Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-12-13

performance oil inns uuty ml9W DC hiuuo oDi'oN,
on the committee in respect to those ofhcers WIN
have large sums in their possession and lett dlscre
tionary in respect to others. They might report u
the Executive such defacatons as were found 10 eA-
isi, with view to prompt removal from olioe WI
less the default satisfactorily accounted lor' anu
report also, to Congress, at the commencement y,
each session. The result of their examinations ana
proceedings. 1t does appear TO me mat WIN SUI
lection Of this class of public officers TO the general
supervision Of the Executive, to examinations ny
committee of Congress at periods OF when they
should have no previous notice. and to prosecution
and punishment, as for felony for every breach Oh
trust, safe keeping ofthe public moneys under me
system proposed, might be placed on sufer i"uia
alton than ii has occupied since the es'ao''"
ment of tho Government,
The Secretary of the Treasury will lay
before You additional information contain
inc new details on this interesting subject.
TO these ask vour early attention. That
it should have given rise to great diversity
Of opinion cannot be a subject OF surprise
After the collection and custody OF the pup
lie moneys had been for so many years con-
nected with, and made subsidiary to- Inc
advancement Of private interests, a return
10 the simple and selcdenyihg ordinance
ofthe constitution could not but be difficult
Rut time and free discussion elicting the
the sentiments of the people, and aided by
that conciliatory spirit which has ever char
| acterized their course on great emergan-
cies, were relied upon for satisfactory
settlement ofthe question, Already has this
anticipation on one importont point al least
the Improperly of diverting public mon
ey to private purposes fully realized.
There is no reason to suppose that leglsla-
ton upon that branch of the subject would
now be embarrassed by difference of op-
inon, or fail to receive the cordial support
of large majority of our constituents. The
connection which formerly existed between
the Government and banks was in reality
injurious to both, as well as to the general
interests of the community at large. 1t ag-
gravated the disasters of trade and the de-
engagements of commercial intercourse, and
administered new excitement and additional
means to wild and reckless speclations, the
disappoinnents or which threw the coun-
try into commissions of panic, and all but
produced volance and bloodshed. The I'M
prudent expansion of bank credits, which
was the natural result of the command OF
the revenue of the resources for unboun-
ded license in every species of adventure,
seduced industry from its regular and saln-
tarv occupations by the hope of abundance
without labour, and deranged the social
state by tempting all trades and professions
into the vortex Of speculations on remote
contingencies
The same wide-spreading influence i'm
peded also the resources of the Covenant
curtailed its useful operations, embarrassed
the fui6lment of its obligations, and SER
Iously interfernd with the eynrniinn of the
laws. La; &c appropriations and oppressive
taxes are the naturul consequences ofsuch
a connection, since they increase the
profits of those who are allowed to use the
public funds, and make it their interest that
money should be accumulated and expen-
ditures multiplied. 1t is thus that con-
centrated money power is tempted TO be-
come an active agent in political affairs,
and that past experience has shown on
which side that influence will be arrayed.
We deceive ourselves if we suppose that
it will ever be found asserting and support
ing the rights oft community at large,
in opposition to the claims of the few.
la a government whose distng uishng
characteristic should be diffusion Of
equalization Of its benefits and burdens, the
advantage Of individuals will be augmented
at the expense of the mass of the people.
Nor is it the nature of combinations for
the acquisition Of legislative influence to
confne their interference to the single OBJ
iect for which they were originally formed.
The temptation to extend it to other mat
tiers is on the contrary, not unireqnently
too strong to be resisted The influence,
in the direction of pnblic affairs of the
community at large, is, therefore, IN no
slight danger Of being sensihly and injuri-
ously affected by giving to comparative
ly small but very efficient class, direct
and exclusive personal interest in so i'm
portant portion Of the legislation of Con-
press as that which relates to the custody
of the public moneys As laws acting upon
private interests cannot always be avoided,
thew should be confined within the narrow
est limits, and left, wherever possible, to
the Legislatures Of the States. When not
thus restricted they lead to combinations
of powerful associations foster an influence
necessarily selfish. aud turn the fair conr-
Sc of legislation to sinister ends, rather
than advance public liberty. and promote
the general good.
The whole subject now rests with You,
and cannot but express hope that some
definite measure will be adopted at the
present session
1t viii! not, am sure, be deemed ont OF
place Cor me here to remark, that the dec
Iara,ion of my views in opposition to the
o,J;c, of ovn,,Joy;nr honkc dpncSItOF