The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-04-17
From The Charlottesville { Ya.) J6crsoniaa RepH6
s. CUSTODY OF THE PUBLIC MONEY"


respecting tie custody Of TIE publ meacA Is Desirable
that as As discretion as may Dc consistent run teir
safe keeping should be girsn 70 Executive agents"
This was the language of General Jackson, in his
annual message of December, 1885 The sentiment
was expressed under circumstances, which, with
every rejecting mind must give il force and effect
II was expressed after the celebrated panic session
Of 1884, during which, General Jackson was charged
with the desire TO place the public money exclusive
y in the hands Of executive agents, and entirely I'M
der executive control IL was expressed al the open
ing Of the very succeeding session of Congress after
Gen Gordon had presented his celebrated scheme of
confding the receiving keeping and discussing The
public money TO agents OF the Treasury, and re-
stricting the receipts of the public revenues excu
siyely to gold and silver, and stamps upon that
scheme General Jacksons most decided and une
auivocal Reproduction This sentiment of General
Jackson, is no ideal or visionary phantasy of the
brain, it is one of those lar fetched theories
which conemplaieS no practical result il contains
principle which lies at the base OF our system, and
contempates that practical division Of power which
is necessary to sustain proper balance between the
coordinate branches OF the government, and secure
the people against the corrupt and absorbing tenden-
cies of the Executive Department The influence
which this recommendation, which was but the off
spring Of previously expressed opinions, had in
maintaining the ascendency OF General Jacksons
administration, and the universal accordance in il Of
its friends cannot have been forgotten.
The recommendation had reference exclusively
TO the custody of the public revenue, that IS its keep
ing from the time OF its receipt to its disbursement
1t could have had no reference To the raising OF re-
venue because the constitution condes that to Con-
gress it could have had reference TO the disburs
ing of the public money, because that by the consti
tuition can only be done by authority Of law; of
necessity then, il only had reference to the keeping
of the public revenue from the time Of its collection
until It's disbursement. II then simply in rete-
renee 10 the custody-the keeping of the public
money that General Jackson recommended that the
executive should be invested with little discretion
possible, compatible with its safety To illustrate
mo f1ll md 10 he eff af he
principle asserted in the recommendation, it should
be borne in mind that in the same message contain
ing this, is contained recommendation, permanent
" to employ the State Banks as repositories OF the
public money, and TO regulate the same by law. The
recommendation of the State banks was based not
only upon the assertion that they capable of
safely keeping and diSburSing the public money, and
furnishing sound currency but that they were in
capable of that combination of power and Influence
which rendered National Bank 50 dangerous
With this recommendation before us we cannot
doubt that the late President regarded the deposites
of the public money in the State banks the best
means within the reach Of the Government, of re-
stricting within the narrowest possible limits the
executive discretion in its custody. These institu-
tons not holding their existence at the hands OF the
federal but of the several independent State govern
ments. Their responsibility secured by large
capital, and their operations watched and controlled
by boards of directors and stockholders and above
all blythe State authorities were while they combined,
equally capable of safety, economy and convenience,
regarded as further removed from executive infiu-
ence and control, than any other system which had
or could be devised by the irit Of man"
But it may be inquired what the executive
discretion which Gen Jackson wished to resfrctl
Was il the discretion of the President alone leav-
ing that of his subordinaes uncontrolled, it
executive discretion camprehended in all its ramif-
cations and branches that sought 10 BE- restrict
ed I What Gen. Jackson meant BY executive dis
erection is easily comprehended b. the fact that he
regarded the executive as unit" that the Presi-
dent was the chief executive officer, who was
nt III 1n,t
ariH the whole executive machinery must move or
stand still Whether this Interpretation of the con-
stitutional power of the President be true or false,
it sufficiently interprets, that in the recommendation
to restrict executive discretion in the custody of the
public funds, he embraced the whole executive ma
chinery, and had no idea that subordinate execu-
tive officer should exercise discretion which the
President could not control.
Why was it, that Gen. Jackson with patriotism
which merits the highest ad nration sought to re-
strict this important branch of executive power
We answer that in the removal of the public de-
posites from the Bank of the United States which
was justified by the constitution and the laws as il
stood, he and felt that the powers of the execu-
tive were too great in relation TO this matter and
that the power which he mad exercised under the
most arrogant necessity, might b, cauSelesSv and
corrupy exercised by ambitious and designing men.
He saw the precpce over which the Liberties of the
country might be driven, and sought TO block up the
way he saw clearly what an engine OF corruption
and mischief in the hands Of the executive such an
army Of executive officers, welding such mass Of
public money scattered over every part Of our ter
rory would be, and desired to prevent it. Hence
the recommendation which We have quoted from
his message.
The power and patronage Of the executive depart
ment Of the federal government, are the efficient
engines by which the liberties of this republic are to
be battered down. Appointment 10 Office and the
disbursement of money are the most successful
sources from which the power and patronage of the
executive can be supplied and enlarged; every in
crease OF officers and appropriations of money but
increase their sources OF power and render them
dangerous. Already the officers of the govern
ment are ramfed into every section of the country
already the public funds disbursng in every har
Dor, on every navigable river and almost on every
road in the nation, with what effect obsei walton will
afford melancholy answer With the whitening
effects OF inordnate and excessive executi power
and influence every where displayed 10 our view,
either as effects the morality or prosperity OF the
country it IS proposed to place at every prominent
and controlling point Of our extensive territory new
legion OF executive officers, in the name of money
collectors and money holders aud thereby increase
the dangers OF these already dangerous and alarm
ing sources of power and patronage without any
other restriction than those threats OF penalties which
have not been sufficient To restrain the preparation
even of treason, murder or felony of any sort; and
with all the facilities which ambition could desire of
corruption and power. ".".
The same causes which overthrow the Liberties of
Greece and Rome, and which now enSlave nearly
the whole civilized world may overthrow our liber-
ues. The experience fthe past should warn ms of
the future in vain have the masses of the historical
pages OIL the past been preserved ithey do not warn
us 10 aVoia danger and tread in the path of safety,
in vain have we been taught the lessons of cxperi-
ence II we do not profit BY their teachings LII vain
did our fathers endure the tolls and fatirles and FIGHT
the battles of the revoution the great pripcple of
liberty which they achieved is 10 b. Abandoned nv
their descendants: DO we not see in every line ana
read in every page of their history JEALOUSY and
dstruS of executive power did they not seek 10 re-
strain to curb and control it by every possible means