Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-07-03

under the 0NGaQ OF TINS lG4kkut poMSfs ~
honest and too firm to become the instru-
ments OF hatterers ofpoWer, yet too pru-
dent. with ell the consequences befoRel
them, to whisper disapprobation Of what
in their hearts they condemned. Lei the
present state Of things continue; let Il be-
understood that none are to acquire the
public honors or 70 attain them but by
ilatterv and base compliance, and IN few
generations the American character will
become utterly corrupt and debased.
Now is the time to arrest this fatal ten
dency. Much win depend on the vote on
the measure which is now before you
Should il receive the sanction Of this body
and the other branch of the Legislature,
and the principle be once established that
the power of dismissal is subject to be
regulated by the action Of congress, and
not, as is contended, under the sole con-
troll of the executive, the danger which
now menaces the destruction ofOur sys-
tenn may yet be arrested. The discre-
tionary and despotic power which the
president has assumed to exercise over all
in the public employment would be sub
iect to the control oflaw; and public Off
GERS, instead of considering themselves as
the mere agents of the executive depart
ment, and liable to be dismissed at his will
and pleasure, without regard to conduct,
would be placed under the protection OF
the law
The plan Of Sub Treasury, it seems
was thought of and partially put in Ope-
ration as long ago as August 1884. At
that time, we believe Mr.. Calhoun was in
favor of a re-charter of the U. S. Bank.
By reading the following circular, which
some of our readers may have entirely
forgotten, it will be at once perceived that
it was intended as the entering wedge to
the subsequent measures of government,
which have proved so disastrous TO the
best interests ofthe people of the United
States.
Treasury Department, Aug. 6th, 1884.
SIR :-For the mutual accommodation
ofthe public officers and creditors in your
neighborhood, and of yourself, and the
treasury department, / propose, hereafter
to direct warrants in their favor, to your.
self, foi payment, when desired by them.
1t will be in your power, also, before q
warrant is obtained by them, and whenev
Fer you have confidence in their honesty
and solvency, to take an assignment OF
draft, by them, in your favor, of their sup
posed claim on the treasury-to pay it.
amount, and on its being forwarded here
to receive a warrant in your own behalf
for the sum due. All the warrants paic
in the manner first stated, or received il
yonr own name, will be ample vouchers
in your behalf, on a settlement of your &C
counts-and, in this way, the officers anC
creditors of the government, will often b
saved travel and expense; you will have
to make less frequent deposites, and a
less hazard, as the balance on hand to b,
deposited at the end of each mouth, will
probably, in this way, become considera
bly, reduced; and the department vii
have the satisfaction of obliging others
through its own officers, without increas
ing, sensibly, the risk or labors of any.
You will please to notify such public
officers and creditors as live near you, o
the existence of this arrangement, in or
der that they may, if convenient anc
agreeable, take advantage Of its benefits
am very respectfully, your ob'dt serv't,
LEVI WOODBURY., sec'ty Of the trea'y.
Receiver Of public moneys d.
P. S. You will take receipts on the
bottom of the warrants paid, and return
the warrants and receipts to this depart
ment monthly.