Edgefield advertiser. (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, June 28, 1848, Image 2
COMMUNICATIOT.
For the Advertiser.
TO THE PEOPLE OF EDGEFIELD
DISTRICT.
The discussion that has arisen, in refer
enco to the Bank of the State of South
Carolina, puts in qiestion the policy and
expediency of such an Institution. This
is manifesdy the real issue presented. The
propriety of requiring and publishing an
annual report of the debts due the Bank
by its Officers and Directors, and by the
members of both branches of the Legisla
ture, has proved to be a question, but in
troductory to the other and more important
inquiry. I frankly avow myself as op,
posed to the policy of the State's hating
a Bank of her own. Every seh league
or connection, I believe to he fraught with
mischief. Why is it, that we justify the
imposition of taxes by the State and are
content to pay them ? It is, that the
Government may be upheld, the law of
the land enforecd, and each citizen be
thereby protected in the enjoyment of his
rights of person and property. The mo
tmrllt rte make any other disposition of the
proceeds of thcse taxes, than their direct
and imnedi:.te application to the support
oi' the Goveronteut and the nintenance
of the law, that mnonent, as I conceive,
'ye begin to tread upon dangerous ground.
It is all times unsafe to create a State
inurest of any duration.-wltether in the
tori of a Bank or, in any other guise,
distiuct from the intereut of tho- citizens of
the State. ' is still more objec:ionabple
when such anl interest comes into conipei
tiuu with the people as itdividuals, im the
ordinary business and comtnoo purstuts of
life.
in no aspect, 1 apprehend, can the real
interests of the people be promoted by such
an Institution. If it prove a losing; busi
ness pecuniarily, then it is an unmitigated
evil. But if it were detmonstratjle, :hat
throngit its agency enormons profits w ould
he made. and a ind accumulated sullicient
to r'.eve the people from State taxes alto
gctter, even ,nen, I naint in, it would
l,rove most mischievous. It wonid we*u
ikeu --in ei.ect. remove, the direct depend
Otce Vf the State &vertitttir upon the
people, resulting frun their h htily
contributing the supplies necessary to. its
support. It would lull the people into an
apathy and indifferenco to publie measures
more profound, than that at pres- -t pre
vailiug among theta-an apathy fron
which they are now only fa'ntly and tran
siently aroused by the annual visits of the
tax gatherer. In all its consequences tim
.mediato as .vell as remote, it would prove
the prolific source of evils innutmierable.
No were pecuniary advantage can com,
pensate for the ill consequences invariably
flowing from the violation of a sound p0
liticai principle.
But perhaps the most formidable of all
the objections to a State Bank remains
yet to be urged. Frorn toe very nature
of the-operations of a Bank-the manage
ment of the fund entrusted to it as its capi
tal, caunot be properly understood and
appreciated by the people at large. -Ex
cept in cases of he grossest inisitanage
meat, even an a nual publicationo
daitmes ~i iI ites of ?all 1iie ,
' woumhsc-rcAAesuliI@e-Wo DIVA rt.rnui sl
would asil, its policy might t "l eyes
tioned. The friends of the present B3aus
of the Stati with one voice, protest antd
with reason against such a publicatton.as
niterly destructive to the successful opera'
tion ot the Institution. If, however, the
peopjle must, of necessity, remain in agno
r-ance of the dspositin and manaugemnent
of the public nfiney confided to the B ank,
then are they practically diveued of all
power eifectually, to aegulate or conatroi it.
For, ho.w can they correct abauses, ir they
are not permitted to perceive themt ? And
wha' bncomtes of the accountability of the
Bank Officers nad Ditrectors, if tney ;are
cor.'aled iotm the public eye ? Such ani
Iistittttion would smeem to be at war withl
every sound principile of popuilar govern
mient.
The Batnk of thie State, I am of opin.
ion, is obnoxious to each and all oif these
objecti-ns; acd as it ought never to have
beetn established, its Gbarter ought never
to be renewed.
I content myself with ihis hmrried and
imnperfeec soummIary of the grotunds of muy
opinilon upon this iunportan t question.
If the Batik of the Stmle as to comtinue
there are many and powerful reasons lior
requiring to be niade and puhhilshed, an
nnuual report of the debts die to) ihe bank,1
by its Officers and Diteetors, and by 11he
members of both branches of the Legibla
tore, it most be bornte in mind, that the
Bank and its capital are exclusive'ly the
property of the State. VTo public mao
neys to the amount of miillions aie etn
trotted to ts custo-ly andu conitrol. and as
by the terms of i's Charter, the faith ol
te State is plodged lor the redemnptiot) of
is ills. the Wunk is thereby~ inve~'eed withi
the dangerous faceulty of increasing the
public debt to anm untimitedl ama'unt.
Ilence it is of the highest moment thait its
allairs be honestly anid ably adintistered.
All co nsiderate mien, it wouild seemt, muatst
agreo that every posiilde safeguiard against
abuse, where the tenmptations to abuse are
so potent, and its cotnsequences mighglt prove
so disastrous, if not unierly itnconsis'ent
with the existence of 'he Batik, should be
at once interposed. The course that has
beena suggested of antnually publishing a
list of the names and liabilities of the
Batik O00icers and Directors and of the
members of the Legislature, is recoi
mended by most obvious considerations,
It proceedis upon~t ihe ground, thai as these
persons by reason if their official posi
(ions, possess faiciliu'es for obtaining loans
above their fellow citizens, and beyond
their owni pecuniary respornsibility, iliere
are special reasons for apprehending ini
respect to them, acts of favoritismi, and~
mnismanagemenit on the part of the Bang.
That such apprehensions in regard to its
Directors, are ntot without foiunidation, is
demonstrated by the recordled history o:
that corporation. As early as 1825, aind
as lato as 1847, the fact wa announced
in the reporis of the examininig Commit
tees of those years, that losses to the Ba nk
wvere more apt to occur from its Direciors
ihant from any ('(her class of its customoe.
Indeed in the report of the former year, it
iq stated, that "far the greater portion of
e lossesan nsusainerd by the RBrans. colmb
traced to them." In the Report of_147,
it is said, that "the State pays no money
to these gentlemen (the Directors) for their
services, and it must always be understood.
that the Candidate for a Director's place,
can be seeking nothing in the attainment
of this office. than pecuniary facilities of
some sort." And the Committee for remedy
of the evil. gravely suggest the despairing
expedient of making changes in the direc.
tion but rarely, because say they, "every
new direction, becomes a new borrower."
In the Report of the Investigating Com
mittee for 1843, the aggregate of the debts
lost to the Bank up to the lst October of
that year, is set down at $490,486 92 cis.,
and of this amount it is stated, that the
Bank lost by its Directors. $183,768 72cts.
From the 1st October 1843 to the 1st Oc
tober 1847, there were added to the losses
of the Bank, $S8.6&5 36 ets.. $25.000
of which are reported to have been ocea
sinned by the delinquency of one of the
Directors. On the day last mentioned,
the losses of the Bank wore in the aggre
gate $57:.072 28. and the sum total of the
debts of the Directors lost to the Bank
amounted to $20,768 92 ets. When to
tbis, it is added, that the liabilities of the
President and Directors of the Bank and
its Branches were reported to the Legisla
ttre at its last Session as amounting to
$765,000, a sum equal to two-thirds of the
original Bank capital, it would seem that
the necessity for some more ef'ective
nremedy than at present exists, was fully
and indisputably established. But it is
most manifest, that the Members of the
Legislature stand in the same category
with 'he Presider.t and Directors of the
Bank and its Branches. True it is, they
have no seat at the Boards, and can not
vote directly to lend money to themselves.
They however annually elect the Presi
dent and Directors of the Bank, all of
whom are re-eligible. They exercise a
superintending and visitorial power over
them. They may at any moment, ditmin
ish or add to the capital of the Bank, and
en'artc or abridge the power and infuence
of its Directors. Through them it is, that
the Batik and all its functionaries live and
hav their being. It would be preposter
ous to denv. that a Representative of
scanty means, but of abundant personal
influence, must possess facilities in borrow
ing from tIe -a':k, incomparably greater
than those etnjoy ed r'y his fellow citizens
nott of office, though of equal pecuniary
respnnihility.
In 1839. the Legislature by joint resolu
tion rf both Houses, required that a private
Report should be anuu'tlly made to that
body of the debts duo the Bank by its
several Directors.
I have the authority of the last examin
ing Committee for saying, that these pri
veto Reports have not accomplished their
object. Will the .publication of such a
Report, embracing also, the names and
liabilities of the Mcnbers of both Branch
es of the Legislature, prove more effica
cious?
I have come to the conclusion, that such
publication ought to be made. It would
deter the Bank Officers and Directors and
the Members of the Legislaftre from
seekin and' the Bank from
air y-warrant. it would s,
ellect, because the Dietr oi m
that such njustiftabl'e acts woula 'iespe i
ly .exposed to the publlic eye, and would
subject all concerned iu them, to severe
and unsparing censure. In respect to the
Members of the Legislature, its operation
would be especially salutary. As they
shoold not be permitted by their oflcial
positions, to exert an undue itdluence over
the Bantk, so also, it is of equal, indeed of
greater itmportance, that the Bank be rnot
allow'.ed to exercise anty soch control over
tnumo. To ptut ito str-unger- examnple,-a
Reptresentativo may be indebted so largely
to the Banik, that his ability to iretain for
hims~elf antd family, all their accustorned
comtforts and enjoymenits may be entirely
de'pentdent uponi the forbearance of its
Dihectors. In titat event he coultl be
searcely regarded as free to consider ong,
the public inieresi in any mneasure involv
ing the curtuilrment of the issues of the
Batnk, the collection of its debts, or the
daiuution in any mode of' its capital, or
manel. '1Tius situated (hinself perhaps,
unactnscius of the indluence) it wvould
prv comparatively easy to stimulate ham
inito becoing . the ardent and energetic
champion of tho Bank, forgetful of' the
putbfie gotod. A disclosure of his pecu
ntiary relations with that corp~orationi
wouldI arrest him in his course. It would
deprive him of the moral indfuence that
lie might otherwise wield. It would at
least enable his constituenicy to decide
uniderstaindingly, how far his dependetnce
uponi the Bintk consisted with ibe dischare
of fits duties to them. In respect to the
other Officers of the Bank anti its Bratich
es. for reasonts that will readily suggest
themselves, the samte line of policy should
be ptursuedl.
Thu liprioposed publication of narbesanid
liabilities, should however be prospective
only. This is demtanded by the spirit, if
not by the letter of the Bank Charter, or
at tall evets by the implied understanditng
that must be supposed to have existed,
when the debts stew subsisting were
iuenrred. It is not as a mode of pish.
mntnt but as a means of preseruataan that
thie mteasuro recomtmends itself' to tmo.
The losses sustained by the Bank through
its Directors have beeni referred to as illus
trative of' the inevitable evils arising fromo
irresponsible power to whatever hands
comtmitted, and as proof of the necessity
of additionial saleguarlis, but with no view
to assail these gentlemen. Whatever may
have beeni their errors, I amn not aware
that their personiaf honoer has ever been
impugned, one of the former Directors
eoily excpted. The objection, that the
measure suggested, is founded upon-an
unwotrthy distrust of the Bank Officers,
and Directors. and of the Memberseof the
ILegislature is devoid of force. Is has
been wveil said, that in these matters the
peo ple Lake nothking upon trust,
Such are my opmtions. I will net say
that I uam impenetrable to-all reason and
argument thamt cati be urged in opposition
to t hem, anid that in no possible conjuncture
Iof' circumstances, can I ever -be induced
to review them. But as they have- not
been h astily eanor aced, so neither will they
be lightly abandoned.
For dae
SIi. EDITOR,
Some citizens of the Distri ae de
sired me, as a Candidate for tl4ouse of
Representatives, to publish t.vis cou
cerning tbe'.Baok of tafe'Saae Iviill
inglyn make such expositiof ~ri.regard
as well- to frankness on my parr as to the
intelligent exercise of the rigbtbof suffragr
by the people. My opinionesin>(his-sub
ject have been formed carefail,, ,vithout
known hias, and are not likely to be mate
rially changed; still it may happen, to one
so conscious of defective infdrtiumiion and
infirmity of judgment, that tore mature
deliberation and consultation may produce
some modification of these opinions. To
make an absolute pledge to support a
particular measure, notwithstanding any
change of circumstances or convictions,
seems to be inconsistent with the scheme
of a representative republic, and particu
larly with the usefulness and independence
of the representative. The'" ople best
guard their interests, by selecting for re
presentatives men of judgment, that will
not yield to insufficient reasd and of
probity, that will not yield froh tiproper
motives.
The great issue concerningtie"Bank,
is upon its re-charter; and my opinion, on
general principles of political phiTosophy,
and whatever may have been the past
management of the Bank, is'decidedly a
gainst the re-charter. The eivrience of
the Federal Government and of other
States in the Union, denouncesube policy
of government banks. Suchlikatitutions
improperly interfere with private mercan
tile pursuits, stimulate the government to
indebtedness, conceal from the. jogle their
burdens in sustaining govern T ile a
way their customers from oco ri ad in
dustry by delusive show of r ntites
of pressure, and are apt to be. pe politi
cal engines, controlling the whole affairs
of the State. The existing charter of our
Bank will expire in 1856, after an exis
tence of forty three years; andoiindepen
dently of all general objections, it would he
prudent, after such a lapse of titne, to wind
up the co:cern, and ascertain itspracticatl
workings. I think it would not beprema
ture fur the Legislature, at the nextSessiomn,
to express by resolution the determination
not to re-charter the Bank; that, the Di
rectors may gradually prepare for.the dis
solution, and tIat the creditorsof-lieiState,
the debtors oftthe Hank, and allconcerned.
may have such timely notice as will pre
vent misconception and clamor. Such a
resolution would not hind future Legisla
tures, but if such an expresion-4 optiion
can he once obtained, there uecd bejittle
apprehension-of its retraction. A, rapt
expression of the determinaton orfjje Le
gislature- not to re-charter thea0m is
proper, too, to countervail the iutirmation
of a contrary purpose in the Leg sIature
in some of the Acts of Assem yespecial
ly the Fire loan Act. This iatiiadi, as
a matter of legislation, no morebijds suc
ceeding Legislatures, titan anrttinmation
not to recharter thei;'ank, ivotll' bind
That th'ero has been a'pledge d6 ile part
of the State, amounting to a contract with
foreign- creditors, that the Bao.- should
exist until thecdebis!are * .til
ion: for tl ' . t,'
-ion, and apparently in actual ...1!:'."
that the charter would xpire to 1856, and
~that thegrin ofegeart .and. the
mondfi~atileie e~is.tog .c tergwere
witijib therot he egisti o,authori
ty.' suji ieT iz'editors. hien .rhese
dehts N contraced, lookl ~ paymient
to th lieT~iii~eani e Sate, rat her
than to~tiie ensualtiy that iii's ttdsswero
then admniristrered by~ the Banky
. I am not, however,-one ol'thise, if there
be any such, who Would b'ring the Bank
to abrupt aind prernatutre termn*ation1, and
thus pu in jeopardy the furids d' the State
in the custody of the Bank. afid produce
great distress among the Batik debtors.
The moderare antd prtudent- co'urse is to
leave the Bank te run-out its!-chartercd
term, under the general mnana emnent of
the Directors, upotn their resjrAibility to
the Legislature and the peoplegradually
preparinig foir its end, by purcha ing in the
public debt, anad rmaking collections from
its own debtors. If the fundl'e the State
etrusted to the Bank be secure, the ex:
tinction of the Bank wouldtnot i~volve the
ncesity of increased taxes on thc people,
for these funds are adequate to piy orpr
chase all the debts owed by th4 Stre
It has been practicable in all pajt timle, to
buty the foreign debt under par' and tno
serous diffitdty in getting- it er esr, nteedl
e anticipated for the future. If the credi
ors, however, should1 re'fuse to receive
payment itn advance, the funldsof.,fhe State
mtight be safely invested in stock. bearinig
inerest. It may be, that after the Bank
ceases, some liscal agency must 4'e substi
tuted for the custody and mnanagenmetnt of
the funds of the State, but I thinli a Bank,
with authority to make loans a'pd issue
ills, can neyer be necessary.
Fiomn the Rieports made to the.Legisla
tre by the Directors of the Bank, the
Comptroller General atnd the Committees
of Inspection, I trust that the assets of t he
State are still safo in the Bank. I have
no such knowledlge in the matter, as au-,
mtoize~s me to decry its past management
so far as the safety of the funds is concern,
ed. Yet the large amount of' loss appear
ing in the profit attd loss accout, the un
due prop)ortion of this loss from the debts
of' Directors, and the extragant aggre
gate of the existing debts toithe Bank from
its Directors and Ohlicers, justify and.
require the most rigid atnd searrbing scria
tiny into its management. The mystery
alleged to be proper about the affairs ?f
a Bank, f'urnishes a strong argumert
against such an Institution .onAhe part of
the State ; but if such a Bank be chartered,
its wvhole opetration -and management.
especially as to this mystery, must be ma'
trilly modified, by* the fact, that it is
the Bank of the State. Much greater pub.
licity of its proceedings should be giveni,
than in private Banks. The~Bank is .the
real Treasuryof the. State, receeiving the
taxes, lending the money, atnd disbursing
ibe appropriations-of:the State; and the
people ought to have the mets of. know-.
ing whether thee duttek 'favebeeh sktll
famlly sod faithfully discharged. The
tixed people are thertrue-'tieficiaries
of the Bank, and thio Diretors primarily,
and the Members of..the.Logislature,. who
keep the .keepers, are but Trustees; and,
we heard frequetntly, during the late term
..f onr ounr of Equity, tan Trustens
should'aetount annually. I think that
the liabilities of Directors and.Oficers of
tIhe Bank and of Members of the Legisla
tare. to the Bank. should be ascertained.
and anuoally publhecd. I have no reason
to suppose that the debts of this description.
have been incurred through corrupt mis
management, or that they are nore inse
cure than other debts to the Bank; but it i.
mainly with reference to the question of
re charter, that I would resort to such
publiction. The people ought to know
how far the opimsons of those who tdmin
ister their affairs, mny lie biassed by inter
est. We may yicll to the rea.soning. but
we ivill not much deter to the authority of
the advocate. asser'ing his own eeparaw
interest. The evils prognosticaied frm:.
such a publication. that good Directory
will be drivun from th Baink. aid worth,.
Members from the Legislature, I helis.:r
to he greatly exaggerated. Men in 'hey
stutions, whose debts are within their
means, will be indifferent to the notorien
oif their indebtedness. The Charter as it
has been practically construed, and good
faith to those who have contracted such
debts under a different arrangement, may
require that such publication should not
he retrospective; but the Charter is within
the power of the Legislature, and fair
dealing oilers no impediment to such a
change for the future.
F. H. W A RDLAW.
June 20th, 1848.
For the Adecrtiser.
ERROR REFUTED.
Mr. Editor-In your paper of last week
appeared another article signed "Vox
Populi." One who writes for the Press.
and oflers to instruct the people. should be
fully and correctly imformed upon his snb
jeet, otherwise he misleads theta. "If the 1
blind lead the blind, both shall fall in the
ditch," Now "Vox Populi" says "nahout
the year 1824 the L.gislature appointed a
Committee of Inspuctio, to examine mi
nutely the affair. and situation of the Bank,
and report to the Legislature the result
thereof. This regulation indic tes an
honest disposition to keep the State fully
advised of the management and antuation
of the Bank ; and if its spirit and policy
had been carried into practical operation,
the present jealous opposition to our Bank
would never have been superinduced. &c.
In this statement "Vox Populi" is entirely
correct, as to the provisinns of 1824.
That the people may read it. I quote
verbatim from the act of the Legislature,
beginnirg with the second section and
going through the whole act. The act is
entitled -- An Act to amend ine Charter o
the Bank of the :tat'! of Soutth-Carohna."
Section 2-.-" And lie it further enacted
by the authority aforesaid ; That it shall
be the duty of the several committees.
with the Comptroller General,-to examine
minutely into the affairs and situation of
the principal Bank and its branches, for
wfhich they are respectively appointed, and
to ireport to the Legislature, at their next
Session, the result thereof, and particularly
all mismanagement in the atFairs of the
said Bank or its branches if any)such have
occurred."
SSectii 3d.- And' 'e et-'
cas e hi C omi rol er ujd ntiot
atie Ioi anty of the inrs a tauiiur
izedl by this sact, the said43oa0 iuifee or-a
majority of- each,' shall bedman they -are
h'ereby aufrhorized- to make such--invesui.
gitionin the absence of the Comptroller
Genera I''-" -
Section 4th.-"And be it further enact
ed by thie-authority- aforesatid, that all
clauses, or parissof clauses in any act of
the General Assembly of this State, which
may prohibit the said C'omnmillee anfd thec
Comptroller General .from investigafing
fully the books. accounis, and other dlocu
meals of the'said Ba's/ os its branches, be
and t he same are hereby repenaled."
Thia is the wise provision referreud to
by " Visx Populi." But thait writer,
appears to) labor uniler the declusion that
said Act of 1524, was either rep~ealed,
or was so mnus.ilated by provisio)ns, as
to have lost its virtue. It is entirelv a
mnisa pprehetnsion. 'lThat Act is nton in
lull force unshorn of a particle of its
beanty-andl gives lull pouer to Costonit
tees so examtioe all thme boosks andI every
account and docutnent of the Bnnmtt'
whether of otlieers, privtt individuals or
any per-on. lltere is the languiage of "'Vnx
Pospuli" as follows: " For feir the Con
mittee of Inispecitti aippoimiedl ins .182 I
(I susptos' Ite means not omsly that pa~rtieu
lar Coin mittes' sppoint.:d its /hat year hut
all Commrittees appoinoted tinder aumbority
of the Act of I824) ;mtght, reveal sosie
fact calculated to. ispleasntt' thu people, not
wound tao feelings andi iteresis of some
of the Gorman Bun/c Offiers, the lnogisla
tore as eairly as 1327, added a very tmate
rial proviso, to the dutties of the exatmininog
Comimittee whicht is as follows, "provided
nevertheless, that there s/hall be no examiina
ion or scrutiny of indindual accounts5."
Here "Vox Popubs" stops bl-fore tue son
tenco is concluded ; he sutppressed a part
f it--That other little line l-ft (ot, pro
videdi expressly for the exannasion of
accounts of those "Gorman Bankc Ofccra"
as he writes it. Ar'd before quoting it in
full, let me remark-that the Act of 1827,
was not passed as an amendmtent to the
Charter of the Bunk of the State as such.
but was An Act to admit and incurpiora te
private Stockhlders in the Bank of tihe
Sate of South Carolina." I quitl. t he
Title of tihe Act. It wats an Act ti imiduce
private capitalists to take Stock in the
Bank ol the State. AndI while the Legis
lature claimed the power of eixamininig at
all times into the general condition ofn the
ne Bank by said Act, to be established.
it exetmpied as an inducement to) private
capitalists, the examinatimn of "todividlual
acounts" but expressly reserved the right
to examine the accounts .of the Officers of
the Banc. I will give you the vifnole sc
ion of the Act of 1827, containiog the
proiso-See Section 0. in those words
"AndI be it- further enacted. That the Le
gislature shall have the power of examin.
ing t any an~d all titaes, into the concerns
of the Bank hereby established; And it
shall be- the ditty of the Ollicers of the
Batnk to facilisate such examination. Pro.
Yifled nievertheless, there shall be no
eamination'-or serutirny of indiviuln
acconts saingand excepttng the ac
counts. f shOojiera of the same." T he
words ttalicised' were left out by "Vox
P'rff" ex pressly subjects the ac
on. Itn n nnnmn~n 's
writer could not have had the Act before
him, for he scarcely would wilfully sup
press a part of the truth. In morals it is
:ontended, that a suppression of the truth
9 equvalent often to lie attetiarce of a
[alsphood. I cannot believe for a mtomufent,
htowever, such was the daign of "Veax
Populi." If the result of haste or igto
r:mace, he should he more careful hereafter
wihen he undertakes to instruct the people.
l'his remark is made likewise ei-h refer
yuce to the impression conveyed by -Vox
Populi" that the Act of 1827 is sill in
force. It is not. in force-it was repealed
ong ago. As I said befire, it was merely
1t1 Act to induce private capitalists to take
'ock in the Batik of the State; it foiied
o to so, and the very next year 1828 was
tpealed. The following is the repealing
art. --Be it enacted by the Senate andi
l..use of Reiresentatives, now met atl
.-iting in General A-senhly, and by the
uthority of the same. That an Act of
ssembly, passed on the nineteenth day
of December, one thousand eight hundred
nd twenty seven, entitled --An Act to ad
nit, and incorporate private Stockholders
n the Bank of the State of South Caro
ina be, and the same is hereby repealed.
There are five things manifest
1. That '-Vox Populi" is in error.
2. That "Vox Populi" only published
part of the Proviso of the Act of 1827,
and that part left out was the conclusion of
z stetence.
3. That the Proviso of 1827 wvas no
-epaal of the Act of 1S24, and that said
Proviso did not survive twelve months,
seing repealed in 1828.
4. That the Act of 1824 is in lull force
ind virtue.
5. That --Vox Populi" must still main
atn the opinion expressed in his article,
hat too Act of 1824 ''indicated an honest
lispasriot to k~eep the State fully advised
f the nanagement and situation of her
Bauk."
F - IR PLAY.
Jtne 20th, 1818.
For the Advertiser.
IIA3MBURG, S. C., June IS:un, 148.
Mr. Idi or:-l have noticed an article
n the last number of the Advertiser, over
he signature A Bank Serf-in which I
in charged with many sayings respecting
he Bank of the State, Voter and I desire
or your readers to know, what I actually
lid say. Will you therefore be pleased to
give the article as corrected, with tins note
place in the columns of the Advertiser.
By so doing, you wiil mucn obiige.
Yours most r, spectfully.
HIENRY aULtTZ.
Mr. 1litor.--I see by the llamburg
Jurnal, that an attempt to assail the credit
i the Bar~k of the State of South Caratina
s on Toot. 1 am well satisfied that the
managers of that Itstitution are fully able
to repel any.slander directed against them
is individuals, or against that lustitution,
were they to condescend to such a- course.
out such a mode would be incomupatibe
with their dignity. It is' made -the duty
if those Managers to render an ac'oun'
rnay'be fabricated; But it grieves nie.tt
tee that the Journal' has permitted itself
t be drawn into the ranks of the assail
nts. [Howdver.- af it has got into bad
:omtpany~ it tmust abide the result of its
ate. Toc assail the credit-of th::t Bank
why yun assail the credlit of tnhe State of
Sutth Carialtna. The State is its capital,
ind the people of the whole State its Diarec
ors, atnd every hill of that Batik m':ay lie
reuaied as specie, if there wats not one
Jollat of gold or silver in its vaults. Look
rt the individual despaosites. fromn 6 to
70.00. Does that look like confidence
was wamting ? Not so with those common
Banks. G3old atd silver is their capital.
When that is gone thte Bank is gone. Say
here are the Srcckholders, and pray sir,
wo are those Stuckhoaldears. And thten
here comes a mnan wvho signs hitmself a
Voter. Cull him a responsible anu if
you please, lie is bait one mani, antd but
one tout of 70,000 voters. and attempilts to
iuerrog;aie Candidates to the nest Legis
laure, vs :o what they will say atnd what
hy will dao, prov ideal t hey are honored
with na mnembaershaip. Here next caomes a
man, who sitgns htimuse.ll Mlanay Voiuers, io
the amae Itutne to itO rrogatte. Whaat a
iarce! Whoi are all these Manuty Votets?1
Is it the Cushier of' the Haaibnirg Bank,
soe of its Directars, and a few individuals
about iwnt. Thieret is onen grave .suject
in poinit. whlich I feel it to be niy dtuty at
this imue to menttiotn. and thuat is this. I
;tui the fio uder and the builer of this
own, 1Hiambunrg, and to rear up a town iin
the face of : gre'at city, ini defiuanc~e of all
the iowert aof nmen anid money of that city,
anal take from them their busitness anad
comerce was no small miatier. To say
that I dlone this great work wvnhout help
frnom sotmewhere would be false. I applied
' the Legi-dature of the State of Sotuthi
Carlinta lor aitd. hi was gratetd. I ap
ietd tn tie Biank tif the State of Sau i-.
Cuaroina, it was also granted ; and the
onl Bank it) the whole State that has
ever niforded mne any aid or relief what
ever it) the amount of a dollar from that
time to the piresent day, aexcept the Comn
rercial Bank of Cilttmbia, which granted
to a smnall atmotnnt onie time, and I have
candair caiorghi to say that without the aid
rom the State tand Iromn the Bank of the
State at thte time they were grated Ilam
~urg would hbe now wvhat it was 28 years
ago, a dismal swamp and tno Banik, and
no terchtants. and no newspaper, andu uo
voter wonuldl be here. But with that eidl
it ins becomne what it now is. a prospieronts
own, with a receipt ol fromn 60 to 70 000
ba!es of Caotton a year. A pallar tat ahe
State, anal a home where those very
vters. thoseo lbankers, those merchants,
ad those newspapers atnd writers do now
make and eat their daily bread. You
shalt hear from me again.
lJENRY' SrrULz.
H amburg, Mlay 30th, 1818.
It issnidl Gen. llEaI:aA has resigntedl
he office of Prsidentt. hut his resigniatio~n
would not he aecepted by the Mexican
COngrss. It wais thought. however. that
le wonlal rersisr. and PaAzA, ELAa
RAcA. 1). Lots CUEA~a, anda others. was
apotten of as the candiattes foar a Provis
ional Presidenat. Il health is thie cause
;ss.igne o the resignation of lEErRAa..
'e antcrtiger.
EDGEFIELD C. H.
WEDNESDAV. JUNE 28, 1848.
RELIGIOUS NOTICE.
We are requested to say, that a three
d:tys' meeting will be held in the Metho
dist Church at this place, commencing on
Friday the 30th of June, and embracing,
the first Sabbath in July.
The attention of the reader is respectful
ly called to the Address of B. C. Yancy,
Esq. to the Voters of Edgefield District,
it will he found on the first page of
to day's paper.
Our Correspondents.-Our paper to-day
is occupied, to a considerable extent, with
the communications of our correspondents.
In consequence of the number of commu
nications on hand, some are necessarily
postponed. We have excluded much se
lected matter, to accdmmodate as many
as we could.
We are indebted to the lion. Mr. Sims
for a pamphlet copy of the life of Getierals
Cass and Butler. We are also indebted'
to the Hons. J. C. Calhoun, A. P. Butler'
and A. Burt, for various public documents.
Warm Weather.- For some days during.
the past week, the weather was quite
warm, the thermometer -reaching nearly
to ninety in the shade.
Fourth of July excursion to '1harleston.
A special train iill leave Hamburg on the
3rd of July, and a return ta tn will leave..
Charleston on the 5th and . Fare for
the trip. 82.- childron and servants half
price. We notice this for the accommo
dation of some who may i% h to embrace
so favorable an opportunity for visiting
Charleston, during the great Temperance:;:
celebration. The excursiou doubtless, will. -
be a pleasant one.
The Washington Correspondence of the
Charleston Courier, of the 19th inst..says,
"-The indisposition of Mr. Speaker Wtn&:
THItoP still continuing, the House by re
solution appointed Mr. BahT as S.peaker
pro tein flora wee, or .unt ih iie k -
could fesume tie hair .Tii poi '
ment is co -
hina delegation, an o inte nde ? t
w hi s,'as 1 learn from some of them. M3r.
ioLMuEs, as I am informed, was fist look-.
ed, for yesterday, but he was absent from
indisposition. anid Mr. - BURTi was select
ed. M'r. Br discha;red the duties of the
Chtair with great propriety."
b'ire in Nrfolk, Va. -A Gire recently
broke out in Norfolk and destroyed proper.
ty to a large amount. The entire loss, in
both real and personal estates, is said to
be about $191,500. The fire was the act
of an incendiary.
Alexico.-General H is elected
President of Mexico. It seemns that cer
tain citizents who favored or even wihere
thought to be favorable to the Americns
in their recent possession of the country,
are already persecuted. General Sa.uta.
Anina, it is believed, will return to the
country. In all probability, that unfortu
nate country will again he the theatre of
revolution.
New Republic in Mexico. -Accord ing to
the Newv Orleuans Delta it seemrs. that a
powerful and intelligent party in Mexico,
have a schteme on foot, to organize a new
Rcpubbec. to he called the " Republic of
Sierra M~adre." It will embruee the Siates
of Tumnaulipas, New Leon. part of Vera
Crtuz. Putebla and such other States asstnay
be dtsposed to joini.
Tlime will show what will be the result
of this new movemntt.
Struck By .ightning-The Laurcus
ville loerald ot2.9di inst says. "Duritig the
thunder storttm ofrTuesday I ast,the house re,
cently occupied by Mr. Kennedy, situated
on th~e pi blic square was sturek by lightn
iug, and onte cortner of it much injuted. It
was a fortunate circnmnstance that~the
house was uuoccupied, for so great was
the force of the concussiotn, that the shock
threw down three latdies in an adjoining
tenetmei; none of whom we are pleased to
addl were injutred, though much alarmed."
Extract of a Letter to thu Editor dated.
HIGGiNs' FEaRR. S. C..,
Junie 21st, 1S18.
Mr. Editor,-I have either read it
somiewhe're or it has been told to me by
some body. that the Mormons are in.
search of the centre of the globe. They,
believe that it is a duty enjoined upon
themu by P'rovidence, to build a city plump
utpon that spot. T'hey thought that they
bad found it ir, Ilibnois, where they built.
the fnmus city, Nauvoo; hut having been.
exp~ellh-d thence by their n~eigi-bors, they.
cam'e to the conclusin, that that wasnot
the spot. otherwise Pro~vidence would not
htavn suffered them :10 be driven ot.
Theorefore they renewed the search, and
after many trials and much suil'eritng, they
have arrived at Youta or Salt Laice in the