The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-31

for themselves. They receive such money
as they please on account Of the public, and
reject such as they please. They keep It, each
as he pleases, and where he pleases. They
are each and all left without any definite in
structions from the head Of the Treasury De-
partment, and to act on their own respon-
sibiliiy.
In New York, we understand the collector
deposits the public money in such banks as he
chooses to select. at his individual credit. and
checks uponit to meet the drafts of the Trea-
sury, as they are drawn upon him. In Phila-
delphia, we are told, the collector requires all
payments TO be made at the Custom House,
and literally carries out the Sub-treasury
scheme, on the paper priaeipls. He receives
the notes ofall the city banks and holds them,
secured by iron doors, bars. locks, bolts, &C.
until the drafts from the Treasury are pre-
scented to him, when he pays them out to the
holder; and probably in making payment Of
$4,000, he will turn out some ofthe notes Of
every bank in the city. He thus will trust all
the banks, both great and small, by holding
their notes; but he will not trust the largest
ofthem with the money! We have selected
the two largest commercial cities, to show
how the affairs Of the people are conducted in
them. In the others, there may be different
modes in practice some of the collectors
may keep the public money in their breaches
pockets, for all that we know. We think it
more than probable that some Of them do.
The Receivers Of Public Land Sales, act
as much upon their own discretion, and with
as little regularity or system as the collectors.
In some sections Of the country, we learn
that they refuse to receive any thing else but
gold and SLIDER; in others, they take the notes
Of such banks as they think proper to desig-
nate. We saw, but a few days since, that
Receiver of Land Sales, in Arkansas, gave
notice that he would receive in payment Of
public lands. the notes Of the Bank Of Ken
lucky, the Northern Bank of Kentucky, and
the Bank Of Louisville.
When did the country before ever witness
the collection and keeping Of public revenues
left to the arbitrary management oftbese classes
of Federal officers undirected and uncon-
trolledl Never. Never.
Nor is this all The money is not safe in
their hands. This is shown by the number
of defauters and the enormous amount Of
their de falcations that occurred between 1894
and 1887. as reported to Congress by the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury at the last session.
They give bonds with sureties. But what
are they WORTH Next to nothing. The We
ny indulgences and neglects Of the Treasury
Department, in nine cases out Of ten, would
exonerate the sureties from all responsibility
for the principals. The reported correspon-
dence of the Treasury Department shows,
that many of these officers were continued in
Office many months after they were repeatedly
charged with neglects in rendering their ac-
counts and depositing the money according to
law and the regulations Of the department.
Where is a court or jury to be found in this
country that would give verdict against sure
ties under such circumstances
The question next naturally arises, why
is It that things remain in the state we have
described Why do the agents of the people
Qhe Government permit their continuance?
We answer. Those agents have hobby of
their own which they wish to establish
Though it is opposed by the people, and has
been five times put down by their representa-
,ives, yet these servants cfhe people persist in
saying they will have their own scheme 1.-THE
Sub-treasury) or they will not have any. It
lis thus they defy and laugh to scorn the will
Of the people.
Will the people longer submit to be scoffed
at by those whom they have elevated to the
high official stations they now occupy? We
think not. Then let the people speak out in
language they will not dare 10 disregard; and
tell them "thus far shalt thou go and no far
Their" Let them tell their representatives, if
they legislate on no other subject at the next
session, not to come home without fixing by
law the manner in which the public money
shall be collected and safely kept, and thereby
establish uniformity throughout. Now is the
time to do this. Many Of the State Legisla-
lures are about meeting or have met already.
We hope, where it may be deemed necessary,
they will not hesitate to give their Senators
peremptory instructions; leaving them on this
subject no latitude Of discretion. All will re-
collect the manner in which the Senators from