Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-09-14

conArnicd oy actual experience since the dis
continuance OF the banks fiscal agents, in
May last period which, from the embarruss-
meats IN commercial intercourse, presented
obstacles ss great a. Any that ma, Ju hereaf-
Ter apprehended.
Ihs manner OF keeping the public money
since that period Is fully stated in the repSr,
OF the Secretary Of the Treasury. That ofli-
Ger also suggests the Propriviy of assisnIng,
by Law, certain additional duiios ~ 10 tNl,tins
establishments aud officers, ~hioh, iib the
modihcai,ons and safeguards tolecr.d 10 los
ham, will, he thinks enable the Department
10 continne 10 perform this branch of tho pub
lac service, without any material addition ~
ther 10 their nuni5er W 10 ihe present ,A-
pense.
The extent Of the business to be transacted
has already been stated, aud IN re- poet To- the
Amount of money with whioh the officers eu,-
Ploycd would be- c.tIusted At any one ti,ue q,
apPears that assuming balance OF i've unillIou,
~ be at all times kept ia the Treasury, snI la,
whole oi Il lcit ga the hands ol the collector,
aud receivers, Ihe proportion OT each would
not exceed an asorlgo Of thTts thousand doi-
lars but that, dedgctiGs one million fur 10.
Use VI the mint, and assuming the fVmaIiitt.
Tour millions To Dc la the hands ur one half a.
present number OF officers suppus,tion
deemed moro likely 10 correspond " ith the
fAot-the sum M tho hand. of each would
still bs less than the amount of most Of tl.r
bonds nov taken from the receivers Of pubii.
money.
Every appre hension, however, on tho sub.
Jeet either IN respect to the safety of,he tnoney
or Tho faithful discharge Of these fiscal trains
acuons, may, u appears To me, be eTeciu
ally removed by adding To the present meats
Of The Treasury the establishment by law, ut
lew important points, 81 Offices for the de-
posi'e aud disbursement Of such portions OF
INC public revenue ~ cannot, with obyiou,
safety anu convenience he ieft in the posses
sion of the collecting officers until paid over
BY them 10 the public creditors. Neither tic
amounts retained ia their hands, nor those
dePosited an the Offices would. in an ordinary
condition ut the revenue, be lager in most
cases than those often under tho control Of
disbursing officers Of the Army aud Navy, and
might be made entirely safe, by requiring such
sceurilics, and exercising such controlling su-
pervtsion, rs Congress nIsy by law prescribe
The principal olIicers whose appointing ut,
would become necessary under this pl,n, tax =
ing The largest number suggested by the Sec
retary OF the Treasury, would not exceed ten,
nor the additional expenses, ut the same e.-
hmate, sixty thousand dollars a year.
There can be no doubt Of the obligation Of
those who are entrusted with the aiIiairs of
the government, TO conduct them with as lit
Tie cost To the nation rs u consistent with the
public interest; and il is for Congress. and ul-
umatety for the people, to decide whether
the benefits To be derived from keeping our
fiscal concerns apart. aud severing the cou-
nection which has hitherto existed between
the government and banks otter sufficient nd
vantage1 20 justify the necessary expenses -
IL the object 10 DO accomplished is deemed
Important 10 the future welfare OF the coun-
Try. cannot allow myself 10 believe Ihst the
addition to the public expenditure, OF compa-
Paratively 30 small an amount rs will he ne
cessary 10 effect it, will be objected to by the
people.
IL Will be seen by the report Of the postmas-
ter general, herewith communicated, that the
hscal affairs Of that department have been
successfully conducted since May last upon
The principle Of dealing only in the legal cur
rency Of the United States, and that II need,
no legislation 60 maintain its credit. aud Ia
ciItate the management of lis concerns, the
existing laws being, in the opinion VI lhal OiIi-
Ger, ample for those objects.
Difficulties viii! doubtless be encountered
for season, and increased services requir-
Cd from the public functionaries such are
usually incident TO the commencement Of ev-
cry system, but they vii DO greatly lessened in
the progress Of its operations.
The power and influence supposed 10 be
convicted with the custody sud disbursement of
the public money, are topics on which the puIlic
mind is naturally, and, With gr,at propriciy, pc
euiiarly sensitive. Much has been id on tLrr,
IN reference TO the proposed separation ii the
government from the banking institutions. and
surely no one can object To any appeals sHi-
nsdVcrsiona on the subject, Which are consistent
with facts, and cyincc proper respect for tl.e
Intelligence 81 the people. u ciicG mag istrts
may be allowed to speak TO- himself, On su,I,
Poirt, can truly saw, that TO me nothing ~UuIl
be more acceptable, than the Withdrs~si lrota
The executive, TO the greatest practicable eAtei.i
oI MI concern In the custody a0d disbursement
at the public revenue; not tiist I would shrink
from any responsibility east upon by The duties
% my once, bat because Il IL my hrm bcIi,f,
tbd ts espseity Tor usefulness ~ ia no decree.
promoted BY the possession Of any pa,rot..,,.
noe actually necessary u the performance OF
those duties. hut under aur present form of
gossrBtnent, tie Intervention II tie oNceuti,,,
Officers in the custody aud disbursement az II,,.
public money seems 60 De- unaToidsbic; snd b,
fore II cen b. adm It'd Ihai the iuhus nee aud
poSsr ot the executive would b. increased b,
Dispensing With the agenry 81 banks, the nature
of ha intertentoa ~ such an agency must be
carefully regarded, stud comparison must o.,
instituted between its extcut in tn tao eases
he revenue can Only be- collected by officers
appointed By ths President, With the advice and
consent VI Senate. The pubic moneys. 10 the
hrH instance, must, therefore, in all ,ascs Pass
through hands selected by the executive O1bet
oihexTs appoinied 10 ibe same w.v or q, ip
some eases, by tie President alone must also h..
entrusted Sitl them hen dra a Tor the p,rt,os
" y hOofstnfM W ~ thus q en- that, even " hen |
banks arc employed, the public funds must q. a.,
Pass through the hands oT executive Officers -
Besides this the head Of the treasury department
Who also holds his Office 81 the pleasure IL the
Prehident, snd some other Oficsrs OF the same !
Department., must necessarily be invested With 4
move OF less power 10 the srleoiion, eontinusnee
Spd sapcryisioa, of the banks that may be- en- 4
ployed. Ihs question ~ then nsrrowrd 10 the /
saEle point, Nheiher, ia tl,e intermediate stag,
hrtwesn tho solieetion snd disbursemebt II al. 4
gable money, the sEeaey u backs - aere ssas, !
20 aRoid dangerous sKtchsiOn 81 the p.tr,spagt /
aod inineues ~ Tie cxcoutivs Hot u a clear
thai the couReHi0n q the executive wiiL u.r. .
fui nOaeyed institutions, sspsbie e mini acr,vr
20 the iuierctis Of men 10 points vhcfe ~. Y a.,
uaOss aeesstibic 90 corruption, is irss liable a. \
aboae, than his constitutional sgeucy 80 the to
Poiuimrat SD control u the fes polite oFo, ~
req.ired ~ the proposed plan VIII the pub. |
iis mooney, shen IN their hands De nrers ssfiiy /
opposed 70 coy IMPROPER Interference on che part
- ihe sNecutiyc' Msy u not b. hoped Inst . 4
prudent icar u public Jealousy and disappfols- 1
too, On maitcr ~ pcculisfly exposed 70 60. ~,
-'li deter him from Any such utei r.ttcp s,,t,
~ higher motives bc found iuoperstivs, Ma, /
~ CouEresa 90 regulate, by ls~ The duty al
thoss sfhocra, sud subject " TO such supervision
sd Vabi,eiy, e. % presentth the possibility IL any