The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-29

"To collect for the purposes Of distribution is neither
polite economical II is not polite, because IL
necessarily increases the corps Of public officers, and
consequently THE INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT.
1t is not economical because the people hare to pay the
salaries of those 1ho manage the process, AND QUA
RANrY THEIR INTEoRITY."-Globe, Gath June, 1886.
The above is taken from the Globe the
following day after President Jackson signed
the Opposite and Distribution act. The art-
Gle was, no doubt, written at the same time
he performed that act, and was probably die
tated by himself. 1t put forth his reasons for
signing the bill, and carries with il the stamp
Of authority.
The strongest reasons urged against distri-
button is contained in the above extract.
1t is most remarkable fact, that in less
than twelve months after the above was pub
lished by the authority Of General jackson,
that his successor, who stood pledged "to
tread in his footsteps" brought before Con-
gress a measure, and pressed its adoption,
which went to establish all the objections
urged by General jackson against distribu-
ton.
The Sub-treasury, all admit, necessarily IN
creases The corps Of public officers, and conse-
quently the influence Of the Government" And
"the people hare to pay The salaries Of those
,sho manage the process, and guaranty their
integrity"
In four-fold ratio do those reasons ope-
rate against the Sub-treasury scheme, than
they do against distribution. Experience
proves that to collect and distribute surplus
revenue, few if any additional officers are
called for. The revenue collected in 1884
was but twenty-one million dollars, while the
amount in 1886 was nearly forty-nine million
dollars. The same officers collected the re-
venue in 1886 that did in 1894 and to assist
in the distribution of 1886, three additional
officers only were appointed. That those in
power will not voluntarily relinquish the means
Of acquiring influence and power, is fully illus
trated in this instance; while the revenues
now collected are far less than they were in
1884, these three public officers, appointed
specially, to assist in the additional labor
imposed on the Department, by the distribu-
ton act, are still retained at an expense Of
$4,000 to the country and the people.
The Sub Treasury bill provided for an in
crease Of public officers, clerks, SC. The
latter without limit ; to defray the expenses
of which, the bill provided that, all the smap-
propriaied moneys in the Treasury should be
applied! 1t contemplated to have appointed
by the President, class Of officers unheard Of
in this country fore-RECEIVERS GE-
NERAL! Following the example Of Rome
when she first established her Quastorship,
the number was limited to four Rome, how
ever, in very short time increased the
number from four to forty! What will
prevent our Government from doing the
same, if they once get the system introduced
with even the proposed number Of four
Po,cer from its rery nature IS al,cays seek
ing to ertend ITSELF" SO says Mr.. Buchanan,
and with great truth.
Every additional public officer that is APP
pointed serves to increase the influence Of the
Federal Government, already as great if not
greater than that Of the individual States COM
posing the Union combined. Every increase
OF officers augments the taxes the people have
to pay to support the increase of Executive
power. These are not oil. The PEOPLE
HAVE TO GUARANTY THEIR INTEGRITY.
We beseech the people to ponder well these
facts ere il is too late. More especially do