The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-31

In THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL, LET THERE
BE usrrY--iN NoS-EssENriALs, LIBERTY, AND IN ALL
THINGS cHARIrY.-Angusfin.
GoUGE,s sUB-THEAsURY sCHEME--EvI-
DENCE OF w. ii. CRAWFORD.
After the extraordinary changes and revo-
lutions which we have Witnessed, having ta-
ken place within the last three years, in the
minds of men, in regard to measures Of great
National importance, we arc prepared for al
most any other change whatever, that the mind
of man can suggest
Probably no individual ever filed the impor-
tan, station Of Secretary of the Treasury of
the United States, who carried into il equal
talent, of the peculiar character, which SO
eminently qualified him to discharge the inn
portant duties of that Office as the late w. II.
Crawford. The manner in which he con-
Quoted that Department gave universal salts
faction, and all his opinions connected with
it were equally respected. We can point TO
those, who now hold exalted stations, whose
predictions in favor Of Mr.. Crawford in by
gone days, took most decided stand in adj
vance of those which they then exhibited to-
wards General Jackson.
These remarks are merely predatory TO our
respectfully Introducing quotation from
communication made by Mr.. Crawford to the
House of Representatives, dated the 9Th
February, 1922. To this quotation we ear
nestly invite the attention of the public; and
particularly that of the former friends and sup
porters Of that gentleman, who are now the
advocates of the hobby Of the day-the Sub
treasury scheme.
Mr.. Crawford then stated,
".ln the States Of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri Mis-
sssippi, and Alabama, the Bank of the United States
has established office In several OF those States
il was found mpracticable for the receivers to make
their deposiies in that bank its offices, without in
curing an expense nearly equal to the amount of
their salary and emolumentS In such cases, the
only alternatives left TO the Department were 10 suf
fer the public money 10 remain in the hands of the
receivers until il could be expended to direct TO
be deposited in some of the local banks. Expert
ence had shown that it not prudent TO adopt the
first of these alternatives. Indeed, Congress, infu-
enced probably by this conviction, had in the year
1900 directed that the revenue bonds in Boston, New
York Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk and Charles
ton should be deposited for collection in the Bank of
the United States and its offices, established in those
cities; and in 1909 il directed by law, that the
principal disburSing officers Of the Government
should whenever practicable, keep the public mo-
news in their hands, in some incorporated bank, TO
be designated for the purpose by the President of the
United States Acting in the spirit of these egisa-
tive nlunctions founded upon the idea that banks
furnished not only additional security not only in
the collection but in the disbursement Of the public
revenue my predecessors in office had directed that
the public money whenever collected, should be de-
posted in banks in the vicinity of the officers who
collected it. When the Department was placed I'M
der my direction, in October 1916 there were eigh
ty-nine banks Of depoSe in The different States Of
the Union"
In the above quotation we have the declara-
ton of one of the most able financiers and
enlightened statesmen, which our country has
ever Produced that experience had shown
that IL ,cas not PRUDENT" "to suffer the pub
lie money to remain in the hands of the re-
ccivers until it could be expended: and he
added I" If RECENT EXPERIENCE HAS FUR
NIsHED EVIDENCE IN ANY DEGREE CON-
FLIcTING WITH THAT WHICH PRODUCED
THE LEGISLATIVE INJUNcTIoNs TO WHICH
HAVE REFERRED, 1T HAS SHOWN THAT THE
OFFICIAL INTEGRITY OF THE PUBLIC AGENTS
HAS NOT BEEN AUGMENTED Without pos
sessing any actual knowledge Of the facts
whatever, we venture to express belief, that
upon a proper investigation, it will be shown,
that experience" has given no evidence,
that "thc integrity Of public agents has been
augmented" in the smallest degree since that
statement was made to Congress by Mr..
Crawford
Notwithstanding the recorded testimony Of
this able financier against system, which he
condemned as not prudent to adopt" wenow
are taught to suppose, that he knew nothing
whatever on the subect-that his "experi-
| ence" led him into error, and that he was dia-
metrically wrong in the opinions he then ex-
pressed.
We have seen, that knowledge derived from
| experience has been disrcgarded: and that the
theories of a metaphysical empire, have been
adopted and recommended! We do sincere
| ~ hope that the light Of experience will pre-
ponderatc, and cast into the shades hereafter,
schemes of any sort devised TO Goyge the
| People.