Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-24
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which he thought would o5via,e the dilicui- |
ties both sides of this question. 1t was, To
modify the resolution in such a. 20 require
that the only of the creditors 20 whom !
these balances were due should lie published ami |
not the amount which each had right to demsnd |
The amendment went to omit that part of the
resolution which relun es the amount OF the dy- |
dend to he publishe,l.l
Ny. Livingston expressed his assent 20 the a |
rneld'neni, and his resolution was mod;fel accord
ingl-.
Mr. McLane OF Delaware, said. he felt very
tnN i!ing 20 e,nb'rrasS the passage of this resolr
uon, which the gentleman from Louisiana scene
10 have so mach a, heart. ,nd TO be perfectly
convinced of the proprety OF passing; bat he wa,
not altogether sasfiedhat The resolution, if passed
would be productive of ,Dv good and he had some
ground Tor experimenting TINT its passage wolld be
attended with very considerable inconv enience.
Hc did not mean here speak of he frauds TO
which il might door: that objection had
been already sufficiently adverted 10. Bat be would
suggest 10 the honorable mover of the resolution
single idea IN relation TO tie ground on which he
PLACED 1t. The whole object oflhe scn;lemqn was
1t seemed, 10 benefit those who wee entitled to
'h,s money: 1t was proposed 10 egslate, therefore
exclusively Tor the interest of tie owners of l.
Nov, said Mr. Mel. it would be well to consider
whether, In passing this resolution, are egis-
Eating for the interest OF the owners ami whethei
iial view of the subject. In giving this public no.
ice, MI 4. said, you not only give notice to the
person In whose name the stock stands, his
heirs or representatives, but also to lis creditors
on TINS leave this property exposed to attach
inenis In those states, and there many of them,
81 which this process can be resorted TO. The
moment this notice published, the creditor~
would cause the properly TO be attached: nnd by
making tue existence of this property public YOU
einbarrass the individuals TO whom il belongs iu-
stead ~ giving them any advantage. If the publ
cation be liable to this objection, we ought at least
10 pause before ~ e Introduce principle into
orr legislation /, had been the policy of the gov
erninent he knew very well, to expose the names
OF It's debtors; every year Congress furnished
WIN list OF the persons who owe balances TO the
government; and this is wise policy. 1t exposes
To the House the acts of lis officers charged with
the public accounts, aud moreover, the indy ,luals
themselves whoare indebted, having thus saiu.ary
effect ia more ways than Bat he had never
understood that 1t was decidedly the police Of the
tsSvernment 10 expose its creditors; this was
The fist time in which il had been propo ed for
the government TO publish TO tie world list of
~ Creditors These dividends ON stock, Sc. are
nut matters ct account between these individuals
and The government and, Mr. GcI. said he could see
vefv little difference in principle between calling on
The Secretary of The Treasury for transcripts Of all
Tie loan Office hooks, and calling on tie Bank of the
United States for list Of all the depo.ites and
dealings OF Individuals with ii. Congress hac. as
much right 10 do the one 10 do the other No
one could doubt the injustice Of the ater measure
hbelhG the interest and the right of every indvii-
iai 10 keep his account secret for his own
snio,halon' This right Mr.. Mcl.sne appeared TO
lh'nk The passage OF this resolve would violate
ne thought the mover of il would do better To let
'ui' subject take direction by which the whole
business might be maurey inquired into, by n
Sehn'llee, who could correspond with the Score
vary OF The Treasury on the subject, and examine
Nhat course 1t would on the whole be propcr 20
pursue IN relation to it, lie hoped that the House
would not, under the Influence OF lille curiosity.
or any other motive, adopt in haste measure
"hlch' more maiarely considered, would not per-
hans, he agreed to-
Mr.. Livingston observed, in reply, that he found
hls resolution had nov TO encounter new ohiec-
ton, AID one which he must say, notu itlstand.ny
are nv. ' toIS 20, Gpsrier from which it came, APP
% 40" 'oio' sd.d VII L. inaL u.ua',.u,I ,yuaIsu
ih!5 si ot ba!ances lest forsooth. we gboult oi,a
tne information to the creditor OF the clsiyauI nv
N"ieh means might come 10 pass that that credit
o. would get his jus, debt. Aud i this at. Il Mr.
L. an objection to my resolution? T. en- ad;nitiin.
WINCH however, very much doubt, that the
Sedi'or Can attach these funds without the owners
90 SENT where Is the injry or Inconvenience
Who viii get the money, Those no are en;jtI,d
- II. Is this an objection? The danger ARISING
'rom ir'ud, tine gentleman has not stated but ba.
Vas"eiy said that would be proper to refer the
suocct Tor inquiry. But, sir, this subiecl Is NOT
nov Tor The hrst time thought up o the notice OF
congress Il was referred 10 the SECRETARY of the
Treasury al the last session, and during al ,h,.
fime not single objection has been a,l1red ~ bjrb
ought to avail against ,e performance OF dds great
nlly' il II SAID, indeed, that the measure will
operate solely for the benefit of our debtors and
not at all Tor The benefit OF the United SAFE. A.
greed, SIR, but does that prove that is not e6od
measure; that II Is not an honest measure1 spree
wan my Old and valued friend from North Ca.o-
ma that, as soon as this list shall be pub she l. the
treasury will very soon be dsbu.dened of these
BALANCES; and so let il be. Tia, j. The very. oh
Ject OF the resolution. Il is precisely the efFec. 7
wish 10 produce. The gentleman from New York
mas reminded US hat this money does not lie iu The
i5alk ou IN tie Treasury, and hat therefore tbe
B'nk derives no benefit from Il. II is rue th,,
the bonS derive, no beuef, from il directly but
does iadrecl, derive the whole benefit /, il
true ths' this S226,OOO lie in he treasury subject
10 The order OF individual owners: but sir. ,vIera
~ The Treasury. Does not ali lie none, bclonoirg
70 tie Freasure of he United States lie i, ,he
Bank OF the Unit ed States! anJ is il no ADVANTAGE
10 that Bank TO have nearly $23D 600 living in il .
vaults, which iso'hcer. Know viii nevef be called
Tor! Therefore say again, as / said before. thai
unless here Is one sort oil projiiy for Jndyid;als
and another for governments, the resolution bro
posed IS 20 more han what we are in conscience
bound to do. For one, can zee no difference
between public aud private ,iity ; between the
equity Inst birds Government 10 its citizens.
ana 'aai which binds ever man TO hi4 neighbor.
NOR DO motives OF Inconvenience preseni them
seive- TO obsuuct the course OF Justice The no
ney is what we cannot use; II may be demanded
at any momen, and is moi subject to appropria ion
nor employment for any public obec; and our
Withholding from the owners the knowIed of
then dues, consists neither With the dgniiy of TIN.