Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-09-16

vskuxE VII. NunnzR -:
Tho d.fticolti.Asf transfer, and The aid hereto
fore rendered BY 6alAa, have been less than =
usually supposed Ias scsaal accounts show shat
by tar the large Portaoa fpsymehts u made With
Of collection; md the whole nuuhee Of wsfraats
Issued At the Treasury in the year 1904 wear.
tho results Of which viii. It h believed afocdI
safe tes~ Cor the futuIe-fell short q eve ,hos,-
sand dollaf., sr an avenge Of less than - dalv
for each State: IN the city Of New Yors thsy IA
average more then two . day, and At 4e city Z
Washington only four.
The difficulties heretofore existing -, moeor
over, daily lessened by an increase in ~ eheep.
ness and facility Of communication; end Il may
be asserted with confidence, that the 'aecessary
transfers, veil rs the safe keeping aad ahb0sse-
ments Of the public moneys, can b With safety
and convenisnce accomplished through the aG0a-
cies Of Treasury officers. This opinion has beeas
IN some degree, confirmed by actual expericnoo
since the discentinuance Of the banks ~ fiscal
agents in May last; period which, from tho em.
barfassments in commercial intercourse, pressnted
Obstacles as great a. any that may Be hereafter
apprehended.
The manner ofkeepng tho public money, since
that period, is fully stated in the report Of The
Secretary Of the Treasury. That officer also
tain additional duties to existing establishments
and officers which with the modification and safe
guards referred to by him, will, he thinks, enable
the Department to continue operfOrm this branch
Of the public service, without any material sddi-
ton either in their number the present expense
The extent of the business to be transacted has
already been stated; and in respect to the amount
Of money with which the officers employed would
be entrusted ut any time, it appears, that A.
suming balance Of FIVE millions to be at all times
a. a. A. "A
the hands of the collectors and receivers the pro-
portion Of each would not exceed an average q
thirty thousand dollars; but that, dedacting one
million for the Of the mint, and assuming the
remaining four millions to be in the hands Of one.
half of the present number Of o(hcers-a suppo-
sition deemed more likely to correspond with the
fact-the sum in the hassds Of each would still BE-
less than the amount Of most Of the bonds now a.
ken from the receivers Of public money. Every
apprehension, however, on tho subject either in
respect to tho safety Of the money, or the faith
ful discharge Of these fiscal transactions, may, ie
appears to me, DO effsctually removed by adding
to the present means OF tho Treasury the estab-
lshment by law, at few important points of OIL
ces for the Opposite and disbursement u such por
tions Of the public revenue rs cannot, with Obvi.
Gus safety and convenience, be left in the Posso0-
sion Of the collecting officers until paid over by
them to the public creditors Neither the anDnt
RETAINED in their hands, those deposited The
offices, would, in an ordinary condition q tho
enuc, be larger in most than those ofen NO.
der the control Of disbursing officers Of the Army
and Navy, and might be made entirely safe, By
T requiring such securities, and exercising such
eons,s,liin1 anpes~i.;,n. ~ Con6s~. oey - Aso
. prescribe. The principal cflicers Whose appoint
ments would become necessary under the pian,
: taking the largest number suggested by the Sc
: cretary Of the Treasury, would not exceed ten
nor the additional expenses, at the Same estimate,
: sixty thousand dollars q year.
There can be no doubt Of the obligtion ofthose
who are entrusted with the affairs Of Govern
ment, to conduct them with as little cost % the
nation a. is consistent with public interest: and
it is for Congress- and ultimately for the people
to beside whether tho benef u to be derived from
, keeping our fiscal concerns apart and sovorina
the connection which has hitherto existed DO.
tween tho Government and banks, offer suf6c;eni
advantages to justify the necessary expenses q
} the object to be accomplished 10 deemed impoe.
: tant to the future welfare Of the country. can.
not allow myself to believe that The additioa ID
the public expenditure of comparatively small
an amount as will b necessary 10 effect il, via
D be objected by the people.
0 1t will be seen, by tho report to the Postmastea
General, herewith communicated, that Tie fscial
: affairs of that Department have been successful
ly conducted since May last upon the pracipls b
dealing only ia the legal currency ofthe U. Stats
and that it needs no legislation 10 maintain ia
: credit, and facilities the management of its con
+ Germs; the existing laws being, In the opiaiod a
o that officer, ample Cor those subjects.
/ Difficulties will doubtless be encountered Soe
d season and increased services required for III
public functionaries; such usully incident 4
: the commencement Of every system but they vii
Q be greatly lessened in the progress Of its OPP
e rations.
% The power and influence supposed 10 b con
If nected with the custody and disbursement Of TIN
n public money arc topics on which the Pub1ic pin
l. is naturally and with great ProPriety, psculiasiI
j. sensitive. Much has been said on them, IN re
It ference the proposed separation a ths Cover.
II ment from the banking institutions and surely
one can object to any appeals o. aaimadvsrsioa
10 on the subject which arc consisteat With faetl
z and svince proper respect for the intellgsnce
il the people. Ifa Chief Magiitfste may b alDow
n cd 70 speak for himself, o. such point CO sfu
ut say, that to me nothing would b moro soeePsahe
il than the withdrawal ffsm the Executive, 70 d
q. greatest practical extent, Of all concern - d
d custody and disbursement Il The public rovsnua
OF not that would shrink from asy reeponsibiDit
of cast upon No BY The duties 6 ~ sd'ce, but ,.
ne u.efolness il in no dsgrve promoted BY he pos
ch session Of those duties; but, under our presen
IA form Of eovernmsnt the interventioe of the e
70. ecutive offcosia the custody and disbsr3emsnt
y, the public abney, seems to b unavoidable; an
- 81 80 ek~A