Piney Woods planter and Amite union literary reflector. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1838-1838, 1838-09-15
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF
THE UNITED STATES.
TContinued.l

The people may be taxed that the
banks may have more money to lend
and their customers more 10 borrow
We are opposed to taxation for sucf
purposes. We deny the right of the
Government TO take the money Of the
citizen and hand il over to the bank:
to be used by them and their custom
ers, in their private transactions. The
taxing power was not granted for such
purposes; and when such are its res.
ults, reform should be the watchward
of every Republican.
We are in favor Of such changes in
our financial system, as will effectually
prevent the application Of the public
money toprivate purposes. The means
Of accomplishing this great reform, are
of less Importance than the end to be
obtained. We, however, perceive no
means so effective and certain; as to
let the Government keep its own mon
ey, by the insrumentality of its own
officers, who shall be put under bonds,
with heavy securities, not to use or
lend it; and in addition, making it high
ly penal in them so to do. 1t is not
perceived why the Government cannot
make its money as secure as bank.
All the usual means of security enjoy
cd by the banks are within its reach;
in addition to which, it has absolute
power over the persons of its agents,
which the banks have not. Banks
cannot by regulations, punish their
cashiers and clerksfor faithlessness and
crime with the pententiary or other
wise; but the Government can. 1t may
commandallthe buildings, walls vaults,
bolts, and other safeguards which the
banks can; and in addition, may dis
pose of the personal liberties Of its
farthless agents according to its will,
expressed through its legislative and
judicial authorities. Why, then, may
it not keep It's own money as safely as
the banks can keep theirs, or that de-
posted with them! That it can do so,
under proper regulations, is too obvi-
Gus to BE- doubted. Besides, at places
where it might be more convenient,
the use of the bank buildings them
SEW could be scared, still preserving
the public money from private uses.
Why then, should not the Govern
mcnt keep its own money! 1t is OBJ
jectod thar Tic keeping offs own mon
ey would dangerously increase the
patronage of the Executive. Is Il pos
sible any one can believe that the APP
pointment of ten or twenty officers and
clerks, involves a more extensive and
dangerous influence than the power
directly to affect the pecuniary inter
ests of the eight thousand two hundred
and ninety bank officers, the three
hundred and seventeen thousand stock
holders, and the six hundred and fifty
three thousand debtors? The power
the Executive has. so long as he is
authorized to place the public money
in banks to be lent out for private pur-
poses. Although all the banks cannot
be repositories, all think they find their
interest in an extension of the credit
system, by the aid Of the public monev;I
and in addition there to, all are sub-
ject,under such a system, The influence
ofhope and fear from the favors and
Irowns Of the President or Secretary
ofthe Treasury. It is not by keeping
the public money that Government
acquires influence or power, but by !
spending or lending i. One man hasl