Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1838-12-29


United States; the whole of that of the
state bank deposit system, and conclu
ding only on his retirement from Office,
after that system had substantially failed,
in consequence of,he suspension Of specie
payments.
The way in which this defalcation was
so long concealed and the steps taken TO
indemnify the u. States,as far as praclca
BILE against loss, will also be presented 10
you. Tho case is one which imperatively
claims the attention Of Congress, and fur
nshes the strongest motive tur the esiab'
lishment of a more severe and secure sys-
tenn for the safe keeping and disbursement
Of the public monoys than any that has
heretofore existed.
1t seems proper, at all events that, by
an carly enactment, similar TO that of other
countries, the application ofpublc money
by an officer of government to private
uses sloald be made felony and visited
with severe aud ignoninious punishment.
This is already in effect, the INV in res
pect to the mint, and has been productive
Of the most salutary results. Whatever
system is adopted, such IAN enactment
would lie wise as an independent measure,
since much Of the public moneys must, in
| ;heir collection and ultimate disbursement,
pass tSicc through the hands Of public Of
fcers ia whatever maner they arc inter
medatcly kept. The government, it must
be admiite' has been. from its commence
ment, comparatively fortunate in This re-
spect. But the appointing power cannot
always be well advised in lis selcc.iGns,
and the experience Of almos; every conn
try has shown that public officers are not
at all times proofagainst temation. 1t is
a duty, therefore, which the government
owes as well tothe interest committed to
its care rs to the officers themselves, to
provide very guard against transgrcssiors
Of this character, that is consistent with
reason and humanity. Congress cannot
lie toe Jealous of the conduct o: those who
are entrusted with tie public money, and
| shall at all times be disposed to enconr-
age watchfu discharge Of This du'y. II
IA more direct cooperation on the part of
Congress, IN the supervision Of the officers
entrusted with the custody and applira-
ton of the public money is deemed desi-
rable, it will give me pleasure to assist in
the establishment of any judicions and
constitutional plan by which that OF ject
may be accomplished. You will. in our
wisdom, determine upon the propriely Of
adopting such plan, and upon the meas
ures necessary to its eilectual execution.
When the late Bank of the United
States was incorp' rated, and made the de-
pository of the public moneys, right WIS
reserved to Congress 10 inspect, at lis plea.
sue, by committee of that body, the
books and proceedings Of the Bank. In
one Of the States, whose hanking ime'It,'~
ions are supposed to rank amongst the
first in point DISABILITY they are sui jectcd
to constant examination by commissioners
appointed for that purpose, and much OF
the success of its banking system is at'rl-
bntcd to this watchlul supervision. The
same course has also, in view of its bencli-
cial operation, been adopted bv an adjoin
ing State, favorably known for the care it
has always bestowed upon whatever re-
Iates TO lis financial concerns. submit
to yOur consideration whether committee
Of Congress might not be profitable en-
| ployment in inspecting, at such intervals
as might be deemed proper, the affairs and
accounts ofoniccrs entrusted with the Gus
tody of the public moneys. The frequent
performance of this duty might be made
obligatory on the committee in respect to
to those officers who have large sums in
their possession, and left discretionary in
respect to others. They might report to
the Executive such delaIcations as were
found TO exist, with view TO prompt re.
r m0val from office unless the default was
satisfactorily accounted for; and report
also to Congress at the commencement Ct
each session, the result of their examina
tons and proceedings 1t does appear to
me that with subsection of this class OF
I public officers TO the general supervision
of the Executive, to examinations by a
Committee of Congress at periods of which
they should have no previous notice, and
to prosecution and punishment as for felo.
ny, for every breach ftrus' the safe keep.
ing Of the public moneys, under the sys-
tenn proposed, might be placed on surer
foundation than it has ever occupied since
the establishment of the government.
The Secretary of the Treasury will lay
before you additional information contain
ing new details on this interesting subject
To these ] ask your early attention. That
it should have given rise TO great diversity
Of opinion cannot be subject Of surprise.
After the collection and custody of the
public moneys had teen for so many years
connected with, and made subsidiary to,
the advancement of private interests, re.