Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-09-13

more than two a'day, and atthe city ot w ash
ington only four.
. The difficulties heretofore existing are'
moreover, daily Iessened by an increase IN the
cheapneSs and facility of communication and
it may be asserted with confidence, that the
necessary transfers, as well as thekeeplng-and
disbursement ofthe public moneys can be with
safety and convenience accomplished through
the agencies of Treasury officers. This oph-
ion has been, in some degree, Confirmed by
actual experience since the discpontinuance OF
the banks as fiscal agents, in May last; per-
iod which, from the embarrassments IN CON-
moercial intercourse, presented 'obtac!es as
great as any that may be hereafter apprehol-
ded. -. 49,
The manner Of orkccping the public moaey since
that period, is fully suited in the report OF the
Secretary of the Treasury. That: officer also
suggests the proprietyo of assigning by law, Ger
tain additional duties to existing establishments
.and officers, which, with the notifications and.
safeguards referred to by him. will, he thinks,
c1atle the Department to continue to perform.
this branch of the pnb!ic service, without any
material addition either to their numtrr Oh to the
present expense. The extent Of the business to
be transacted has already been stated; and in res
pect to the amt IF money with which the officers
EMPLOYED would be entrusted at any one time, 1t
appears that, assuming a baianec OF hve millions
L. be at all times kept i'll the Treasury, and the
whole of it left in the hands OF the collectors
and receivers, the proportion.o OF each. would not
exceed an average eftlnrty thousand dollars but
that, deluciing one million for the use OF The
mint, assuming the remaining four millions tc |
be in the hands of one.half OF the present. number
lan,no1 IN
correspond with the fact-the sum:in the HANDS
of each wo,ld still be lese than the amount Of
most rthe bonds now taken from the receivers
of public money. Every apprehension, however,
ON the subject; either in respect to the safety OF.
the money, OF the faithful discharge ofthcse fiscal
transactions may, it appears to me- be etfectually
removed by adding to the present means of the
Treasury the establishment. by law, at few inns
purtant points Of officers for the deposite and dis
bmsement of such portions Of the public revenue
as cannot; with obviohs safety and convenience,
be left in the possession of the collecting officers
until paid over by them to the public creditors
Neither the amounts retained in their hands,
nor those deposited in the Offices, would, in an
ordinary condition of the revenue, DC larger in
most cases than those often under the control
of disbursing officers ofthe Army and Navy, and
might be made entirely safe. by requiring such
securities, and exercising such controlling sup
pervision, as Congress may by law prescribe.
Tho principal officers whose Appointments
would become Necessary under this plan, taking
the largest number suggested by the Secretary OF
tho Treasury, would not exceed ten ; nor the ad-
ditional expenses at the same estimate sixty thou
sand coil RS year.
There can be no doubt of the obligltio of
those who arc entrusted with the affairs of Gov
rrnment to conduct them with as little cost to
the nation as. Is nsistent with the public .in
ierest and it is for Congress, and ultimately tor
the people TO decide whether the benefits to be
derived from keeping our fiscal concerns apart,
and severng tho connection which has hitherto
existed dbetween the Government and banks. offer
sufficient advantages tojustfy.t the necessary eX
p5nse.. Ifthe object to be accomplished is Deem
ed important to the future welflre of the country,
cannot allow myself to behave that the addi,
ton to the pabc expenditure, of comparatively
so small an amount as will be necessary to effect
it, will bs objected to by the people.
1t will be seen by. the report of the Postmaster
General, herewith communicated that the fiscal
aff,irs of that Department have been successful:
1y conducted since May last upon the principle |
Of dealing only in the legal currency ofthe Uni !
ted States and that it needs no legislation to
maintain its credit and facilitate the management
of it's concerns the existing laws, being, in the
opinion Of that officer, ample for thoscobJects.
Difficulties will doubtless be encountered'for q !
season, and increased services required from the
public functionaries; such usually incidentlo
the commencement of every system, but they
wilbc greatly l,sSencd in the progress of its
operations.
The power and Influence supposed to be con-
nected with the custody and disbursement ofthe
public money, arc topics on which the public
mind is naturally, and. with great propricty, pc.
culiarly sensivc. Much has been said on them,
iii reference to the proposed separation of the
Government from the banking Institutions; and
surely no one can object toany appeals or ami
madversiens on the subject, which are. consistent
with facts, and evince proper respect. for the.
intelligence ofthe people. Ifa Chief Magistrate
may be allowed to speak for himself; on such a
point, 1 can truly say, that to me nothing would
be more acceptable, than the withdrawal from the
Executive, to the greatest practicable extent of |
all concern in custody and disbursement of the
public revenue; not that / would shrink from
iny responsibilities cast upon me by the duties of
my office but because it is my firm belief, that
its capacity for usefulness is in no degree pro-
moied by the possession of any patronage not
actually necessary to the performance OF those
duties But under our present form of Govern
ment, the intervention of the Executive officers
in the custody and disbursement OF the public
money seems to be unavoidable; and before it can !
be admtte, that the influence and power Of the;
Executive would be increased by dispensing with
the agency of banks, the nature of that interven-
ton ii sucn an agency. must be carefully regar-
ded and comp .rison must be instituted between
its.extcnt in the two cases.
The revenue can only be collected by officers
appointed by the President, with the advice and
consent ofthe Senate The. public moneys, IN
the Is. INSTANCE, must therefore, all cases, pass
through hands selected by the Executive. 9th
ar officers appointed in the same way, or, as in
some Cases. by the President alone. must also be
entrusted with chem when drawn for the purpose
Of disbursement. 1t is thus seen that, even when
banks are employed the public funds must twice