Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-18

in the following words.
That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Urea.
rry 10 digest and prepare ans or the and
management Of the and tor the support of the pub
ic credit to prepare and report siimaes OF the public
revenue, and the public expenditure sHerinehd the
ecroa the reOenUe to decide the forms Of keeping and
SITTING and making returns, grant he
Limitations herein established be hereafter 0viaed al
'Ud'rGHts for monies TO BE issued from The Treasury oHr
snance Of GPproeaon. By a7g, such services
relative 10 the sale the lands belonging the States,
as may be by law required OF him, make report and give
Information to either branches ohe Legisafe 5efSon
an eritiS (as he may be reqirs) respecting all
referred him by the Senate or House Of
vii ch shall appertain his Office and generally TO per-
form all such services relative the finances he shalt be
directed TO perform"
After an attentive perus OF the prov isons of this law
no otherefort sf the mind is necessary to determine
the pa!pabe, and absolute ncompatibity between the
duties of the Secretary of the Treasury and those of
an envoy extraordinary to foreign power, than I'm
derstand the distinction between here and there be-
tween Washington and St. Petersburg. Because howe
yer extensive ay tie the moral endowments of the Sc
crearys mind, he must be wanting in personal ability
His person cannot be present at Washington, and ST.
Petersburg ct the time, and the duties of the two
ohces do require 20 be performed at the places
the time. And Of course are essentially iacomoa
provisions of the law, for the Secretary TO perform is
to digest and prepare plans for the mroVe5lent and
management of the revenue This is mn1uestoEably, an
important duty. How hast been performed
The meeting of Congress which did take place only
few days after the departure of envovs was known
to be intended expressly for the Improvement. of the
meeting, It was informed that the Secretary of the
Treasury, whose first duty it was under the law esta
Dishing the treasury department. hrepare tie
IA'iJoT me Improvement OF Ge TeUeHiHp, had few
days hetorcits meeting without the plea of urgent
necessity, voluntarily absented hi rsef hom lie u S. 2
and thus ePectedy deprived Congress Of the aid OF
his Splendid financial talents and that too, the very
hrst occasion which hao occurred in the government to
render their tuil and prompt eXertons, ndispensa,
oY necessary However, Correct may have been
ms motives 1t is iii vain urge in justification of this
conduct thai the Secretary lett behind HIM prepared
plan for the Improvement of the revenue. IL is well
Known, that this plan presented Congress under
very questionable circumstances and besides the misre
presentation of plan u revenue preceding Con-
gres was not performance OF all the duties required
OF the Secretary under the law TO the Congress upon
which had fallen the unpleasant and difficult task of
for by pursuing the further provisions of the law it IN
be found that t is also to be- made HE duty of the Secre
tary give formation either branch of the Legisa
tire ~ tF30n or III EvTitEg, as lie may be requiret)
respecting all matters rel erred him, &C. Now il
well known, that the pl AN for the Improvement of the
revenue, left behind hi was ncohate and imperfect
required much exp hnaOn II his indispensable
duty under the law to present give it either III her
son, or IN z0Tng as might have been, and would have
been required OF hrA probably by both branches of the
Legislature II he II I'll not put ont OF their power by
voluntarily absent ny himself from the u. States.
But these prov Ons require OF the Secretary the per-
ormance OF ano her duty of trivial Importance IL
IS 10 grant, &c all 7vayTgats for monies 10 be Issued
from tie Treas airy in pursuance Of APPROPRIATION 6v
hEv, The az preparations at this time, certainly ex
coed tlErty gons of dollars. Is this duty to be all
so performed by person, known the CONSTITUTE
on it Tecof Clsed by law was this charge TO be
voluntarily parted with By the Secretary of the Trea-
suy; and for hlm m to hold the office of the head of
that depa rtment Your laws almost every where,
ntsrsPer isd with important duties to be performed by
the Seer Eary OF the Treasury but requiring ne
cuar Ittenton at this time is Contained in the section
OF an of Congress passed the Sd of March 1877 IN
the T. flowing words -
" That whenever person persons who shall have
ncfred any fine, penalty, forfeiture disability or shall
have been interested in any vessel goods wares or ner
CHI ndlze, which shall have been subject any seizure for
texture, disability by force of any present OF future law
The United States for tho laying eyynS collecting any
dueS or taxes, or by torce OF
hing the evolving and licensing ships or vessels cnloy
ca ia the coasng trade fisheries, and for regulating The
sa rs shall prefer his petition The Judge the district
in which such hne penalty forfeiture or dissblt,
ne &c occurred, truly and particularly setting rt the cir
ouhstances OF his case, and pray tht the may be
mfgated or RENTED, the sail Judge shall enquire in
summary manner, INTO the circumstances of the case first
Causing reasonable notice 20 be gent 20 the person or er
sons claiming sucue penalty orieurc and 70 the At
orney OF tie United States tor SUCH district that each may
have opportunity OF shelving against the ,ripa
ton remission thereof and shG cause The Eets ,shk
shaH appear UPON such enquiry, 10 Be ss1ta and annexed 10
the 6effHoH anil direct their 10 ie Ce,y -
me Treasury Of the United STATES, gho sLa fte,eb,s 9
poser mitigate remit such fre f,rf ipye ~ ~
re0Ve sHch dsab, an part thcrco6 IT, ~ lis OPINION
the shaH haze been incurred ekhout Gk
intention 81 raHs IN the psrsoB persona incrring
instituted for tie recovery he,rq cease and Be- esesg
Hsd nboe such terms conditions he may deem reasonable
o. JUST"
This clause confers upon the Secretary Of the Tre
sury Judicial powers OF the highest and most delicate
character and makes BIN literally Chancellor ct tie
tXcNqucr IL was scarcely possible to appreciate the
importance aud decacy OF this judicial power IL is a
chancetising power almost without limit or rule de-
pending almost exclusively upon the mere discretion nj
the Secretary Of the Treasury be decided upon in
his private chamber without Jury without auditors on
spectators &c &c Ought there not TO be unusual CON
hdcuce reposed in the personal integrity and talents o
Tue Judge ntrusled with the execution Of such npor-