Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-09-16

Of my office. but because it is my firm
belief, that its capacity for usefulness is
in no degree promoted by the possession
of any patronage not actually necessary
to the performance of those duties. But
under our present form of government,
the Intervention of the Executive officers
in the custody and disbursement of the
public money seems to be una ayoidable
and before it can be admitted that the in
fluence & power of the Executive would
be increased by dispensing with the a.
gency of banks, the nature of that inter-
vention in such an agency must be care
fully regarded, and a comparison must
be instituted between its extent in the
two cases. So. f .s.
The revenue can onlyIbe collected by
officers appointed by th'!, President, with
the advice and consent OF the Senate
The public moneys in the first instance,
must, therefore, in all C ases pass through
hands selected by the Executive. Other
officers appointed in tn e same cases, by
the President alone, must also be entrust-
ed with them when drawn for the pur-
pose of disbursement. 1t is thus seen
that, even when banks are employed
the public funds must twice pass through
the hands of the Executive officers. Be-
sides this, the head of the Treasury De-
partmcnt, who also holds his office al the
pleasure of the President, an d some other
officers of the same depa ttment, must
necessarily be invested wit hmore or less
power in the selection, &C ntinuance and
supervision Of the banks shat may be
employed. -..
The question is then har rowed to the
single point, whether, in the interme-
diate stage between the. collection and
disbursement of the public money, the
agency of banks is necessary to avoid a
dangerous extensic IN of the patronage
and influence of y le Executive. But is
it clear that the connection of the Exc
cutlve with pov gerful moneyed institu-
tons, capable of ministering to the inte-
rests OF men m points where they arc
most access ole to corruption, is less
liable to ab use, than his constitutional
agency in II e appointment and control
of the few public: officers required by the
proposed plan? Will the public money
when in their h; ,nds, be necessarily ex-
posed to any inn moper interference, on
the part of the EA ecutive? May it not
be hoped that prudent fear OF public
jealousy and disapl probation, in a matter
so peculiarly expos ed to them, will de-
ter him from any su, ;h interference, even
if higher motives be found imperative
May not Congress so regulate, by law
the duty OF those Off cers, and subject it
to such supervision nd publicity, as to
prevent the possibility of any serious
abuse on the part of the y Executive and
is there equal room for such supervision
and publicity in come ction with banks
acting under the shield of corporate i'm.
munities, and conducted by persons ir-
responsible to the govei rnmcnt and the
people +? 1t is believed Il vat a consider
ate and candid investigation of these
questions will result in tI,e conviction
that the proposed plants far less liable
to objection, on the score OF Executive
patronage and control, than any bank
agency that has been or cam be devised.
With these views, leave TO Congress
the measures necessary to regulate. in
the present emergency, the jsafe-keeping /.
and transfer of the public moneys. Ia
the performance Of constitutional duty, |
have stated to them, without reserve
the result Of my own reflections. The
subject is of great Importance, and one
of which we can scarcely expect to be
as united in sentimentas we are in inter-
est. 1t deserves a full and tree discus
sion, and cannot fail 70 be benefited by
a dispassioIate comparison of opinions.
Well aware myself Of the duty Of reci-
procal concession among the coordinate
of the government, can pro-
mise reasonable spirit of cooperation,
so far as it can be induIged in without
the surrender of constitutional objections
which believe to be well founded. Any
system that may be adopted should be
subjected to the fullest legal aAprovision--
SO as to leave nothing to the Executive
but what is necessary to the discharge
Of the duties imposed on him !; and what
ever plan may be ultimately established
my own part shall be SO dischargedas
to give to it fair trial, and the best pros
pect of success. a g
The character Of the funds to be re-
ceived and distributed in the transactions
of the government, likewise demands
your most careful consideration.
There can be no doubt that those who
framed and adopted the Constellation,
having in immediate view the depreciat-