Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-12-18

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nmr;ite6 Of Congress, might not be pFOdtsbly
mnloved n Inspecting, az such intervals as
o;ah, - asenes nropes lie affairs and accounts
8 oficers entrusted with the'cuslody Of The pub
& moneys. The frequent Performance Of this
luty might be made obligatory on ne committee
q respect 10 those officers who have large sums
u their possession and lefl discretionary % res
Dectto olheEs They ight report % ne As'Ieeu-
live such deiacations as were found TO exist with
a view 10 prompt removal from Office unless the
The default was satisfactorily accounted tori and
report also, 70 Congress-. at the COMMENCEMENT
Of each session, the result Of their examinations
and proceedings. 1t does appear 10 me that,
with subiectcn Of this clsss Of public officers TO
the genegaT supervision 0f The Executive, TO exam
nations by COMMITTEES Of Congress at periods
Of which they should have no previous notice. and
10 prosecution and punishment as for felony for
every breach Of trust, the safe Keeping Of the pub
ilc moneys, under the system proposed, might be
placed on surer foundation than Il has ever, Oc.
cuPied since the establishment Of the government.
The Secretary Of the Treasury win lay before you
additional information containing new details on
This interesting subject. To these ask Jour
early attention. That II should have given rise
to great diversity OF opinion, cannot, be a subject
of surprise. After the collection and custody of
the public moneys had been Tor so many years
connected with, and made subsidiary to, the ad-
vance of private interests, return to the simple
and self-denying ordinances Of the Constitution,
could not but be difficult. Buttime and free discus.
sion elicting the sentiments Of the people, aided
by that conciiatory spirit which has ever charcrer-
lied their course great emergencies, were relied
upon for satisfactory settlement Of the question
Already has this anticipation on one important
point, at ast,--the improperly of diVerting pub
tic money 10 private purposes been fully realized
There IS no reason to suppose that legislation up
on that branch of the subject would now be en-
barrassed by difference Of opinion, or fail 10 le-
celve the cordial support of a large majority Of
our constituents. The connection which lOrmey
existed between the Government and bank, was ia
reay Injurious to both, as well as to the general
interests of tho community at large. 1t aggravated
the disasters Of trade and the arrangements Of
commercial intercourse, and administered new ex-
element and additional means TO wild and reck.
less spectators, the disappointments Of which,
threw the country into commissions Of panic, and
all but produced violence and bloodshed. The
imprudent expansion of bank credits, which was
the natural result Ofthe command Of the revenues
of the State, furnished the resources for unbound
ed license in every species Of adventure, seduced
industry from its regular and salutary occupations,
by the hope Of abundance without labor, and de-
ranged the social state by tempting all trades aud
professions into the vortex Depreciation, on re-
mote contingencies.
The same wIde.spreading influence, impcded
also the resources Of the government, cuTtailed its
useful operations embarrassed the ful6lment Of us
obligations, and seriously inerfered with the exc
culion Of the laws. Large appropriations and
oppressive taxes, are the natural consequences o
such a connection, since they increase the profit.
OF those who are allowed to use the public funds
and make II their interest that money should b.
accumulated, and expenditures multiplied. il j:
thus that q concentrated money power is tempted
to become an active agent in political affairs, anC
all past experience has shown on which side that
influence will be arrayed. We deceive ourselves
If we suppose that It will be ever iound asserting
and supporting the rights Of the community a
large, in opposition to (he claims Ofihe few.
In government whose distinguishing charac-
teristic should be diffusion and equalization Of
it's benefits and burdens, the advantage of indivi-
duals will be augmented at the expense Of the
mass Of the people. Nor is it the nature oil
combinations for the acquisition Of legislative in
fuence to conine their interference TO the single
| object Gor which theywere originally formed. The
Temptation TO extend it to other matters, is, on the
contrary, not unlrequently too strong TO be resist
ed. The influence in the direction of public az
fairs, Of the community at large, is therefore, in no
sliobt danger &C being sensibly and injuriousy af
fected by giving to comparatively small, but We
ry efficient class, direct and exclusively personal
interest in so important portion Of the Legislation
of congress as that which relates 10 the custody Of
the public moneys. If laws acting upon private
interests cannot always be avoided, they should
be confined within the narrowest limits, and left
wherever possible, 10 the legislatures of the states
When not thus restricted, they lead to combina-
tons of powerful associations, foster an influence
necessarily selfish. and turn the fair course Of e-
gisation to sinister ends, rather than TO objects
that advance public liberty, and promote the gen.
eTal good.
The whole subject now rests with you. but
cannot but express hope that some definite mea.
sure will be adopted at the present session.
1t will not, am sure, be deemed out of place
for me here to remark, that the declaration OF my
views in opposition 10 the policy Of employing
banks as repositories of The government funds
cannot justly be construed as indicative Of hostili
tY, official OF PERSONAL to those institutions, or Ia
repeat, in this torn, and in connection with this
subject, opinions which have uniformly eater.
tanned, and on all proper occasions expressed
Though always opposed to their creation in the
form Of exclusive privileges, and as state ma.
gistrate aiming by appropriate Legislation to Sc,
cure the community against the consequences o
their occasonal encouragement. have yet eve
wishedto see them protected in the exercise o
rights conferred by law, and have never doubted
their utility, when properly managed. in pEomotin,
the interests Of trade, and through that channel
the ether interests Of the community. To The gene
raj government they present themselves merely a
state institutions. having no necessary coniseeetioI
wph lis Legislation or administration. Like Othe
state establishments, they may be used OrnOt ].
conducting The affairs Of the government, as pub
lie policy and the general Interests of he Dniol