Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-12-14

4l,732,e59 This sum-, with the ex,
ception Of FIVE millions, will be trans
ferred to the several states, in accord
ance with the provisions of the act re
gulating the deposises Of the publ
money.
The unexpended balances of appro
priation, on the first day of Januar,
next, are estimated at S14 csc, 062
exceeding by S9,626, 062, the amour
which will be left in the deposite bank.
subject 10 the draft Of the treasurer o
the United States, after the contempla
ted transfers to the several states ar,
made. II, therefore, the future receipt.
should not be sufficient TO meet these
outstanding and future appropriations
there may be soon a necessity TO use d
portion of the funds deposited with the
states.
The conscqucncesa unprecedented, when
the deposite act of the las, session re.
ceived a reluctant approval, have been
measurably realized. Though an act
merely for the deposite of the surplus
moneys Of the United States in the
state treasures, for safe keeping, until
they may be waE,cd for the service of
the general government, it has been
extensively spoken of as an act to give
the money to the several states, and
they have been advised to use il rs a
gift, without regard to the means Of
refunding it when called for. Such q
suggestion has doubtless been made
without a due consideration ofthe obi
cation ofthe deposite act, and without
a proper attention to the various prin-
ciples and interests which are affected
by it.
1t is manifest that the law itself can
not sanction such a suggestion, and that
US II nov stands, the states have no
authority to receive and use these
deposites without intending to return
them, than any Opposite bank, or any
individual temporarily charged with
the safe keeping or application of the
public money, would now have for
converting the same to their private
use, without the consent and against
the will of the Government. But, in
d~ependently Of the violation of public
faith, and moral obligation which are
involved in this suggestion, when exa.
mined in reference to the terms of the
present deposite act, it is believed that
the considerations which should govern
the future legislation Of Congress on
this subject, will he equally conclusive
against the adoption Of any measure
recognizing the principles on which
the suggestion has been made.
Considering the intimate connection
with the financial interests ofthe coun
try, and its great Importance in what.
ever aspect il can be viewed, | have
bestowed upon it the most anxious re-
Election, and feel it u be my duty 10
state to Congress such thoughts as
have occurred to me, to aid their DELHI
Grafton in treating it in the mannerbcs
calculated to conduce to the common
good.
The experience ofother nations ad
monished us 10 hasten the extinguish
ment Of the public debt. But it viii
be in vain that we have congratulated
each other upon the disappearance O
this evil, if we do not guard against
this equally great one Of promoting the
unnecessary accumulation of public re-
venue. No political maxim is better
established than that which tells US that
an improvident expenditure o fmoney is
the parent of profligacy, and that no
people can hope to perpetuate their lib
critics who long acquiesce in "a policy
which taxes them for objects not neccs-
sary to the legitimate and real wants of
their government.
Fl~attering as is the condition of our
country at the present period, because
of its unexampled advance in all the
steps ofsocial and political Improvement
it cannot be disguised tina, there is
a lurking danger already apparent in
the neglect of this warning truth, and
that the time has arrived when the rep
resentatives of the people should be
employed in devising some more ap.
propriate remedy than now exists to a
vert il.
Under our present revenue system,
there is every probability that there
will continue to be a surrlus beyond
the wants of the government and il
has become our duty TO decide wheth.
er such a result be consistent with the
true objects of our government
Should a surplus be permitted to accu-
muIate beyond the appropriations, il
must be retained in the treasury, as it
now is, or distributed among the peo-
pie Of the states.
To retain it in the treasury unem-
ployed, in any way, is lmpracticable.
1t is. besides, against the genius Of our
free institutions, to lock up IN vaults
the treasure of the nation. To take
from the people the right OF bearing
arms, and put their weapons obedience