Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-12-16

ful to the business OF the country, and
will doubtless continue to exist in the
States, so long as they conform to their
laws. and are found to be safe and bene-
fetal. How they should be created,
what privileges they should enjoy, under
what responsibilities they should act,
and to what restrictions they should be
subject, are questions which, as obser-
we'd on previous occasion, belong to
the States to decide. Upon their rights,
or the exercise of them, the General Go.
vernment can have no motive to en-
croach. Its duty towards them is well
performed, when it refrains from legis.
lating for their special benefit, because
such legislation would violate the spirit
of the Constitution, and be unjust to 9TH
er interests; when it takes no steps to 4
impair their usefulness, but so manages
its own affairs as to make it the interest
of those institutions to strengthen and
improve their condition for the security
of the community at large. They have
no right to insist on connection with
the Federal Government, nor on the use
of the public money for their own ben-
eft. The object Of the measure under
consideration is, to avoid for the future
a compulsory connection of this kind.
1t proposes to place the General Gov
ernment, in regard to the essential points
of the collection, safe-keeping and trans.
fer of the public money, in situation
which shall relieve it from all depend
ence on the will of irresponsible indivi-
dua!s or corporations TO withdraw
those moneys from the uses of private
trade, and confide them to agents con-
stitutionally selected and controlled by
law; to abstain from improper interfer-
ence with the industry of the people,
and withhold inducements to IMPROVE
dent dealings on the part of individuals;
to give stability to the concerns of the
Treasury; to preserve the measures of
the Government from the unavoidable
reproaches that flow from such con.
nection, and the Banks themselves from
the injurious effects of supposed par,i-
cipation in the political conflicts of the
day, from which they will otherwise find
it difficult to escape.
These are my views upon this impor-
tant subject, formed after careful lehec-
ton, and with no desire but to arrive at
what is most likely to promote the pub
lie interest. They are now, as they
were before, submitted with unfeigned
difference to the opinion of others. 1t
was hardly to be hoped that changes so
important, on subject so interesting,
could be made, without producing Sc
rious diversity Of opinion; but so long
as those conflicting views are kept above
the influence Of individual or local in
terests; so long as they pursue only the
general good, and are discussed with
moderation and candor, such diversity
is benefit, not an injury. If a MAORI.
ty of Congress see the public welfare in
different light; and more especially if
they should be satisfied that the measure
proposed would not be acceptable to the
people; shall look to their wisdom to
substitute such as may be more condu-
Give to the one, and more satisfactory
to the other. In any event, they may
confidently rely on my hearty co-opera-
tion to the fullest extent which my views
of the constitution and my sense of du-
ty will permit.
1t is obviously important to this branch
of the public service, and to the BUSH
ness and quiet OF the country, that the
whole subject should in some way be
settled and regulated by law; and, if
possible, at your present session. Be-
sides the plans above referred 10, l am
not aware that any one has been sugges-
ted, except that of keeping the public
money in the State banks in special de.
posite. This plan is, to some extent, in
accordance with the practice of the Co.
vernment, and with the present arrange
ment of the Treasury Department;
which, except, perhaps, during the ope-
ration of the late deposite act, has al
Ways been allowed, even during the ex-
istence of National Bank, to make
temporary use Of the State. banks, in
particular places, for the safe keeping OF
portions Of the revenue. This discre-.
tionary power might be continued, if
Congress deem it desirable, whatever
general system may be adopted. So
i long as the connection is voluntary, we
need perhaps anticipate few Of those
difficulties, aud little Of that dependence
on the banks, which must attend every
such connection when compulsory in its
nature, and when so arranged as TO make
the banks fixed part of the machinery