Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-12-05

To The United States. We are beginning new
era IN our Government. The national debt,
which has 50 long been bufihen ON the Trsasu-
~ will be finally discharged in the course Of the
| ensuing year. No more money will afterwards
he needed Than what may be necessary to meet
the ordinary expenses of the Government Now,
then, u the proper moment 10 fix our systom Of
expenditure on finn aud durable principles and
cannot 100 strongly urge the necessity OF rigid
economy, aud AN inleXible determination not to
enlarge the income beyond the real necessities Of
the Government and not TO increase the wants
o; the government, by unnecessary and proiuse
expenditures liza contrary course should be pur.
sued, II may happen that the revenue of 1884 will
i ai short OF the demunds upon ii and after re-
duclng the tariff ~ order 10 tighten the burthens
OF The people, and providing for sill further re-
dnclion to take effect hert lter il would be much
To be teplorod if, at the end OF another year, we
should hnd ourselves obliged to retrace our steps
AZ" impose addilional taxes to meet unnecessary
expenditures.
1t is my duty on this occasion to call vour at
tonton TO the desii iuciion of the public building
occupied hy the Treasury Department, which
happened since the last az journnent Of Congress
n thorough enquiry into the causes Of this loss
was directed and made at the time, the result of
which will be duly communicated to YOU take
pleasure, however, in stating here, that by the
laudable excrllons of the officers of the Depart.
lew papers were lost aud none that will material
y affect the public interest.
ne puoiic convenience requires that another
builollS should be erected as soon as practicable
and IN pro'ong for il, it will be advisable to en-
] large in some manner the accommodations for
The public oacers Of the several DepartIne nis,
and TO authorize the erection of suitable deposit
torres Tor The safe Keeping of public documents
and records.
} Since the last adjournment of Congress, the
Secrelary cithe Treasury has directed the money
OF the Y. States to be deposited in certain State
Banks designated by him, and he will mmedi.
, ately lay before you his reasons for this direction
concur with bin entirely in the view lio has la
kcn Of the subject. and seme months before the
removal, urged upon the Department the pro-
pretty OF taking that step. The near approach Of
The day on which the charter will expire, as well
as the conduct Of the Bank, appeared TO ms to
call for Tins measure, upon the high considera-
tons Of public interest and public duty.
The extent of its misconduct, however, al
though known to be great, was not at that time
fully developed by proof il was not until late
IN The month Of August that received from the
Government Directors an Official report estab.
lishing beyond question, that this great and pow
eriui institution had been engaged in attempting
to Influence the elections of public officers by
means OF ITS money and that in violation Of the
express provisions of its charter il had by for.
nal resolution, placed its funds at the disposition
OF Its President, 10 be employed in sustaining the
political power oflhe bank. a copy ofthis reso-
luton Is contained IN the report Of the Gov Di-
rectors before reiarred to; and however the OBJ
Ject may be disguised by cautious language, no
one can doubt that this money was in truth, in.
tended Tor electloneorlng purposes, and the par
lcular uses to which il is proved to have been
applied, abundantIy show that it was so under.
Stood Not only was the evidence complete as
to the past application of the money and power of
the Bank to eieetioneering purposes, but that the
resolutions OF TIE Board of Directors authorized
the same course TO be pursued in future
i 1t being thus established by unreasonable
proof, that the Bank of the Unndd States was con-
verted into permanent electoncering engine.
II appeared to me t..ai th path Of duty which the
Executive Department the Government ough,
TO pursue, was not doubtful. AS by the terms of
the Bank charter, no efiicer but the Secretary of
the Treasury could remove the deposites, il seem
ed to me that this authority ought to be at once
exerted 10 deprive that great corporation cf the
support and colntenance of the Government in
such of its funds, and such an exertion of
lis power.
In tins point of the caso the question is presen-
ted, whether the people of the United States are
TO govern, through representatives chosen by their
unbiased suiirages, or whether the power and
money ofa great corporation, are 10 be secretly
eXeried to influence their judgement, and control
their decisions. 1t must now be determined
whether The Bank Is TO have its candidates for
all officers IN the country, from the highest to
lowest, or whether candidates on both sides of
political questions shall be brought forward as
heretofore, and supported BY the usual means
al this time the efforts of the Bank to control
public opinion, through the disrcsses of some
and the fears of Others. are equally apparent, and
IT possible more objectionable By u curlament
Of lis Accommodations more rapid than any emer.
gency requires, and even while it retains specie
TO an almost unprecedented amount in is vaults
il is attempting 10 produce great embarrassment
IN one portion Of the community, while through
presses knowa to have been sustained by its mon
ey, it attempts by uniounded alarms to create a
panic in all.
! Those are the means hy which it seems TO e.
, pect that IL can force restoration OF the depos.
ties, and as necessary consequence, extort from
Congress H,newal Of ia charter | am happy
10 hnow III through the good sense of our pco-
! pie, the effort TO get ~ panic has hitherto fail
ed, and that, through the increased accommoda-
! tons which The State Banks have been enabled to
| afford, no public distress has followed the excr-
tions Of the Bank, and it cannot be doubted that
! ihe exercise Of lis power anj the expenditure of
lis money, as well Us MS efforts to spread ground
less alarm, will be met and rebuked as they de-
sorve.
| In my own sphere of duty, should feel N.Y.
self called on by the facts disclosed to order a
scire facias against the Bank, with view to put
an end 10 tho chartered rights il Las so palpably
violated, it not that the charter itself will
expire as soon as decision would probably be
obtained from the court of last resort
called the attention of Congress to this SUBJ |
lcct Ia my last annual message and Informed them
that such measures "a were within the reach Of
the Secretary Of the Treasury had been taken to |
enable hIm lul WI .ilpr ibp nuh de nositcs
in the Bank of the United States were certainly |
safe, but that as his single pow might lie mad
equa!o to the object, recommended the sub
To Congress as worthy Of their serious investIca-