Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-12-20
NO. 4e.

win The exception oflimiied sums ds.
posted 'n the few banks still employed
: under the act Of 1889, The amounts received
'or duues' and,with very iuconsiderable ex-
eePuons' those accruiug rom lands also,
"aVe' since the general suspension Of spe-
Gle payments by the deposite banks, been
kept and dIsbursed hy the Treasurer. uu-
aer MS general legal powers, subject to the
suuPerlhtehdence OF the Secretary of the
treasury. The propriety of defining
more specially: aud Of regulating by law.
.ne exercise OF this wide scope OF Execu-
TO Congress.
A change in the Office of collector at
one "i our principal ports, has brought te
left deialcation oi the gravest character.
the particulars oi which will he laid hefor..
you III d special report from, the Secretarv
oi Tie Treasury. BY his report and ,hs
accompanying documents it will be seen
''ia' the weekly returns of the defauI,,ne
| ohcer apparently exhibited, throughou, q
| 'a'.hiai administration Of the affairs eu,rns-
'eo u MS management. 1t, however. no,v
appears, that lie commenced abstractinp
'"e Pup'ic moneys shortly after his appoint
nent anu continued To do so, progressive
y increasing the amount, for the, term of
'Hoie thah seven Years, embracing a por-
toh oi the period during " I,ich the public.
moneys were deposited in the Bank oftha
United States, the whole of thai of ,b.
otate bank deposite system, and couclu-
dinS only ON his retirement from offic,
ai'er that system had sub .tantialv failed.
III consequence Oi the suspension of spccie
payments.
The way in which this defalca,ion was
so long concealed, aud the step. taken to
indemnify the Uuited States; as far as prac..
''caole, against loss will also be presented
10 you. The case 10 one W which inperatiye.
Claims the attenlion of Congress, and
furnishes The strongest motive for the es.
adjustment oi more severe and secure
system tor the sale keeping and disburse-
iient ol thep Dlic moneys than any thae
has heretofore existed.
IL seems proper, at all events, that bv
ah early enactment. similar 10 that Of
o'her countries, The application Of public.
money by an uiicer OF government, 10 pri-
V"e uses. should be made felony and
VISITED with severe anu ignominious pun
i'hnen' This is already, in effect, tho
law 10 respect 10 the mint, and has been
Proa@s1ye Ct the mos. s! sa!gsall M ~. IssuI!s;m
neasure, since much OF the public moneys
must IN their collection aud ultimate dis
bursemenI, pass twice ,hrough the hands of
public officers, in whate yer manner thew
are intermedia,ely kept. The Govern
meni, II must be admllted. has neen from
its commencement, comparatively fortu-
nate III This respect. Eut The appointing
power cannot always be well advised in
lis selections, and the experience of every
country has shown that public officers are
not at all times proof against temptation.
II Is duty. therefore, y hich the Govern
menl owes, as we'll To the interests com,
united 10 It's care, rs 10 The officers thcm>
selves 10 provide every guard against
trans9ressious OF this character that il con-
sIstcnt with reason and humanity. Con-
gress cannO, DC too jealous OF the conduct
ol those who are inirusted with the public
money; and shall, at all times, he dispo-
sed IL encourage a watchful discharge Of
this duty. Ii more direct cooperation
ON the part Of Congress in the supervision
OF the conduct Of officers entrusted with
the custody aud application OF the public
money is deemed desirable. it will give mo
pleasure To assist in the establishment Of
any Judiclous and constitutional plan by
which that object may be accomplished.
You will, III your wisdom, determine upon
the propr,ety OF adopting such plan, and
al execution. When the late Bank of the
United States was Incorporated aud made
the depository OF the public moneys, q
right was reserved to Congress to inspect,
at its pleasure, by commute Of that body,
the books and proceedings OF the bank.
In one OF the states whose banking in
stitulions are supposed to rank among The
first in point of stability, they are subject
To consian, examinations by commissions
crs appointed for that purpose. and much
OF the success of ii, banking system is at
tribuicd 10 this watchiul supervision. Tho
same course has also, in view of its benef-
ciai operation, been adopted by an adjoin-
ing state. favorably known .or The care it
has always bestowed upon whatever relates
10 lis financial concerns. submit 10 your
consideration, whether cOmmitte ofCon-
Sress might not be prohtanly employed ia
Inspecting, at such intervals as might DO
deemed proper, the affairs and accounts Of
officers entrusted with tho custody of the
public moneys. The frequent PERFORM
ance of this duty might be made obligatory
on the committee III respcci 10 those Off
GERS who have large sums in their posses
SION, aud left discretionary i'll respect to
Others. They might report 10 the Execu-
I'VE such detalcatiOns as were found 10
exist. with Il view 10 prompt removal
from OlliIe unless the default as satisfac-
Ionly accounted for; and report also, to
!, Congress, at the commencement: Of each
. Session, the result of their examinations
$ aud proceedings. 1t does appear 10 me
4 that, with subjection Of this class o. pub
4 lie officers to the general supervision Of
y the Executive, to examinations by COM
| mittee Of Congress at periods Of which