Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-04-05

lions Of the country run into wild disorder
and utter confusion
Hitherto, | have considered this new
project as II is, according to its true nature
and character, and what il must inevitably
become. j have not examined il as it is
not, but as its friends would represent it to
be. They hold out the idea that it is a
simple continuance to collect, to keep, to
disburse the public revenue. In that view
of 1t, every consideration Of safety and Sc
.curity recommends the agency of respohsi-
BILE corporations, rather than the employ
mcnt of particular individuals 1t has
been shown, during the course of this de-
bate, that the amount which has been lost
blythe dedication of individuals. had ex-
'ceeded three or four times the amount of
all that has been lost by The local banks
And we thall know that, during the forty
years existence of the two Banks of the
United States, not one cent was lost Of the
public revenue.
have been curious, Mr. President to
know whence this idea of receivers gener-
al was derived 1t has been supposed to
have been borrowed from France. 1t re-
quired all the power of that most extraordi-
nary man that ever lived, Napoleon Bona
parte, when he was in his meridian great
ness to displace the farmers general. and
to substitute in their place the receivers
general. The new system requires, 1
think / have heard it stated, something
like zoe, 900 employers to have itexecuted.
And, notwithstanding the modesty Of the
infant promises of this new project, have
no doubt that ultimately we shall have to
employ numberof persons approxim ating
to that which is retained in France. That
will undoubtedly be the case whenever we
shall revive the system of internal taxation.
In France what reconciled them to the sys-
tenn was that, Napoleon first, and the Bour-
bons afterwards, were pleased with the inn
mense patronage which it gave them.
They liked to have 100, 900 dependents to
add strength to the throne, which had been
recently constructed or reascended.
thought, however, that the learned chair
man of the Committee of Finance must
have had some other besides the French
model for his receivers general; and ac-
cordingly, upon looking into Smiths history
of his own State, | found that when it was
yet colony, some century and half ago,
and when its present noble capital still re-
tanned the name Of New Amsterdam, the
historian says: "Among the principal laws
enacted at this session, we may mention
that for establishing the revenue, which
was drawn into precedent. The sums
raised by it were made payable into the
hands Of receivers general, and issued by
eGoyernor's warrant. BY this means
the Governor became, for a season, inde-
pendent of the people. and hence we find
instances ofthe assemblies contending with
him for the discharge Of debts to priv ate
persons contracted on the faith of the Gov
crnment." The then Governor Of the
colony was man Of great violence of tenn
per. and arbitrary in his conduct. How
the Sub-Treasury system of that day oper-
ated the same historian informs US ina SUBJ
sequent part of his work. ''The revenue, "
he says, Established the last year, was at
this session continued five years longer than
was originally intended. This was render
ing the Governor independent Of the peo-
pie. For, at that day, the Assembly had
no treasure, but the amount Of all taxes
went, of course into the hands of the re-
ceiver general, who was appointed by the
Crown. Out of this fund, moneys were
only issuable by The Governors warrant, SO
that every officer in the Government, from
Mr. BIai,hwalt, who drew annually five per
cent. out,of the revenue, as auditor gener-
al, down to themeanest servant of the pub
lie, became dependent, solely on the Gov
crnor. And hence we find the House, at
the close of every session, humbly address
ing bis Excllency, for the triaing wages Of
their own clerk" And, Mr. President, if
this measure should unhappily pass, theday
may come when the Senate Of the United
States will have humbly to implore some
future President of the United States to
grant it money to pay wages of its own SER
geant-at-arms and doorkeeper.
Who Mr. President are the most con-
spicuous of those, who most perseveringly
pressed this bill upon Congress and the
American people? Its drawer is the distin-
pushed gentleman in the white house not
far off; its endorser is the distinguished
Senate from South Carolina, bere present.
What the drawer thinks of the enIorser,
his cautious reserve, and stihed enmity,-
prevent US from knowing But the frank
ness Of the endofser has not leftus in the
same ignorance with respect to the opinion
Of the drawer He has often expressed it
upon the floor Of the Senate. On an oc-
casion not very distant, denying TO him any
Of the nobler qualities Of the royal bcast Of
the forest. he attributed TO him those which