The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-11-10

u ~ - ntuen as having alluded 10 the grovclling
class OF pjiitical vures in the same paper wherein
mention Is made of the high-toned patriotism and
literally OF Mr.. Van BuREs's message. When the
republican party shall cease to tolerate traits of free
dom and intelligence like those encouraged by the
late message then TO be separated from its ranks will
be the feryent desire Of every rejecting citizen
Such aPeriod has nesget arrived, and trust il me-
yer will
Before the delivery Of the late message Of the Pre-
sident TO Congress, and subsequently TO the suspen-
sion of specie payment by the Banks in May last the
IDEA OF dirOreing the government from Banks was
revived II was soon indicated TO the public, that
the Executive Branch OF the Government was favor
ably disposed towards IL. Several Conventions of
the friends OF the administration in this State and
elsewhere (assembled for the purpose Of nominating
candidates for local oiices passed resolutions inc
ming me same way blt 10 their nature they were ne
cessarly non-commitiai and settled nothing, for
details OF system we're embodied and no very de-
finite notion Of feasible mode Of diyorcing the Go
vernment from Banks was communicated to any one
BY such resolutions More Conventions, however,
entirely omitted 10 advert 10 the subject But Ii /
mistake not the republican convention in this coun-
IN August last also passed resolution OF this I'm
ashnte characters And my own mind has strongly
inclined ior some time to wish such measure prac-
ucaDe, though could never satisfactorily compre-
bend it, 50 as not 10 Tear up and disturb the many bu
slness relations OF the country that have taken root
under The fostering influences which the policy Of
the national administration for years past has labor
ed TO throw around the local bank system the only
safe, polite and constitutional engine of commerce,
enterprise, credit, and public and private finance
Supposing however, that no plan obnoxious TO such
serious objections, and certainly that had at any
time been repudiated under President Jacksons adj
ministration would be brought forward by the Exc
culive, was preparedto weigh with candor and ia
vor any plan for II that might besuggested; and
when the message Of the President came, read and
studied its propositions with all the care and udg-
ment Of which was capable. In weighing them
with the freedom which felt it my duty 10 exercise
and the which the President himself invited, as
have already shown, could not but hesitate in re-
gard to them. lsaw them admitted by the whole te-
nor of the message and expressly by the report ofthe
Secretary of the Treasury, to be an experiments
new and unlried system. | recalled the votes had
myself, and coajoiatiy Nth all my republicans col
leagues IN Congress from his STATE given heretofore
upon propositions having the same end in view and
also exclusively metallic currency for all the pur-
poses of Government. compared those former pro-
positions with those of the message, and found them
substantially the same The votes now alluded TO
were given in the House Of Representatives on the
third of January and eleventh of February 1885,
On the former day, proposition submitted by Mr..
Gamble OF Ga came up for consideration in the fol-
lowing shape
Resoired, That the Secretary OF the Treasury be
directed 10 communicate to this House whether In his
opinion, II Is practicable or convenient for that DEPART
meni 10 COLLECT SAFELY KEEP, and DIsBURsE the pub
lie moneys OF the United States without the agency Of
bank or banks, and If So to report to this House the
best mode in his opinion, by which that object be
This proposition was discussed on two several
days Mr.. Polk, MIR. Cambreleng, of N York, Mr..
Fillmore, ofN. York, Mr. Jones' of Geo., all friends
of the administration, ably opposed By argument its
adoption Mr., Cambreleng, now Chairman Of the
Ways and Means, who reported the Sub Treasury
bill at the late session, in reply TO Mr.. Candles
views said emphatically 81 apprehend that the
project referred to by the gentleman from Georgia "a
government, agency independent of all banks sug-
gested by President Jackson's message in lS30) as
ht las via
but rery lep friends" tSee Cong. Deb V. II, part
l, p. o9l
Mr.. Jones said, you may prevent the State banks
from being made The repositories of the public mo-
ney. But this, far from proving benefit will
prove expense, useless and unnecessary You must
erect buildings suitable for such repositories and you
must employ guards to protect them. All this ex-
pense may be saved BY the employment of State
Mr. Mckim, then and still member Of the Com
mit,ee of Ways and Means, and always devoted
friend of both the late and present administration,
after full debate, moved to lay Mr. Candies resolu-
lion on the liable. This motion prevailed by vote
Of LOG toS7 The whole administration Strength in
the House voted in the affirmative The vote of the
delegation Of this State against Mr.. CANDLES resolu-
AYEs-Hail, Kavanaugh, Mason, McIntire,
Smith.
NAY-Evans.
Messrs. Jarvis and Parks did not vote. @
Thus decided was the expression thus given by the
administration party in the House. and by the dele
CATION of this State against Sub Treasury agencies
and a divorce of the Government from banks.
On the llh of February, following, lS35) the bill
to regulate the deposites in local banks 1.-THE Pet
Bank" Systrm) was under consideration. Mr. Ro-
bertson, of Virginia, moved "that said bill be re-
committed TO the Committee of Ways and Means,
with instructions so to amend the same as 10 dispense
acih The agency or instrnmentatity Of banks in The fs
c0iOperati0RS Of The Government" This proposition
was voted down by lis TOOL including In the former
number all the administration members of the
House, and all the republican delegation from this
Stale, viz .-Messrs Hall, Jarvis, Kavanaugh, Nc
Intire, Mason, Parks, and myself.
Then Mr.. Gordon of Va-moved TO strike out all
after the enacting clauses of the BILL and insert LIST
a provision 10 make the Collectors OF the public
revenue AGENTS Of The Treasury 10 Keep and disnrse
the public money.
2dly-a provision for the appointment of addition
al agents Of the Treasury to act as receivers keepers
and disbursers Of the public revenue, where the
revenue collected should exceed - amount, and to
give bonds, &c.
3dly-a provision that afler thc-day of--"the
whole revenue of the United States derived from
customs, lands, and other sources, shall be paid in
the current coins of the United States"
These several propositions were voted down by
16l to 49, including all the administration party of
the house and majority of the opposition party in
the former number, and with them the whole dele
CATION of this state, ris Messrs Evans Hall Jarvis
Kavanaugh, Mason, Mclnlire, Parks, and myself.
[See House Jourra Feb IL 1886, PIP, 366 4
Thus was The present Sub-treasury scheme, in all
its length and breadth and denically in the shape,
so far as both principle and design are involved Of
the one that was introduced at the late session upon
the recommendation of the President, voted upon
and condemned by an overwhelming vote, and by
the unanimous vote of the Delegation of this State
Nor was it voted upon without consideration and
argument. recoect well Of listening TO the able
exposition of its impracicablity and insecurity, and
Inconvenience, made by the then administration
Chairman of the Committee Of Ways and Means
and now the administration and talented Speaker Of
the House Of Representatives, Mr.. Polk. have
u ned with pleasure his speech reported the
OCCASION to refresh my recollection, and cannot for
bear to quote so much of his argument as was
against the proposed Subtreasury experiment and
metallic system of the two Virginia memberS-the