Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-09-14

more likely 10 correspond with the ac,,h.
sum M The hands OF each would still, b. ,ess
man 'he amount OF most Of the bonas 800.
nHe" from me receivers of public mooev
.h'e'y apprehension, however, ON the sub
~ o"ner In respect 10 the safety Of The mo.
ney' or The faithful Discharge of these fisr,,
.'"nsac'ipns, may, it appears To me. he eilsc'
.uany removed by adding TO the pesen,
nea"s o' .he Treasury the establishment, by
- lew important points, of Offices Tor
s "ePos,'e ana disbursement of such por-
lions OF the public revenue as c,nn., I'll,
OBVIOUS safety and convenience. he let, !, ,h.
possession OF the collecting officers until Maid
owe, ny 'hem 10 The public creditors. Meth
tue amounts retained i'm their hands nor
"losc ueposned IN the offices, would. in nm
o'oinary condition. Of the revenue. be Iarper
IN most cases than those often under The CON.
.ro' oil uisoursing officers OF the Army and
Navy ana might he made entirely safe. NV
lequ'ri"S such securities, and exercisiou
SUI oonuo"'ng supervision, as Congress
may oy Ia" prescribe. The principal off .
eeis whose appointments would become ne.
cessary under this plan, taking the lnr.es,
number suggested by the Secretary Of ,hs
iieasury, would not exceed ten nor the adj .
oiViohai expenses, al the same estimate s;x
~ thousand dollars a year
"efe can he no doubt OF the obligation oi
muse VINO are entrusted with the affairs of
meni, 10 conduct them with as little
Cost 10 The nation is consistent with The
Puoiic interest and il is for Congress and
u''',n"teiy Tor The people, 10 decide whether
60 ne ueieh's 10 be derived from keeping our
to"Se,ps apart, y severing the connec>
ton which has hitherto existed ba,,yssr ~ =,
government and banks, offer sufficient aJ
Ehn.aSes TO justify The necessary exu.nsss
~ inc OBJECT TO he accomplished is d.emcd
| Important TO the future welfare of the cnn,
Try. cannot allow myself 10 believe ina, Tho
auoition 10 the public expenditure of con-.
para'Neiy so small an amount as W in he NO
eessaty 10 effect 1t, will he objected to by The
1t will be seen by the repor, of the Post.
master General, herewith commnn;,,,s'
that the fiscal affair of that Denar,n,on,L
peen successfully conducted since Nav Tas
upon The principle OF dealing only in the lie.
sdi currency OF the United States, and tba
"seus no legislation 10 maintain lis credit
a an ."cHita'e The management OF itsc concerns
me existing laws being, in the opinion ~
'hII oIhcer, ample for those objects.
Din'cuities will doubtless be encountered
| wi scaseh, and increased services required
n 'ne puhiic functionaries such are
or,, .uo'uehl 10 The commencement of CIV.
cry system, but they will be greatly lessene.
Ia Inc progress OF its operations.
ihe power and influence supposed 10 l.,
e"'hoc'su win The custody and disbursement
W .ne puohe money, are topics on which The
PUBIC mind is naturally, and with greal
ProprIety, peculiarly sensitive. Much ba.
oeeh SAID on them, in reference 10 the propos.
ed separation of the Government from tho
op. i"s institutions; and surely no one Can
~ any appeals or animadversions On
ine '9ect, which are consistent with facts
|
Sehce OF the people. If Chief Magistrate
may be allowed To speak for himself. on smell
poin'' can truly say ihatto me nothing
~"uiu ne more acceptable, than the " it'll
drawai from The Executive, TO The prea,ss
practicaoie extent, o! all concern in The ems
'ouy ana disbursement of the public reyenu.
nor maj would shrink from any responsi
enHy Gas, upon me by The duties of nv of
nee ou' because II is my firm belief, that lis
ioi usefulness is IN no degree pro-
meiea ny The possession ofany PATRONAGE mn,
actually necessary to the performance OF those
dniies. But under our present form nj
Government, the Intervention of the Execu-
i've o[ncers IN the custody and disbursement,
VI ,ne funiic money seems 10 be unav oidable
1 ana before II can be admitted that the intin.
ence and power OF the Executive would h,
increased by dispensing with the agency n
banks, the nature Of that intervention /,
suCh an agency must be carefully regarded
and comparison must DE instituted betwee,
lis extent in the two cases.
The revenue can only be collected bv of
-hcers appointed by the President. with III,
ADVICE and consent of the Senate. tn,
| PUBIC moneys, in The first instance must
therefore, Ia all cases, pass through hands
.seiected by the Executive. Other of.;rars
f.aPpoInled in The same way, or. as in some
cases, ny The President alone, must also he
entrusted win them when drawn for the
Pun pose OF disbursement. Ii IS thus seen
'nut even when banks are employ the
puoiie funds must twice pass through The
handsof Executive officers. Res;des ~
The head o:.the Treasury Department. who
also holds his office nj the pleasure ri III
| resident, and some other ofIi.ersofl The SAM
department, must necessarily be invested
WIN more or less power in the seIec,;,r
continuance, and supervision, Of the bank
that may be employed. The question IS then
narrowea 10 The single point, whether in The
intermediate stage between The collection and
disbursement OF the public money, the aeen,
y VI o"nKs IS Necessary Ia avoid dangerous
extension of The patronage and ;nanencs ''i
'he Executive? But il is clear that The ron,
neclion OF the Executive with nowerE,I
Ihoneyed institutions, capable of minisIer;ng
10 'he interests OF men in points where thew
are h'ost accessible TO corruption, is less lia>
Die TO abuse, ih7n his constitutional agency
~ me appointment and control OF tbe lew
Puos.c officers required by the proposed Dian,
WIN The public money, when in their hands
tie necessarily exposed 10 any Improper in.
reference on the part Of the Executive;
May 1t moi be hoped that prudent fear of
puoiie Jealousy and disspprobalion, in mat
yer 50 peculiarly exposed TO them, will defer
hlm from any such interference. even il
higher motives he found inousrsiiye NJ,
not Congress so regulate, by law the duty OF
hose nliICeEs md s.,L,ic..L :. -. \