The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-03


ry 81, 1888.
| MI. WRIGHT said he regretted that il would be ne
cessary for him TO impose severe tar upon the
time and patience Of the Senate, than he had ever be.
fore been compelled TO impose since he had been ho-
norcd with seat in the body. He had hoped there
FORE that he should have been able to reach the subject
at an earlier hour in the morning. but as il was he
would endeayor to conclude with the sitting Of the day
lie said he entered upon the debate with painful
consciousness oil his inability TO do Justice to the posi-
ton he held in reference the measure upon the table
The discussion OF II must involve questions Of the high
est Importance in politics, Of the most peyadng nie-
rest 10 finance, and he thought of equal magnitude
IN the morals OF Government These questions were
TO be discussed, dellberated upon and decided BY the
Senate and upon him had fallen the duty of opening
such debate before that high tribunal
Could he call to his aid talents, experience, learning
powers Of Argument, and perspcuy Of language such
as were possessed and at the command Of many Of the
distinguished Senators whom he knew he must meet in
opposition to The BILL he should feel gratifying conf
dence that he could contend successfully and could
triumphanty reiute every objection As it was he
consoed by the reflection that he should be followed in
the debate by other Senators equally able and equally
distinguished aud who would only have occasion to ask
OF hun that he should not inquire a cause which must
rest It's defence with them He would most cheerfulIy
promise them that he would not Intentionally throw OBJ
staces in their way and he would the Senate to
Judge OF the bill from It's provisions which he consider
| ed sound and sauiary and not from the weakness
they would not fail to discover in his attempt support
| them.
| Justice to himself required another preliminary re-
mark. But few months had passed since they were
engaged there in the discussion of this same measure
or rather, perhaps he should say OF precisely
similar ne great leading features. In that discussion
ne had taken part; and he should be found upon
this occasion repeating ideas, and urging arguments
which he had then advanced the and his apology
must be sought in the identity Of the Subjects and not
in disposition his part TO trouble the Senate now
with remarks to which they had done him the honor
| 10 listen.
He said the bill was based upon two great leading
principles, and that all its provisions. detailed and nume-
rous they were became necessary, in the Judgment
Of the committee TO carry those principles successfully
| into practice. These principles
FIRST. A practical and bona fdc separation between
the public treasure the money of the people, and the
business OF individuals and interpretations, and espe-
cialy between this money and the business Of tankng
| Second gradual change OF the currency to be re-
ceyed ~ payment of the public dues from that auho-
nzed to be received by the resolution Of Congress Of
1916, to the legal currency Of the United States.
The material details of the bill, applicable to each Of
these objects, would be his duty to notice and as the
task must be tedious and embarrassing him. aud much
more SO to the Senate, he would abrldge it much as
| justice to the measure would permit
AS applicable to the first object, the bill commenced
with the establishment Of offices and vaults, desg
mated points, for the safe keeping of the public money
The first section defined and established the Treasury
Of the United States and placed it under the and
charge Of the Treasurer Of the IT, States and singular
as 1t had appeared to him. and he thought would
appear of the constituents Of every Senator this
was the first attempt, far his researches had
abed him to discover, to establish by law National
Treasury. Should this bill pass, and this section be
tanned, he confident would be the first act of the
/ Congress Of the United States which had given not
name, but local habitation" to this most important
institution As the object Of the bill is to place the
funds OF the Government hereafter under the control Of
the public Treasury, and Of private banking nstitu-
tons, 1t seemed TO the committee peculiarly proper
that its first enactment should be to define and establish
| that Treasury.
The second section constituted the mint at Philade
pha, and the branch mint at New Orleans also places
for the deposite and saiekeepg of the public money
collected al those places transferred to them by the
direction Of the Secretary Of the Treasury. The
surers OF the mlnts respectively were assigned to the
charge and custody 0! the moneys there deposited
The third section directed the preparation Of suitable
offices and vaults IN the cusomhouses now erecting at
New York and Boston, for the depose and safe-keep-
ing OF the public money at those points, and for the
OF the officers have the custody of those moneys and
the fourth section provided for the erection OF two nde
pendent Offices aud vaults, for the purpose the
be located at Charleston, in the State of South
Carolina, and the other at ST. Louis IN the State Of
Missouri.
1t would not require any remark from him to satisfy
the mind OF every Senator Of the propnety OF selecting
the seat OF Government the place OF location Tor the
National Treasury that the points he had named up
on the Atlantic coast we'll as New Orleans, were
places where important portions OF the public revenue
collected, and from which great share oil the
public disbursements now, in fact made, could
be made with increased convenience TO the Treasury,
and to the public creditors to render them all proper
places for the location of offices for the saiekeepng OF
the public money, IN case any such offices were to be
provided at the public EXPENSE owned 10y the Govern
ment, and kept in the charge of It's officers Another
reason also existed, aud which conclusive with the
committee, to the selection Of Washington, Phia-
depha, New Orleans, New York and Boston. Public
buildings of fire proof character were already erected,
being erected the public expense, and for the
public uso at all those places in which sufficient rooms,
offices aud vaults, for the purpose contemplated could
be secured without material addition 10 the expense
incurred, and to be incurred, upon the buildings i
also his duty to inform the Senate that, sInce the
hill reported the committee had learned that the
/ Government now owned cusom-house at Charleston,
and that The information possessed at the Treasury De
partncnt authorized the belief that suitable rooms for
Offices could be had in that building thus rendering
necessary construct vault only instead OF an inde-
dent office as the bill contemplated at that place lie
had prepared amendment the bill, TO make 1t con-
form to this Of facts, which he would send TO the
4 Chair before he resumed bis seat
| As to the selection Of st. Louis some diversity OF
opinion might exist but the committee had fixed upon
that place, because, from all the information they had
been able to collect, they believed it to be the pot
from which the principal part Of our heavy disbursements
/ upon the western frontier were made They we're IN
formed that very large proportion Of the money paid,
and to be paid, annually 10 the Indians west OF the
Mississippi and the principal part Of the disbursements
at the various military posts upon the western irontier
received by the various dlsbursing officers at this
town. and that therefore large accumuations Of public
money were rendered necessary this point to meet
| these payments. This seemed to them TO require an
Office for safe keeping, and officer agent Of the
| Government, Of kind there and the place was
\ all faI IN q
| disbursements made from, than the amount OF cotoc-
lions at il Sill their information was that The money