The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-04-13
Speech of MIR. Clay,
ON lIfE SUE TREASURY HILL.
DELIVERED FEBRUARY ~. 1885.

lnIgHdef
70 execute Mr. Van Burcn's pledge, to conplets
and perfect the principles, plans. and policY. i
The past administrations BY establishing. upon The
runs OF the late Bank OF the United States apC
me State Banks, Government bank 10 be man
aged and controlled BY tho Treasury Department
acting under the commands Of the President 81
the United States.
lhe hfst Impression made by tho perosal Of The
Dill Is The pfodlga and bnundless discretion winch
y grants to the Secretary ot the Treasury. ire.
cohciiedble wnh The genus OF our free lnsiitu.
lions, and contrary TO The former CAUTIOUS practices
OF iht Government As originally reported he
was authorized by Tho bill 10 allow any number Of
clerks he thought proper 10 The VARIOUS receivers
general, and to hx their salaries. Ii will be borne
IN mind, hat this is the mere commencement of
system; and il cannot DO doubted that. II pui il,
% opefa'lon the number OF rec, gers general aud
other depost1fles OF public money woula BE- in
eehhfeiy multiplied. lie allowed to appoint as
many Examiners OF the public money, and to fix
heif salaries ss he peascs he il allowed to erect
o. pleasure costly buildings; there is no estimate
Tor ahy thingi and all hu are conyersaut with
he operations OF The executive branch u the Gov
eminent know the value and Importance OF pre-
sinus estimates. There is 10 other check / pen
"4sieiul exp ndltnfu but pr, vIous estimates and
thaa was point always particularly insisted upotl
by VIZ. Jetierson. The Senate Nill receect thai,
lev days agu, aAen he saiary Of the receiver
general 81 New fofk was fixed the chairman OF
NE lomnittee Of finance rose ~ hi, place and
stated that II was suggested b, the Secretary Of
We Treasury that Il should be placed al $1,000
and The blank was accordingly 50 filed. There
was no statement OF the nature or exteht ii tnr
dulles 70 be performed, OF the time that ne would
be occupied, Of the extent OF his responsibility, o.
the expense Of itsIug at the several points - here
t4eJ were TO to located nothing but tie SUpgts.
fioa o. tho ) cretary 81 the Ttessnft, aud tbat
: - drcmcd aIl.suieien by a SPORTY. There il
10 lmit upon he appropriation shch Is made to
carry iaio ,Geei tlie bin, contrary 10 all former
usage, which invariably prescribed a sum not 10
be Transcend, e.
most remarkable feature in The bin is that 10
shich ! lave already called the attention OF The
>enate, aud Of which 10 saiistac,or, explanation
has been gwen Il Is lhat which proceeds upon
The idea tlai the treasury l. ihng distinct trau
he treasure 81 The United States, aud gives 10 tile
Treasury local habltltion and name, III The
aes building which Is b1ug erected isr The rea.
satJ Department, 10 tie CIT, al Nasi1fg'eG H.
be Treasury, "a con,tilu GO, Is 70 be p,sccd tbs,
Fittance Of the putile reteaue winch i CLEANED
HfaN thp DstrIc Of Columbia. All else, that i
70 LAY, nue HUNDRED aud ninety .uiac husdreth.
~ the pnhl.Y revenue d tbs United States. Is Ia
r. Piaetd ~ the lands o. he receivers general,
ava NJ otter doposlaties beyond Tn DisttIct q
l9tafhhid. Now, the constitution Of TIE Unitea
States psutld that no money stall be drawn ron
the pubic Treasury bn 10 virtue Of previous ap
Pr"piietion bN Law. That uihlng portion OF /.
therefore, within The pl.t,ict oi Columbia, will D.
uhdgf liz safeguard Of the constitution, and a
ci.e will e Al The arbitrary disposal Of tie Gre.
tary O The Treasury
L vas deemed necessary, no doubt, 10 vest IL
iht e.eiaty Of he Treasury this VAT and alarm.
log discretionary power. new and immense
6orcrnmeu' bunk is sbaut 10 b erected How il
eoaid eork all ~ paris cnad not be antlcipat.
cd ~Hh certainty and i thought proper, |
therefore, to hestoN dlscrttIen come ensutate
arb It's novelty and co pirXitr, aud adaplcd e.
arg c1fgcacics which might arise. Il is shart. |
aud vI'l read 1t To tb, Senate.
"Sec. TO- lad beit fgrtasr enacted, That il shall
be LAWFUL for the SECRETARY Of the Treasury t.
uansfet the moneys IN tie hands Of bny dcpn,l1a.
rs bFreby cen, tituted 20 The Treasury OF the L. !
rrgd ; atc> 10 the Mint ol Philadelphia; To th, |
Bfarch Mint at Nes Orleans; or in the OIL ces @
either OF the receivers general of public moneys
hy This act directed 10 be appointed tn Je ther
sajeit kept according to the proy. lions Of this act
ard also transfer rHoHfvs in The hands Of ann gne
dspastt8jg constituted Gv TITS act 10 anu ofh,r dc
porifarQ constituted hy The same, AT MS plscRE
rI.Nu d As the safety Of the public meuo,s, and
the convenience Of the public seirics shall seem 10
ban To require. Aud Tor the purpose OF payment.
on the pubhc account, II shall b. lawful for tn,
sa,d : eresr, 10 dgar upon any of the said dfesi
ariss, as he may think most eogducIrf 10 the yu6-
he interests. or TO the convenience OF the public |
creditors, or both"
II viii be seen thal It grants a rover, perfectly !
undtf0cd to the Secretary o. the Treasury, to shin
aud transfer the public money, from depcsltarv to
depo>larIes, he pesses He is expressly author
Jzed 10 transfer moneys in the hands of any one de.
pos,tary constituted by this act, To any other de.