Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-18
g E OR G TOWN AFFAIRS
Corrtspoadeses Of tks Sta.


GKoRGKrowN, Feb. Is, lsSs
Our city Is unusually quiet in every respect
The election for members Of the City Council
which comes of on Monday next, the 22d, as vet
attracts but little attention. Our citizens gener-
allv seem TO manifest less interest In the matter
and 10 be more careless as to what may be the
result, than We have often known before.
Pretty much the only topic OF general interest
is the report Of the special committee of the
Senate, made some weeks since by Mr.. Slideil
upon the subject Of the District hanks. Thi.
continues to be pretty thorough bly, discussed, an
In some instances pretty closely criticised far
its applicability to the necessities Of the peo-
pie Of the District is concerned, by large por-
ton of all classes Of our business men. And not
withstandng we have among many who are
In the main opposed to the local bank system of
the country, and others who think that some 70,
strctions should be placed upon them hy the
Legislative powers under which they may exist,
as vet we have heard but one opinion expressed
in regard to the changes proposed by the Senate ~
committee, and that Is, that they are too de-
cidedlv radical in their character, and in such
direct conflict with what has been common usage
in this District from time immemorial that the
| enforcement Of such law would he the nert
thing to impossibility, No long - the present
laws for the reg ulation OF the banking systems
Of Virginia and Maryland are in existence, not
withstanding the penalty affixed for its violation
might be ever so severe
Were u neces sry to our purpose, we Duld as
sign several reasons In support Of our position
either Of which we think would be satisfactory
10 every unprelndlce0 nina we are aware thai
the power lodged with those who would be
charged with its execution Is great, but we are
satisfied from our short experience in such mat
tiers that 10 would not be sufhcient 70 the emer-
eency Common and long established usage,
and well settled public opinions. are not easily
rooted out of any community, when such opin-
ions and usa ge have been supefndnced by the
wants, the necessities Of the people, even though
the strong arm of the law should be appealed 10
for their destruction, under government LIKE
ours. When Themistocles demanded the uncon-
- Att -
ure 10 make common cause with Greece against
the Persians under Xerxes. he told them (ths
Adrians) that he brought with him two power
fail divinities, persussion and force. Sand You
will be oppo' ed . vas the stern reply ssby two
equally powerful, necessity for poverty and des-
peration.' The same in our opinion, would bs
the result in case Congress should enact the pro-
posed law and attempt to enforce IL. The ofhcers
OF the law might come with their divinitIes, per-
snaSion and force, bot they would be met by the
people with those Of the AdrisRs necessity sad
desperation, and In such a contest we do not
think II requires either prophet or The son OF .
prophet to foretell what would b. the result.
We wish it to be distinctly understood that We
never have been any great friend TO the Iocsi
selling opposition TO any wholesome or necessary
law which Congress mar make 10, GU, svssh
ment. Far from IL. We are Only Preacuns
What WE verify believe will he the result In case
Congress I'm rs wisdom, shall persist In carrying
out the ultra measures proposed oy the Senstes
COMMITTEE and I'm uttering ines, p~dlctionsN
,ye - onIy iudging the future by the past.
We are authorz-d to statf thai at a meeting OF
hs ,n,t. Know Nothing deIse stes elected by the
-, nrecipcts Of our town, the following gentle
men were nomna ed for the coming municipal
Hoard OF Aldermen-7 oSer p Dodge, Dr.
yo.hn. Riley, George w1ters' George w sssii'
Common Constellation r. seymour, Ds-
vid w. Oyster, John NJ. Stake, Richard Jenes,
Henry Barron, j. Thomas Davis. w William l.
Dunlop, samuel Cropley, James Thicker, Lew
Davis, Joseph N. Pearson. sTrcfAfoh,