension Of specie payments,
and against mere paper money system.
/ "a I-N.--
| confirmed me in these views.
A leading object in all regulations of cur
| rency should be to secure the interests of the
masses of the people, by such provisions as
will insure to labor just compensation in ac-
tual value. This cannot be effected while the
laborer is paid in paper, subject to continual
huctuation, and exposed 10 all the hazards Of
financial disorder.
Whatever can be eonsttutionally effected
by State legislation, toward the exclusion of
the smaller denominations of notes toG circu-
lation and the substitution Of coin in their
place. should be earnestly attempted. The
quantity OF coin in the country is now SO
great, and so steadily increasing, that no in
jury, and almost no Inconvenience could
arise to any interest from judicious legislation
for this object. On the contrary, it seems to
me certain that the increased circulation of
coin which will thus be secured, cannot fail
to result in most substantial benefits tn all
interests, by additional securities against fuc-
tuation and revulsion. These benefits seem
to me so obvious that l should hope for the
assent of the banks themselves to the legisla-
ton necessary to secure them.
The existence of the decision, already re-
ferred to, the uncertainty of obtaining the as
sent of the banks to the necessary legislation,
faof kDaf Al
whose Banks issue such notes. and the prac-
teal difficulty of excluding the notes OF these
| Banks from circulation in Ohio, created the
apprehension 1 have heretofore expressed,
that comparatively little can be accomplished
in the direction of the proposed reform by
State legislation. These appfehensions yet
remain. The efeotlal remedy is ,oith the Fed
erat Government. Looking at the maaitest IN
tent Of the Constitution TO protect the people
from the evils Of a paper currency, as soeR as
TO the specific poaoers granted to Congress, I
cannot doubt the pOaCer Of the National Legts-
tatare 20 prohibit the circulation as money of
| any substitute for coin. Nor can doubt that
the exercise Of that po,cey By tho gradual pro
! addition Of notes Of the smaller denominations
under t,oefty dollars, you'd be aoise and sal,t-
| tGry. The denial Of this power virtually sub
| mlts the regulation of commerce in it's most
| important instrumentality to the variable and
conflicting politics of thirty. one States, and
defeats one of the main purposes of the Con-
! stitution.
In regard to the alarming encroachments of
the Federal Government upon the rights Of
| the States, and especially upon the rights of
the people of his own State, Governor Chase
uses no ambiguous language. Referring to
the case of the slave woman, Margaret Gar
ner, indicted for murder, before the Supreme
Court of Ohio, and taken out of its iursdic-
ton by the order of United States Judge of
the District, without allowing any opportu-
nifty for the interposition of the State author
tiles, the Governor says:
"a disposition has been manifested, within
the last few years, by some of the officials of
the Federal Government, exercising their
functions within the limits of Ohio, to disre.
gard tha authority, and to encroach upon the
rights of the State, to extent and in a man
ner which demands your notice.
The alleged ground for this action and or
der was that the indicted parties had been
seized as fugitive slaves upon Federal Com
missioner's warrant, before the indictment
and arrest, and that the right to their custo-
dy, thus acquired, was superior to that of the
Sheriff, under the process of the State. This
doctrine must necessarily give practical i'm
punity to murder, whenever the murderer
may be seized by Federal official as fugi-
tive from service, before arrest for the crime
under State authority. Imputing no wrong
intention to the Judge, am constrained to
add, that his proceeding seems to me an
abuse. rather than an exercise, of judicial
| power.
similar case occurred more recently in the
| county Of Champaign. Several deputies of
the Federal Marshal, having arrested certain
citizens OF this State for some alleged offense
against the Fugitive Slave act, a writ of ha-
beas corpus was issued by the Probate Judge
Of that county, requiring the arrested parties
TO be brought before him for inquiry into the
| grounds Of detention The Sheriff of Clark
county, while attempting to execute this writ,
was assaulted by these petty officials and ser-
ously injured, while his deputy was fred up-
on, though happily without effect. A war.
rant was issued by Justice OF the Peace for
the apprehension OF the perpetrators of these
otfenses. This warrant was duly executed,
and the prisoners committed to jail under the
custody Of the Sheriff of Clark county. A
writ Of habeas corpus was then issued by the
same District Judge who had interposed in
the case Of Margaret Garner, requiring the
| Sheriff. Of Clark county to produce his pris-
oners before him at the City of Cincinnati
This writ was also obeyed, and the prisoner.
were discharged from custody by the order Of
the Judge, on the ground that. being Federal
officers, and charged with the execution of 8
Federal writ. they had a right TO overcome
I by any necessary violence all attemDts madf