The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-11-07
From the Richmond Enquirer, Non. 3.
THE TWO SYSTEMS.
" Discord, dire sister of the sIaught'ring pow'r,
Small ut her birth, but rising every hour"

Dscord dire oil the slatlghtring pOwr,
Small 1T her birth, but rising every hour"
/ Mr. Benton in his devotion to the new born Demo-
cratic Sub Treasures, which he very properly de-
rives from the offices of the ancient Quastors and
Pro- uRstors of imperial Rome, and those of the
Receivers-General of the modern Kingdoms Of Eu-
rope, asserts that The right, and the obligation OF
the Government to keep its own money in its own
hands, results from first principles, and from the
great law Of selfpreservaon." 1t is precisely this
fright" and this "great law of selfpreservation,"
which induces so many OF the Democratic States
Right party to oppose with manly frmness the intro
ducticn of corps Of officers only known in impe-
rial and kingly Governments-only useful to Empe-
rors and Kings-and dangerous alike to Republics,
Democracies, and the liberties of free people The
very ion of Mr.. Benton indicates an issue be-
tween the people ofthe States and their institutions
and the Government of the u States and its officers
and he holds forth distrust in the former, which
would more become Minister of any Kingdom in
Europe than Senator of the United States. When
before did any Democrat the attitude of 'self
preservation against the taxpayers and the deposit
tories of the public money! 1t will be in vain to
talk about this position being taken against the Banks
only; for by Mr. Benton's own speech, and the re-
port of the Secretary as have before stated 1t APP
pears that from the list of September last the banks
paid for the Government about $40 GOT 3l6; larger
amount, | believe than ever before paid out of
any repositories in the space of four months from
the foundation Of the Government. The position is
therefore, against the people, who wish the funds OF
the nation to be paid in a medium common to them,
and to be held in repositories also common TO them;
that all the measures OF their rulers affecting the
currency may affect alike and at the same instant
oftime the governors and the governed And how
is il possible for the rulers of any country govern
it wisely, prosperously, or happily for the people go
verned, unless there be sympathy of feeling, uni
y of interest, and condition common to all in the
hour of adversely Emperors, kings, and their
trains of dependents who literally weigh down the
best energies of their subjects abhor the idea Of
sympathy Of feeling, unity of interest, or condi
~ tba,rr aly
either by reyulsions in commerce, or shortness of
harvests shall come upon them. Yetall nations and
tribes of people in every age and country have been,
and ever will be- subject to these caamities, whether
civilized barbarous, savage; and il was perhaps
as much from the immunties Of exemption thus
claimed by hereditary and arbitrary rulers as any
other one cause which gave rise to Democratic and
Republican forms of Government Mr. Benton, in
carving out his ideas of forming substantive corps
of officers over whom the Erecutire ,ciH should be
absolute and arming them as it were with hooks of
Steel to extract from the taxpayers the most indie
structibe currency for the support of Government,
without regard TO the destruction of private property,
the increase OF general calamity, has brought for
ward for our example and imitation the inventions
of imperial Rome, with the Improvements of the
modern Kingdoms Of Europe.
These various corps always actuated by the esprit
du corps have worked well in upholding the thrones,
and crowned heads Of Europe But warn every
democrat against adopting them TO uphold the demo
cracy of this country. Mr. B. after descanting beau
tifully upon the Receivers General in the modern
Kingdoms ofEurope asks in most significant strain,
"who does not recognize in these Collectors and Re-
/" cevers- General of France and England, the an
!" cient Roman officers OF Quastors and Produces
torsl These fiscal officers Of France and England
are derivations from the Roman institutions, and
I" the same are found in all the modern Kingdoms of
Europe, which we're formerly like France and Bri-
!" tain Provinces of the Roman Empire" In these
Kingdoms we know there is a constant struggle for
power between the Kings and their subjects and
while the sword is osensibly used to protect them
from without the corps of civil officers within, hold
the people to obedience, as with hooks Of steel fas
tened upon their heart-strings3 These Quastors or
Receiyers-General form an important link in the
chain of European oppression; and hope, will not,
this late day be introduced in this Republic But
in England and France the moneys Of the Govern
men are very frequently received in Bank notes and
Government bills as we'll as in coins, and deposited
also in banks local and national They are, howe