Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-02-24

cos1.sr,orAIs 1r,r.,sr-rh.s.sono upon
RATS oEiniesesssis rom the able spen@ Freeman
HpDt Editor Of che AsrchentA MAsazins
nSsfcaaslle nsn are mob unsasmoesy sres4 than
:tIlAa Nh chs firms ts inexpediencs andsleay OF
That gare called the usury laws; and the tenacity
Nth which different legislatures adhere to their
interdict of the freedom of trade in the article OF
money, is striking instance of the propensity Of
our legislators to trammel trade With laws which it
Must either violate Or sink under n. p
.sThe argument against the 2ropriety of legisla
tive interference to regulate the rate of interest ap
pears to us SO conclusive and unanswsrable, and
has been SO repeatedly and clearly set forth, not by
money lenders so much as by money borrowers,
who may be presumed to have understood what the
interests of trade demand, that are amazed that
the whole system of usury laws has not long since
been botted from the statute books of every State
in the Union. -..
ut has been justly urged, that it is plainly in
respect desirable limit the rate Of interest
than it would be to limit the rate of insurance, or
the prices of commodities. And though it were de-
srable it cannot be accomplished. The real effect
of all legislative enactments having such an object
in view is to increase, not diminish, the rate Of in.
terest When the rate fixed by law is less than the
customary market rate, lenders and borrowers
are obliged to resort crcuitous devices to evade
the laws and as these devices always attended
with less trouble and risk the rate of inter-
est is propor,ionably enhanced.
:" Fixed rates of interest are absurd, because the
value Of money is constantly varying, being sub
eet to the same law that regulates other articles
Every body who notices the daily newspaper reports
can see for himself that no market is more huctuat.
ing than the money market. At one period and in
one State of things money is worth twice as much
another time and in another state Of things
Unless the legislature can stay all the fluctuations
of trade it is idle think of singing out the arti
Gle of money, and insisting that that shall command
q uniform price. ....- .,...s...-.
"Other considerations enter into the contract be-
tween the borrower and the lender affecting the
just premium for the use of money. The rate will
of course depend, in a measure, upon the security
given In proportion that is doubtful, should
the premium rise. The lender must be compensat-
ed for the risk he concurs well as for the use Of
his funds, and it is right and reasonable that he
should be-. a1rf - .
I'm short, the laws to which We are Directing are
destitute of all sound basis They are unreasonable,
impracticable, oppressive to those whom they pro-
fess to protect embarrassing to legitimate trade ard
nnwarrantable restriction upon every mans free
dom. For these and other reasons they ought to be
abolished.
NINE DAYS BATTLE BETWEEN CANNIBALa-
The Honolulu Advertiser of a late date says:
Hsnaveve valley, which lies opposite the bay, does
not resemble our Haxawiian valleys. 1t is not gen.
tie slope between two hills. but a ravane with steep
sides, apparently split out from the mountains. 1t
is, however, Of the largest, most beautiful, and
productive, of the many glens of Fatuhiva. This
valley has recently been the scene of protracted
war between the neighboring tribes. One of these
contests lasted nine days. at the close of which the
bodies of the captured dead were eaten. This canni
bal custom prevails throughout this group.
They do not have great feast over these human
bodies, as is generally supposed to be the case but
the body is cut to pieces on the battlefield and each
warrior takes his piece-an arm, joint rib,
cording to his merit-raises it on his gun his
shoulder, and macrhes home. There he calls his
lations together and they devour the fesh-some
cooking it in slices like pork, but most eat it raw
The motive which induces them to eat the bodies of
their enemies is rerenge they feel that their revenge
is not satisfied until they have tasted of their blood
and Aeah- Whom thair hatred. anger and ravenRe
are at the highest point, and their enemy lies dead
before them. then it eliminates in the fiendsh act of
eating human flesh, and We may easily imagine that
the quiverng heart that crnges and CRATES between
their bloody teeth, is the sweetest morsel that .
heather warrior taste. This cannibalism is
fired mostly to the older natives. The younger peo
pie appear to be ashamed of the practice, and it is
probable that before many years it will be extinct
This famous battle Of Hanaveve Keketa tells us,
lasted nine days 1t consisted rather of skirmishing
though shots enough were fired to have killed reg
ment. 1t is quite likely that these simple warriors
did their firing with their eyes shut, during the
entire contest but two persons were killed
The beaten party in this terrible entered into
compact with their conquerors, in which hostages
were exchanged, but those of the vanquished ran
away Qrom fear of being devoured, perhaps) and re.
turned to their tribe, who immediately in the most
secret manner. took "bag and baggage" from the
soil Of their ancestors and made hasty retreat to
the island of Tahuaka. The victors having gained
than they anticipated, but just what they de-
sireo took possession and divided the spoil This con-
test was ancient feud There were but two points
of approach to the valley, one by the mountain pass
nd hv hcfn had the hee
able to force this passage fastness of ma
ture. They had been forced to steal through an
aperture worn by the waves through the northern
point of the island, from whence they discharged
their firearms upon their enemies and retreated.-
It is now said that the exies are homesick that
they desire return and that there those of the
conquerors who would welcome them back.
COMONFORT'S FALL.
The downfall of Comonfort seems to have been
the result of his unpopularity with the Mexican
clergy. We suppose the astonishing vitality and
power of recuperation which exhibited by Santa
Anna during his the result of the support
he derived from the clerical order and of his popu
larity with the church.