Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-09-20
The manner of keeping the public mon.

o existing establishments and officers,
which, with the notifications and SAFE
guards referred to by him, will, he thinks,
enable the Department to continue TO per-
form this branch OF the public service, with
out any material addition either to the num-
Der or to the present expenses. The ex-
tent Of the business to be transacted has
already been stated; and in respect 10 the
amount of money with which the officers
employed wonld be entrusted at any one
time, it appears that assuming balance of
five millions to be at all times kept in the
Treasury, and the whole of it left in the
hands Of the collectors and receivers, the
proportion of each would not exceed an
average of thirty thousand dollars; but
that. deducting one million for the use of
the mint, and assuming the remaining four
millions to be in the han's of one half the
present number Of officers-a supposition
deemed more | kelly to correspond with the
fact-the sum in the hands of each would
still be less than the amount of most Of the
bonds now taken from the receivers of pub
lie money. Every apprehension, howev-
err, on the subject, either in respect to the
safety, of the money, or the faithful dis.
charge of these fiscal transactions, may, it
appears to me, be effectually removed by
adding to the present means of the treasu-
ry the establishment by law, at few i'm.
por,ant points, of Offices for the deposit and
disbursement of such portions of The public
revenue, as cannot, with obvious safety aid
convenience, be left in possession of the
collecting officers until paid over by them
TO the public creditors. Neither the a.
mounts retained III their hands, nor those
deposited IT. the offices would. in an ordi.
nary cordltion Of the revenue, be larger
IN most cases than those ofen under the
CONTROL OF dsbursing officers of the Army
and Navy, and might BE- made entirely safe
by requiring such securities, and exercising
such controlling supervision as Congress
may by law presc ibe. The principal of.
ficers whose appointments would become
necessary under this plan, taking the larg.
est number suggested by the Secretary Of
the Treasury, would not exceed ten {; nor
the additional expenses, at the same esti-
mate, sixty thousand dollars year.
There can be no doubt of the obligation
OF those who are entrusted with the affairs
of Government, to conduct them with as
little cost to the nation as is consistent with
the public interest; and it is for Congress
and ultimately for the people, to decide
whether the benefits TO be derived from
Keeping our fiscal concerns apart, and sew
ering the connection which has hitherto ex.
listed between the Government and banks,
offer sufficient advantages to justify the
expenses. If the object to be accomplish.
ed is deemed important to the future wei.
fare of the country, cannot allow myself
to believe that the addition to the public ex-
pendlture, of comparatively so small an a.
mount as will be necessary to effect it, will
be objected to by the people.
1t will be seen by the report Of the Post
Master General, herewith communicated,
that the fiscal affairs of that Department
have been successfully conducted since
May last, upon the principle of dealing on.
ly in the legal currency of the U. States,
and that it needs no legislation to maintain
its credit, and facilitate the management OF
its concerns; the existing laws beng,in the
opinion of that officer, ample for those OBJ
jects.
Difficulties will doubtless be encounter.
ed for season, and increased services re-
CURED from the public functionaries such
are uaually incident to the commence.
ment of every system, but they will be
greatly lessened in the progress Of its ope.
raiions.
The power and influence supposed to be
connected with the custody and dsburse-
ment Of the public money, are topics on
which the public mind is naturally, and
with great propriety, peculiarly sensitive.
Much has been said on them, in reference
10 the proposed separation of the Govern.
ment from banking institutions; and sure.
ly no one can object 10 any appeals or an
;rnea.ers;ens tl,v subjoUt, wliviI arv ovn-
sistent with the facts, and evince a proper
respect for the intelligence of the people.
If a Chief Magistrate may be allowed to
speak for himself on such point, | can
truly say that to me nothing would be more
acceptable than the withdrawal from the
Executive, 10 the greatest practicable ex.
tent, OF all concern in the custody and dis
bursemeut of the public revenue not that
would shrink from any responsibility cast
upon me by the duties of my office, but be-
cause it is my firm belief, that its capacity
for usefulness is in no degree promoted by
the possession Of any patronage not actu.
ally necessary to the performance of those
duties. But under our present form of
government, the Intervention of the Exec.
utve officers in the custody and disburse.
ment of the public money seems to be un.
avoidable; and before it can be admitted
that the influence and power of the Execu.
tive would be increased by dispensing with
the agency of banks, the nature Of that
Intervention in such an agency must be
carefully regarded, and comparison must
be instituted between its extent in the two
cases.
The revenue can only be collected BY
officers appointed by the President, with
the advice and consent Of the Senate. The
public moneys, in the first instance, must,
therefore, in all cases, pass through hands
selected by the Executive. Other officers
appointed in the same cases, by the Presi.
dent alone, must also be entrusted with
them when drawn for the purposes of dis
bursement. II is thus seen that, even when
banks are employed, the public funds must
twice pass through the hands of Executive
officers. Besides this, the head of the
Treasury Department, who also holds his